Arsenal academy graduate Emile Smith Rowe is set to join fellow London-based side Fulham FC on a permanent transfer.
According to reputed journalist Fabrizio Romano, Fulham will pay the Gunners £27 million upfront with a further £7 million in add-ons for the midfielder. Many clubs, including Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, were keen on signing the 23-year-old, but Fulham boss Marco Silva was the decisive factor, convincing the Englishman to join the West London side for a club-record fee.
One of Arsenal’s own
Smith Rowe joined Arsenal’s Hale End Academy as a 10-year-old in 2010. The Englishman made his first-team debut in September 2018 against Vorskla Poltava in the UEFA Europa League at just 18 years old.
Two successive loan spells at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town aided his development. Smith Rowe was on the fringes of the first-team squad for two years following these loans but broke into the starting XI in the 2020-21 season. The following season saw him enjoy his best form in North London, making 33 appearances in the Premier League and scoring 10 goals.
However, fitness issues and the arrivals of Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice have kept Smith Rowe out of the starting XI for the past two seasons. The England international has made just three starts in the Premier League in the last two years.
Arteta hints at Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham departure
Mikel Arteta hinted at Smith Rowe’s possible departure a week ago, attributing his lack of involvement in the pre-season tour of the USA to ongoing negotiations. “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,” Arteta said.
Arsenal will make a good profit from this deal while simultaneously allowing Smith Rowe to rejuvenate his career by getting some regular game time. The Gunners will now turn their attention to Euro winner Mikel Merino, with a deal close to being agreed, according to Romano. Official confirmation of the move should follow soon.
