Fulham Secures Shea Charles in £30m Deal; Chalobah Joins Como from Chelsea
Fulham has strengthened its midfield by agreeing to a £30m deal for Shea Charles from Southampton. The Northern Ireland international, who shone in the last Championship season, is set to sign a five-year contract at Craven Cottage pending a medical and legal procedures. The initial fee is £26m, with an additional £4m contingent on performance, which reportedly deterred interest from Leeds. Charles played approximately 2,000 minutes in the Championship last season, helping Southampton reach the playoffs before being sidelined due to a spying scandal. At Fulham, he is expected to fill the void left by Sasa Lukic, who transferred to Ipswich earlier this weekend. He joins fellow summer signings, including forwards Jonah Kusi-Asare, Gonzalo García, and midfielder César Palacios, as Fulham aims to lower their squad's average age under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa. In another significant move, Trevoh Chalobah has confirmed his transfer to Como from Chelsea for an initial £25.7m. Terms for a five-year contract were finalized last week. Chalobah expressed excitement about joining Cesc Fàbregas's squad, stating he is “thrilled and honoured” to be part of an ambitious project. Fàbregas praised Chalobah as a leader who will elevate the team's performance. Additionally, Gustavo Hamer has rejoined Coventry from Sheffield United for £6m plus add-ons, marking the Sky Blues' sixth signing since their return to the Premier League. Furthermore, Idrissa Gueye has signed with Diriyah in the Saudi Pro League after leaving Everton as a free agent, following his participation in the recent World Cup.
Source: The Guardian Sport - 2026-08-09