2024 Summer Transfer Window

Welcome to June! And thank you to @dtowndough for sponsoring the past two months of hosting costs for the site!

Here's a quick rundown of where players currently stand with their contracts:

Players with Contracts Expiring in June:
Bobby De Cordova-Reid
Kevin Mbabu
Marek Rodak
Tosin Adarabioyo
Tyrese Francois
Willian

Players with Expiring Loans:
Armando Broja
Fode Ballo-Toure

Players Still Under Contract:
Adama Traoré - 2025
Carlos Vinícius - 2025
Kenny Tete - 2025
Kevin Mbabu - 2025
Raúl Jiménez - 2025
Tim Ream - 2025
Tom Cairney - 2025
Andreas Pereira - 2026
Harry Wilson - 2026
Luke Harris - 2026
Rodrigo Muniz - 2026
Steven Benda - 2026
Bernd Leno - 2027
Calvin Bassey - 2027
Harrison Reed - 2027
Issa Diop - 2027
Jay Stansfield - 2027
Sasa Lukic - 2027
Timothy Castagne - 2027
Alex Iwobi - 2028
João Palhinha - 2028
Antonee Robinson - 2028

One thing that stood out to me looking at that list was how little impact loan players had this season. It always seemed like Fulham had at least one impact player on loan, but this season they were irrelevant.

For the players with expiring contracts, I think it would be good to keep both Willian and De Cordova-Reid, but only at the right price. I think the team can get by next season without either of them if a reasonable deal can't be made. I wish Tosin would stay, but that is clearly not happening.

I'd say that last summer's signings generally paid off with Bassey, Iwobi, and Castagne. Raul and Traore were hampered by injuries but both had moments that provided some encouragement. With all of that, Fulham feels in pretty good shape already to at least keep a lower mid-table position - IF they can keep the guys under contract. Losing Palhinha or Robinson would make things a lot harder.

If Fulham want to get better, I think the top priority is a right CB to pair with Bassey. Diop can be a sub, but I just don't trust him as a starter. Robinson showed incredible durability and endurance this season, but I'd feel better if there was a backup option at LB.

Who should stay? Who should go? What are the choices Fulham needs to make to progress in the Premier League?

 

Pretty much agree with everything. I'd keep rodak as well as a backup if he's interested. Top priority is definitely a CB.

 

No real surprises in the announced departures. Tosin and Rodak move on while efforts are being made to keep Willian and DeCordova-Reid.

https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/june/05/player-departures/

 

Anybody up for an encore from Ryan Sessegnon?

https://x.com/skysportsnews/status/1798266693958979674?s=46

 

Glad they reminded us that Kongolo made four appearances. I would have guessed only two.

 

I'd be happy to bring him back but I can't see him being anymore then depth with our current squad.

 

I say bring Sess back! And then have him understudy Willian.

In other news, Tosin goes to Chelsea. Benedict Arnold!! If I was there at a West London derby I'd be in the camp offering full-throated booing.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cw001w082x8o

 

Crickets. We'll do our business in the last 2 weeks, as usual. We should let Palhinha go, even at a cut price--would rather not have a disgruntled player on a high salary, and I expect some promises were made when he signed his new contract last summer.

 

Why is he disgruntled?

 

@dtowndough It’s from the last summer window, when it looked like Bayern was his next landing spot (even flew to Munich & took a physical), but since it was so last minute, we didn’t have time to find a replacement.

 

The BBC is not one to publish unwarranted rumors and they say Palhinha is going to Bayern for 42 million pounds:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/clmyx70krj1o

 

ESPN concurs. We’ll have to wait until after the Euros to be certain though.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_...h-agree-56m-deal-fulham-joao-palhinha-sources

 

Huge loss. I really thought Silva would be able to keep him.

 

It is a huge loss, however, I feel this has worked out as well as possible for Fulham. He was a spectacular find who was instrumental in getting Fulham comfortably mid-table after winning promotion. More than any other player, he made the statement that Fulham would be yo-yo-ing no more. That first game against Liverpool was a statement that things would be different. However, spectacular finds don't stick around at clubs like Fulham for long. It would have been far more devastating if he had left last summer with all of the uncertainty surrounding Mitrovic. I'm sure it was disappointing for him to stay, but he was a true professional and put in another solid season for the team. But it was clear last season that Fulham wasn't quite as reliant on him as before. There will be a huge, tackle-hungry, hole to fill in the middle of the field for Fulham, but they are better suited to take on that challenge now than this time last season. Fulham seems to be getting good money for him, so after two great seasons, it is hard to realistically ask for anything more. Okay I'll ask for a little more... please Tony, use the money judiciously but promptly so that the team isn't wondering who will anchor the midfield with 90 minutes left to go in the window!

 

Bobby DeCordova-Reid has left for Leicester:
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c06kge3p2k8o

I'm somewhat surprised the club didn't keep him around. He's a great utility player and was always willing to fill whatever slot Fulham needed him in. Bobby wasn't a clinical striker, but he was a good supporting player who did what he could for the team. I hope he finds success at Leicester (except on August 25, 2024 and January 18, 2025 of course!).

 

@MicahMan I wish there was a dislike button, because I’m gonna miss BDR. I think of him like a utility player in baseball. So versatile and so valuable to a squad. Just a professional footballer.

 

Agreed. I've become a big BDR fan. I've caught myself tuning into Jamaica games just to cheer him on.

 

And it is official, Palhinha is off to Bayern for a big pile of money:
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2024/july/11/palhinha-joins-bayern/

This was clearly coming, and a pretty good deal, but I'm still bummed.

 

Hey Hey!!! I've only seen tattle about Emile Smith Rowe...... alas, July 17th is way way way too early to get reasonable business done, unless the transaction is a sell on...

Palhinha was awesome for Fulham and I'm bummed as well...but he left a big pile of money in his locker so we can aspire to sign....Smith Rowe. (Actually, I'd be fine if he's added, more so the juxtaposition of quality in leaving and being talked about coming in...FFS)
COYW

 

Apparently Fulham (and Palace) have already been rejected by Arsenal. Here’s hoping the offers were serious low balls.



As an aside, does anyone know a legitimate reason why the summer window always runs past the start of the season? It’s beyond frustrating that Fulham typically start behind the curve because we all know that very little business gets done before the deadline.