Fulham have confirmed the signing of German goalkeeper Bernd Leno on an initial four-year deal.
The 30-year-old shot-stopper joins from Arsenal for a base £3 million, with the potential to rise to £8 million.
Switching up to West London. 😏#SPLENDID | #FFC pic.twitter.com/KQRXfEPWFP
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 2, 2022
Bernd Leno Joins Fulham
Leno’s Time In North-London
Since signing from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £22.5 million in 2018, Leno has made a total of 125 appearances for the Gunners. During a tough period for the club, the German international was a consistent performer and one of the first names on the team-sheet. After picking up a ligament injury in 2020, Leno found himself in an uphill battle to re-claim the starting spot between the sticks with the meteoric rise of Emiliano Martinez in his absence. However, with no promises over his role in the squad, the Argentine was sold to Aston Villa as he searched for consistent first-team football.
Leno resumed service as Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper up until the acquisition of Sheffield United‘s Aaron Ramsdale in August 2021. The young Englishman was originally brought in to be the 30-year-old’s understudy, but after a poor run of results at the start of the season he claimed the starting spot from the German. Ramsdale has gone on to make a name for himself at the Emirates over the past year, whilst Leno has been forced to watch from the side-lines.
However, there is no doubt in the German’s quality and at just an initial £3 million, it is a shrewd piece of business from The Cottagers.
Forever a Gunner, @Bernd_Leno 🔴⚪ pic.twitter.com/oXqQhCkMJ1
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 2, 2022
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Premier League Returnees
After returning to the Premier League at the first time of asking, Fulham will be looking to improve on their 2020/21 top-flight campaign by avoiding relegation this season. The club’s poor recruitment in recent transfer windows has seen them struggle to stay in the division for longer than a year at a time, a habit they will undeniably be looking to leave behind them.
However, the club’s business this summer can give their fans a lot to be excited for this season. Leno joins João Palhinha, Manor Solomon, Andreas Pereira and Kevin Mbabu at Craven Cottage this window in what’s been an ambitious period for the west-London side.
Fulham will have a tough fight on their hands to stay in the division this coming season, but their smart recruitment this summer means they certainly have more than a chance of doing so.
Read more: Every Premier League Transfer Completed in Summer 2022
