LONDON (AP) — Fulham signed midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal on a five-year contract with the option of a 12-month extension on Friday.
The deal for the 24-year-old England international was worth a reported club-record 34 million pounds ($43.6 million), including add-ons.
Fulham plays Manchester United at Old Trafford on Aug. 16 in the first match of the Premier League season.
Smith Rowe joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of 10 and progressed through the ranks to make 115 senior appearances for the Gunners in all competitions.
“Listening to the project, speaking to the manager (Marco Silva) 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,” he told FFCtv.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Smith Rowe’s commitment and attitude.
“I’m sad that Emile is leaving us, but excited for him to take this new opportunity at this stage of his career, when he needs to be starting matches and playing regularly,” Arteta said on the Arsenal website.
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