Fulham have agreed a deal in principle that will see them pay an initial £27m for Emile Smith Rowe plus add-ons that could take the total to £34m; The Arsenal midfielder played only 346 minutes in the Premier League last season; Smith Rowe is expected to have a medical this week
Tuesday 30 July 2024 18:32, UK
Emile Smith Rowe has completed his Fulham medical ahead of a permanent move from Arsenal.
The deal - a club record for Fulham - will see them pay an initial £27m, plus add-ons that could take the total to £34m.
Final details are being sorted between the clubs for the midfielder, who returned to London from Arsenal's pre-season tour in the USA earlier this week.
Once the deal is wrapped up, Fulham are expected to go back in with an improved offer for Manchester United midfielder Scott McTominay.
Smith Rowe played only 346 minutes in the Premier League last season, making just three starts, with a knee injury ruling him out for six weeks in October.
The 24-year-old has won three senior England caps, the last in March 2022, but he was a member of the squad that won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship last summer.
Fulham fly to Portugal for a pre-season training camp on Tuesday and it is hoped Smith Rowe will join up with them at some point during the camp.
Smith Rowe has been keen on the move with his primary motivation having always been regular first-team football. It is seen as a good move for all parties.
He has been with the Arsenal squad during their pre-season tour in the United States and was an unused substitute in last week's friendly against Bournemouth in Los Angeles as the Gunners won on penalties.
Asked about Smith Rowe's future after the game, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "There are things happening in the background at the moment.
"We decided the best thing to do was to keep him away from the game today."
The 2024 summer transfer window officially closes on August 30 at 11pm UK time in the Premier League and 11.30pm in Scotland.
The Premier League has brought forward Deadline Day to link up with the other major leagues in Europe. The closing dates were set following discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
