Fulham

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Leeds United at Craven Cottage (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• The players who went on international duty have returned "in good shape" so there are no new injury concerns.

• Silva said he will "have to make some important decisions" on who starts the game after seeing how the players responded to training on Friday.

• On the Chelsea defeat, in which there were several VAR controversies: "You have time to think and analyse, but not with the full squad because straight after the match they went on international duty. As staff, we analysed the game, as we always do, and we had some speech with the players about it as well. We move on."

• He said that performance "was high level but other circumstances did not allow" Fulham to claim three points. Silva hopes they can maintain that level moving forward.

• On the upcoming back-to-back home games: "It is very important to be back at Craven Cottage, so let's go for it."

• He said opponents Leeds are "a tough team" and they have had a "good start" to the season with four points already on the board.

• More on Daniel Farke's side: "They make things different for the opposition but it's more about ourselves and what we can do. It's very important for us to win. We have to go for it."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Fulham's club-record £34.6m signing Kevin will go to another level under manager Marco Silva, according to Shakhtar Sporting director Dario Srna.

The 22-year-old, who scored 17 goals in 57 matches in all competitions for the Ukrainian club, finally moved to Craven Cottage with fellow wide player Samuel Chukwueze on deadline day.

Speaking about the move, which he negotiated directly, Srna told BBC Sport: "Fulham have an amazing winger, he has amazing skills, is so fast, good one-versus-one, he even defends well.

"With Marco Silva, for me one of the best coaches in the Premier League, he will continue to develop for sure. I believe Kevin will move to one of the biggest clubs within the next two years."

However, there were concerns that the deal may not go through with Fulham having also agreed a deal to sign Chelsea winger Tyrique George for £22m and amid reports Portuguese club Sporting hijacked the move for Kevin.

"We kept our position from the first day," Srna added. "We told Fulham our price and that's it. We cannot sell for less - than what we said.

"We had a lot offers for him and he could have gone elsewhere but he decided Fulham was best for him. It was his dream to play in the Premier League but we needed our conditions to be met to sell him."

Srna admits the move leaves Shakhtar in the usual position of having to rebuild without a star player but they are happy to keep signing top players out of Brazil before moving them on.

"Kevin came to us having not been able to get into Palmeiras' team and 18 months later he is sold for 40m euros to Fulham. Brazilians are happy to join Shakhtar because we develop them and they help us get good results, get into Europe and sell players to the top clubs.

"We brought three amazing talents, 19-year-old Lucas Ferreira from Sao Paulo and 18-year-olds Isaque from Fluminense and Luca Meirelles from Santos, they show we can still recruit well from Brazil.

"Midfielder Georhiy Sudakov also went to Benfica and we develop Ukrainian talents also. But it's harder with the war, we hope it ends soon. We keep working, the league remains competitive and this is the youngest team in Shakhtar's history."

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Raul Jimenez scored for Mexico in their 2-2 draw against South Korea on Tuesday night at Geodis Park in Tennessee, United States.

The 34-year-old has failed to find the target for Fulham in their opening three Premier League matches in August, but did get a goal against Bristol City in the second round of the Carabao Cup.

So far, that is the Whites' only victory this season.

Jimenez scored 14 goals across 43 matches in all competitions for Fulham throughout the 2024-25 campaign.

Drew Heatley
Fan writer

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One of the most heart-warming moments of the summer was the announcement that we get one final year of Tom Cairney.

Last week, the club premiered a feature-length documentary recapping our captain's time at the club. After a glitzy event in our new Riverside stand, it was released for free on Friday.

The film is a masterpiece that shows just how much can happen in a decade. Three promotions to the Premier League – two via Wembley. Two relegations from the top flight and now this period of sustainability under Marco Silva.

TC was there for it all - and now we can say thank you properly.

That, coupled with my fear this might be Silva's final year, makes me wonder what the club could achieve to send them off appropriately.

We return from the international break with three games in 10 days that could ultimately determine the course of the season. First up is Leeds United, the club that released Cairney as a young teenager – something his mum makes clear in the documentary she has never forgotten.

Then it is the west London derby with Brentford; a game that needs no narrative to provide any extra spice.

Both sides have their first wins on the board, while we await ours. One or two victories from those and we are right back up the table. Anything less and we remain in the bottom three and the campaign quickly becomes an uphill battle.

Finally, there is Cambridge United in the Carabao Cup. Silva has made it clear that he wants to win Fulham's first major piece of silverware - and the League Cup offers the best chance to do it.

But if we struggle in those two league games then Silva may make changes, which could present an opportunity for our League Two opponents.

I expect Cairney to play a role in all three games. His new deal, while drenched in nostalgia, is still based on footballing merit.

If we do go on to achieve something special this year, Fulham may need to release an extended version of his documentary.

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

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The dust has just about settled on Fulham's transfer window.

In total, the Cottagers brought in four players for a total of about £35m based on reported initial fees.

Those incomings were:

• Kevin - Shakhtar Donetsk (permanent)

• Benjamin Lecomte - Montpellier (permanent)

• Samuel Chukwueze - AC Milan (loan)

• Johan Kusi-Asare - Bayern Munich (loan)

Heading the other way, Fulham had eight notable outgoings.

These included the permanent exit of Andreas Pereira to Palmeiras, plus the free transfer of Carlos Vinicius to Gremio and releasing of Willian.

Of all the summer incomings at Craven Cottage, who do you think will have the biggest impact?

Rank them here

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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It might seem like ancient history already but Fulham's disallowed goal against Chelsea at the weekend is still upsetting me. The youngster Josh King was denied a fabulous goal on the highest stage. It could also have led to Fulham taking all three points, or at least one.

Each is a reason to be miffed as is the fact that not only did the VAR get it wrong, but after looking at the footage, the referee did not understand what had happened either.

There was no foul as Rodrigo Muniz could not plant his foot anywhere else other than where Trevoh Chalobah's foot happened to be. It was an unfortunate contact, not a careless action or tackle.

Some referees sneer at players as they do not know all the intricacies of the rules, particularly as they change each season. I understand that, though I do not like it one bit.

Players on the other hand get furious with referees who know the rules but do not have enough understanding of the game, and this was a perfect example of that problem.

At least referees body PGMOL tends to issue an apology these days for such errors, though that does not help Fulham and young Josh very much.

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Drew Heatley
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

The key word around this window has been 'plan'. And, sadly, it looks like we just did not have one.

Two weeks ago a frustrated Marco Silva said: "This season, we had a plan - the plan has fallen through. It is our fault - not active at all."

Fulham owner Shahid Khan and his son, director of football Tony Khan, are notorious for their penchant to bag Deadline Day deals.

This season, they took it even further and turned a two-month window into a one-day opportunity manic dash.

We signed two wingers on Monday - Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan on loan, and young Brazilian Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk.

On paper, both are good signings and strengthen the squad. But they are not enough - and there is no reason why both could not have been made weeks ago.

Then there were some baffling moves.

We were reportedly in talks to sell Harry Wilson to Leeds. Sell one of our best players, in an area we are actively shopping for, to a direct rival - why? Thankfully, it did not materialise.

We also announced on Tuesday that we have signed 18-year-old Bayern Munich striker Jonah Kusi-Asare, in a loan deal with an option. It is another head-scratcher.

Marco Silva is famously reticent to blood our academy youngsters in the Premier League and yet we are pursuing a player with just two senior appearances.

We have highly-rated academy forward Aaron Loupalo-Bi at Motspur Park, why not give him a chance? Or if we do not rate him highly enough, what is the point?

It has been a frustrating summer, and as the window closes, we sit in the relegation zone.

Our rivals have strengthened while we have stagnated and two deals on deadline day, great value though they may be, have not changed that.

There was no plan. Now, Marco Silva needs a good one to help us compete in these next 35 games.

Rating: 4/10

Find more from Drew Heatley at Fulhamish, external

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We asked for your views on Fulham's record signing of winger Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk.

Here are some of your comments:

Steve: Absolutely delighted with Kevin and Chukwueze, two pacey wingers that can make things happen, and give us extra attacking options. Gutted that the Tyrique George deal fell through, though.

Max: Kevin has amazing potential but he loses the ball too often when trying to beat too many players at once. If Silva can get him to pass more and fit in with the style of play, he could be a superstar for Fulham.

Bryn: Happy to have two good wingers on board, but still concerned by the absence of a centre forward.

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Fulham have signed Jonah Kusi-Asare on a season-long loan from Bayern Munich.

The 18-year-old Sweden Under-21 forward joins with the option of the loan being made permanent.

"I'm really excited," Kusi-Aare said. "It's a fantastic club with great supporters, and I can't wait to get started, work with my team-mates and give everything for the club."

Fulham have completed the record signing of winger Kevin from Shakhtar.

The 22-year-old has signed a five-year deal for a reported £34.6m fee - surpassing the club's current transfer record, which was the initial £27m they paid to sign attacker Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal last summer.

Kevin predominantly plays on the left wing and scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 57 matches for the Ukrainian side.

It had been reported earlier on transfer deadline day that Sporting had matched the offer but Marco Silva has managed to get his man.

What do you make of the deal?

Excited for the club-record signing?

Is he what Fulham need?

Let us know

Fulham have completed the signing of AC Milan winger Samuel Chukwueze.

The 26-year-old Nigeria international finalised the move before the deadline having completed a medical earlier on Monday.

The deal is for a season-long loan with an option to make the move permanent in the summer of 2026.

Chukwueze scored eight goals and assisted six times in 70 appearances for Milan in all competitions.

"I'm so happy to be here," Chukwueze said on the move. "It's an amazing club. It feels like home, because I have my people around me.

"I feel at home already, and I can't wait to get started."

Chukwueze joins fellow Nigeria internationals Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey at Craven Cottage.

Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport football news reporter

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Harry Wilson is set to stay at Fulham despite deadline day interest from Leeds.

The 28-year-old had been subject to talks over a permanent deal but the two parties couldn't agree terms.

Fulham are hopeful of completing deals for multiple attackers, including Kevin, Tyrique George and Samuel Chukwueze.

It is unclear but we assume the deal sheet has gone in on at least some of those.

Winger Martial Godo has completed a permanent move to Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

The 22-year-old joined Fulham from non-league side Margate in 2022 and made his first-team debut later the same year in a Carabao Cup tie at Crawley Town.

He spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Wigan Athletic, registering eight goal contributions in 34 League One appearances.

Godo made played five times under Marco Silva last campaign, making six appearances in total during his Fulham career and registering one assist.

Watch Total Sport's transfer deadline day special for London, focusing on the business done by the capital's Premier League and EFL clubs.

The show offered all the latest updates and analysis for your team's transfer business.

Watch back here

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

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Fulham have agreed a £22m fee with Chelsea to sign winger Tyrique George.

The 19-year-old is expected to agree a five-year contract at Craven Cottage and Chelsea could also benefit in the future from a sell-on clause.

However, the deal also comes after Sporting matched Fulham's club-record £34m offer to Shakhtar for Kevin, with a five-year deal on the table.

Kevin had left open the possibility of moving to another club by not signing the contract on offer and is now expected to move to Portugal.

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham are working on signing two wingers in Shakhtar's Kevin and AC Milan's Samuel Chukwueze before the transfer deadline.

Kevin, 22, is already the subject of a club record £34m fee being agreed on Sunday and is expected to sign a five-year deal on Monday.

However, talks for Chukwueze are yet to be finalised but continue to progress.

It leaves open the possibility that Fulham won't move for any of their previous wide targets, which included Arsenal's Reiss Nelson, Chelsea's Raheem Sterling and Basel's Philip Otele.

The main outgoing expected is Martial Godo's move to French club Strasbourg, a club with the same ownership as Chelsea, for a fee of about £7m.

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We asked for your views on what is still needed by Fulham on transfer deadline day.

Here are some of your comments:

Joe: There's been a lot of negativity about the lack of signings, but managing to hold on to our star players and manager really shouldn't be overlooked.

Donald: Moving Andreas Pereira on will prove to be a highly effective use of the transfer window. Fulham have a strong squad with lots of options off the bench. Let's work on building a strong team spirit and we will have a great season.

Jacqueline: We need a striker who can guarantee 25 goals in season, a forward thinking/passing midfielder and a left winger. Jorgen Strand Larsen, Raheem Sterling and James Ward-Prowse, please.

Adam: We have a settled squad but we need more players who can contribute goals, especially having lost Willian, Pereira, Reiss Nelson and Carlos Vinicius. The bare minimum is one winger and an attacking eight. Ideally, we want two wingers, an eight and a third-choice striker - but at this stage of the window that's ambitious!

William: So far, Fulham have done well with what they have but a couple of extra bodies would help.

Today is the second transfer deadline day of the summer following a brief closure in June because of the Club World Cup.

In a change to previous windows, clubs only have until 19:00 BST to complete deals, bringing the Premier League in line with the EFL, Italy's Serie A, France's Ligue 1 and Germany's Bundesliga. The window in Scotland and Spain remains open until 23:00 BST.

It has already been a hectic window - with a number of storylines still to be resolved - but whether it turns out to be a day of transfer action or a pretty quiet one for your club, you will be able to keep across it all on BBC Sport.

Follow our live text coverage throughout the day here

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