Fulham’s recent addition of Emile Smith-Rowe has left the Craven Cottage faithful buzzing with anticipation. The Arsenal academy product has become a beloved figure at the Emirates Stadium ever since burst into the first team setup back in 2020. In his second full season as a senior player, he racked up ten goals in 33 Premier League appearances before injuries would take their toll and he would ultimately be overlooked in favor of the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard.
No one wanted the three-time England international to succeed more than his adoring Gunners faithful. But with him now being 24 years of age and with first-team opportunities far from guaranteed, he decided that now was the time to make the move from his boyhood club. The Cottagers were only too happy to fork out the £27 million fee to bring their man to the Banks of the Thames, and now they will be hoping that he can demonstrate the kind of form that saw him become a key man for Arsenal just two years ago.
The recent transfer was a club record for Fulham, but who joins Smith-Rowe in the top three most expensive transfers of all time?
Fulham’s Most Expensive Signings of All Time
1. Emile Smith Rowe
Coming in at number one is of course the newest acquisition, Emile Smith Rowe. The former Huddersfield Town loanee has proven that he has the ability at the top level, now he needs to stay fit and remain consistent and there is no doubt he will be a success. For those looking to assess his performance, online sports betting at Bovada has set Fulham’s odds as -130 against Leicester City (+372), suggesting he could be a standout player for Fulham this season.
But perhaps one surprising part of this deal is Fulham’s newfound spending power in the transfer market, and that is down to several reasons.
The first of those is transfer sales. The Cottagers have received mega money for their players in recent campaigns. Star striker Aleksandr Mitrovic left the club for oil-rich Saudi Arabia last summer, bringing £45 million into the Craven Cottage coffers. Defensive midfielder João Palhinha also departed this summer for a similar sum to Bayern Munich. Add to that the club’s back-to-back mid-table finishes in the Premier League, and it’s clear that there is much more money available to current boss Marco Silva than any other manager in the club’s history.
However, another area in which the club has impressed is in its corporate dealings. The club signed a record-breaking deal with a prominent online betting and casino company last summer, providing a windfall to the West London outfit. The deal has ultimately strengthened the club’s transfer market war chest and that has been highlighted in the capture of Smith-Rowe.
2. Jean Michaël Seri
Back in 2018/19, Fulham had just been promoted back to the Premier League, and rather than trusting the players that got them there, they went on a spending spree, unlike anything the club had seen before. At the top of their spending list was midfielder Jean Michaël Seri, who was brought in for a then-club-record £25 million. The signing was a statement of intent, but unfortunately, it didn’t work out as planned.
The Ivorian midfielder arrived with a burgeoning reputation for his technical prowess, passing range, and ability to control the tempo of the game from midfield. He was one of the stars of the show with Nice and many expected him to seamlessly transition to the Premier League. Unfortunately, his impressive performances were too few and far between. The former Ligue 1 sensation showcased glimpses of his quality such as a wonder goal against Burnley, but inconsistency meant that he couldn’t keep the Cottagers in the division.
Seri was ultimately shipped out to Galatasaray where he once again couldn’t showcase his abilities on a regular level. He now finds himself in the second tier with Hull City following a free transfer to the Tigers back in 2022.
3. Alex Iwobi
Last summer’s record-breaking sponsorship deal was also a key factor in Alex Iwobi heading to the Cottage from Everton for a reported £22 million.Like Smith-Rowe, the Nigeria international also came through the ranks at Arsenal, scoring a thunderbolt in the 4-1 Europa League final defeat to Chelsea back in 2019. He too ultimately fell out of favor, before a disappointing stint at Goodison Park left him out in the cold.
The powers that be on Merseyside wished to cash in on their talented – albeit also inconsistent – attacking midfielder, and Marco Silva saw enough to stump up the cash and get his man. Fulham were looking to build on their impressive tenth-place finish and the signing signaled the club’s intent to add attacking firepower to their ranks. The former Young Gunner had become known for his pace, flair, and creativity in the final third, bringing a new dimension to Fulham’s attacking options.
In his first campaign in West London, Iwobi looked to return to his best form. He managed to avoid injuries and made 32 Premier League appearances last term, scoring six goals. Now, he has the chance to link up with former teammate Smith-Rowe, and if the two can strike up an understanding, another impressive campaign in the English top flight could be just around the corner.
