Fulham’s summer transfer business is now well underway after they announced the signing of 24-year-old Arsenal product Emile Smith Rowe. This is the Cottager’s second signing of the 2024/25 season, following the return of Ryan Sessegnon to his boyhood club.
The fee is £27 million with up to £7 million in add-ons. Fulham have seen more outgoings than new signings so far, with Willian, Bobby de-Cordova Reid, João Palhinha, Carlos Vinicius, and Tosin Adarabioyo all saying goodbye to Craven Cottage. With several clubs struggling with financial fair play, these sales would have freed up some funds for the Cottagers, who are making the most of them.
Smith Rowe travelled with Arsenal for their preseason tour in the US but was left out of their matchday squad when they faced Manchester United on Sunday the 28th. He has since travelled back to the UK for his Fulham medical, and will now join up with the squad in Portugal on their respective tour.
ESR: A closer look
Smith-Rowe quickly became an Arsenal fan-favourite following his emergence from the academy. Arsenal have rarely seen attacking quality come through their youth system, but Arteta has been able to make use of and develop not just Smith Rowe, but Bukayo Saka too, since 2018.
Smith Rowe has had a number of injury problems throughout his career so far, slowing down his progress and not allowing him to show off his true potential. However, he is versatile across an attacking midfield and has heaps of ability both from the wing and also as a 10, which will help Fulham with depth.
In January 2019, he joined RB Leipzig on loan until the end of the 2018–19 season. However, he had not fully recovered from a groin injury. The following season he was loaned out again, this time to Huddersfield Town of the Championship and was an important part of their side, helping them to stay in the division.
Fast forward to 2024, and 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. Following 2023/24, it became clear that he wanted first-team football, something Fulham would offer him.
With a few wingers leaving Fulham, the Whites will want Smith Rowe to be the energetic attacking midfielder that he has shown for Arsenal at times. He aims to make vertical, well-timed movements without the ball, and quick, penetrating runs with it.
The stats
The last couple of seasons have not been kind to Smith Rowe but he has shown very positive glimpses during his time at Arsenal.
2023-2024: 13 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
2022-2023: 12 games, 0 goals, 2 assists
2021-2022: 33 games, 10 goals, 2 assists
2020-2021: 20 games, 2 goals, 4 assists
