Emile Smith Rowe joins Fulham on permanent transfer from Arsenal

Fulham have confirmed the signing of midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal on a permanent deal.

The versatile 24-year-old managed just 475 minutes of action across all competitions last season and heads out to Fulham in search of a more significant role.

Reports state Fulham have broken their transfer record to sign Smith Rowe, paying an initial £27m and agreeing to a further £7m in add-ons to land his signature.

The deal will not, however, become Arsenal's record sale, which remains the £35m raised from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's move to Liverpool in the summer of 2017.

"I'm finally here, so I'm really happy for me and my family – it's a good moment," Smith Rowe said after completing his move.

"I'm really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my teammates.

"Listening to the project, speaking to the Manager, and seeing what players we have here already, I think it's an exciting project for me, and definitely the perfect step for my career going forward."

Smith Rowe joined Arsenal's academy back in 2010 and spent 14 years with the Gunners. His first-team debut came in September 2018 and he would go on to make 115 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring 18 goals.

He was a regular part of the first-team squad in the 2021/22 season but saw his minutes slashed in the following year. Mikel Arteta found just 162 Premier League minutes for Smith Rowe in 2022/23 and, after another season on the fringes, the midfielder has now opted to depart his boyhood club.

Smith Rowe becomes Fulham's second signing of the summer, following the return of Ryan Sessegnon on a free transfer following his exit from Tottenham Hotspur.

Fulham are now expected to pursue Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay. A £20m bid has been submitted for the Scotland international, but the Red Devils are looking for closer to £30m to approve a sale.

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