Fulham agree £30m fee for Southampton's Charles

Fulham Football Club has reached an agreement worth up to £30 million for Southampton midfielder Charles Shea. The 22-year-old is set to sign a five-year contract with the London-based club, making him the most expensive Northern Irish footballer in history. Subject to a medical examination, Charles is expected to join Fulham from Southampton on 15 August 2023.

Prior to his move to Craven Cottage, Charles had been with Manchester City, where he began his career. Other clubs, including Leeds United, had shown interest in the Northern Irish player, but Fulham ultimately emerged as his preferred destination. The move comes as part of Fulham's effort to replace Sasa Lukic following his transfer to Ipswich Town in recent weeks.

The appointment of new manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over Real Madrid's interim position following Marco Silva's departure to Benfica, has prompted Fulham to make three signings since Arbeloa's arrival. In addition to Charles, Fulham has also brought in Gonzalo Garcia, a striker from Madrid, and Cesar Palacios, a midfielder. The club's impending fixtures include a match against German club Stuttgart on 15 August 2023, followed by a Premier League opener against rivals Chelsea on Monday, 24 August 2023.