London's Fulham has officially confirmed the signing of 22-year-old defensive midfielder Shi Charles from Southampton. The transfer fee is set at £26 million as a guaranteed payment, with the possibility of increasing to £30 million through bonuses. This makes Charles the most expensive player in Northern Ireland's history.
The midfielder has signed a five-year contract with Fulham, which includes an option for a further 12 months. He will don the number 19 jersey in his new team.
In his own words:
I’m absolutely thrilled that the deal is finally done. The club has an incredible foundation from the top down. It’s a big club with a wonderful vision for development – the head coach explained everything to me personally. It’s a huge privilege to be here.
Charles becomes the fourth new signing under head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, following the acquisitions of former Real Madrid players Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, as well as the signing of forward Jonu Kusi-Asare from Bayern Munich.
A product of the Manchester City academy, Charles enjoyed a standout season at Southampton, scoring four goals in 33 Championship appearances and playing a crucial role in helping the Saints reach the play-offs, where he scored the winner in the semi-final against Middlesbrough.
Expectations are high for the Northern Irishman to become a key figure in the heart of Fulham’s midfield as they prepare for the new Premier League season.
