2025 Summer Stories

I'm disappointed we didn't bring in any midfield scoring/playmaking threat, especially after losing Pereira. Back at the start of the window I said I wanted to bring in some more scoring options to the midfield. King is kind of a new addition, but with Pereira out of the squad, I'm surprised no one else was added. King has looked great, but he's a bit young for him to bring something transformative to Fulham's attack. Hopefully Smith Rowe can become the player we hoped he would be, but he fell short last season. Maybe with new wingers Iwobi and Wilson could rotate into that midfield space too, but it all feels a bit cobbled together.

And as I was typing this, it appears Fulham might have gotten a striker? Jonah Kusi-Asare from Bayern-Munich. He's just 18 and appears set for a loan:
https://www.bavarianfootballworks.c...eadline-bayern-munich-fulham-jonah-kusi-asare
I don't know if this will actually happen or not since there is no official word from the club.

Then there is this:

Final week?! He waited until the final day? And why?! Did Fulham get some great deal for Kevin? It doesn't seem like it, he was still a record signing. And then the deal for Tyrique George fell through and this Kusi-Asare deal could easily be undone by a minor error in paperwork with no time left. Then there is the issue that Fulham has already played 8% of the season without these new players and now they will need additional time to get acclimated. This can't be the best way to do business.

 

And it is official! Fulham got Silva the third striker he wanted.
https://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2025/september/02/kusi-asare-arrives-on-loan/

 

To MicahMan's point, I do think the hope is to get Iwobi and/or Wilson more time in the "Pereira" #8/10 role.

Unless King truly claims the middle of the field for himself and doesn't let go, which I hope he does. But he is young and likely to be given to some form inconsistency still.

 

Okay the dust has settled now on the summer transfer window. Thoughts?

On the plus side, Fulham lost no one of value. The closest thing Fulham had to a Mitrovic or a Palhinha was Robinson. His injury seemed to keep the inquiries at bay. Fulham avoided the pillaging that happened at other mid-table clubs over the summer. Maybe that lack of star quality players is the reason, but I'm still thankful to have most of last year's team still intact.

The players who were brought back were also net-positives. King is the most obvious example of a returning player that felt like an addition, but I was also happy to see Tete and Cairney return too. The only player who has come back for another season that I question is Reed. He's a great guy with a fighting spirit, but he hasn't added much more than emergency depth for a few seasons. I'm surprised he didn't go to a Championship team where he could get a lot of meaningful playing time.

The new signings appear to be good too. A new backup goal keeper is not a sexy signing, but desperately needed. Chukwueze and Kevin are promising additions to provide that offensive spark that Willian brought a few seasons ago. If they are capable enough to open up other options for Iwobi and Wilson to play more centrally then that gives Silva a wider range of options to deal with opposition strengths, player rotation, and injuries. Finally the addition of Kusi-Asare is interesting for the potential he offers. Recently Fulham has been known for rehabilitating players thought to have already seen their best days rather than developing new players. Now with Kusi-Asare, King, and Kevin (uh, the KKK? Hmmm, I don't know if we should run with that one since "Come on you Whites" is bad enough) Fulham has more young potential stars on the first team than any season since 2021-22 with Carvalho, Nico Williams, and a young Rodrigo Muniz. Fulham had youth in more recent seasons with De Fougerolles, Harris, and Stansfield, but they only made cameo appearances. If these new young signings work out then it can help make the team more sustainable in coming seasons as some older players inevitably age out.

The bad part of this window is primarily about the timing. What a waste to be weeks into the season and not brought in any new starters. If you feel like you can only negotiate a good deal when the deadline clock is ticking then you should probably improve your negotiating skills. Clubs have incentives when the window is closing, but there are also incentives earlier on - like being able to turn around new funds and reinvest them thoughtfully. Then there was the PSR deadline in June that some teams took advantage of, but that Fulham let pass without notice. Half the league brought in someone on a free transfer at the start of July, but not Fulham. There were opportunities and advantages to dealing early and Fulham blew it.

And finally I think they needed another offensively-minded midfielder. But as @daddude7 pointed out that may be mitigated by the winger signings.

So to sum up for me, great signings. Just bring them in earlier. And don't piss off Silva so much. Give him a chance to develop the team before September.