FULHAM COMPLETE EMIL SMITH ROWE TRANSFER FROM ARSENAL

 

Emile Smith Rowe has left Arsenal on a permanent transfer. Marc Atkins/Getty Images

Fulham have signed Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal in a deal reported to be worth £34 million ($43.7m), a fee which makes him the most expensive signing in the club's history.

Smith-Rowe, 24, becomes Fulham's second permanent transfer of the summer as they look to reinvest the money made from João Palhinha's move to Bayern Munich, after Ryan Sessegnon rejoined the club on a free transfer in July.

"I'm finally here, so I'm really happy for me and my family -- it's a good moment," Smith Rowe said of the transfer.

"I'm really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my teammates.

"Listening to the project, speaking to the manager, and seeing what players we have here already, I think it's an exciting project for me, and definitely the perfect step for my career going forward."

The attacking midfielder made his Arsenal debut in the Europa League against Vorskla Poltava in September 2018 after coming through the club's academy, establishing himself in the first team in 2020 after loans to Huddersfield and RB Leipzig.

In all he made 115 appearances for the north London team, scoring 18 goals and providing 13 assists.

Smith Rowe penned a farewell to Arsenal on Instagram on Friday.

"To the Arsenal family, I wasn't sure where to start with this as it is the hardest message to write to you all." he said.

"I was ten years old when I first signed for this club, just a kid with no idea that I would go on to make over 100 appearances and wear the iconic No. 10 for Arsenal.

"I'm ready to take on a new challenge now, I feel hungrier than ever and I have to give myself the opportunity to take the next step. So thank you again to the Arsenal family, I'll always appreciate you all."

Tony Khan, Fulham's sporting director, said of his club's transfer: "I'm thrilled to announce the arrival of Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham Football Club!

"We're very excited to sign such a talented young player, and we look forward to Emile joining the squad in Portugal as we continue to prepare for the new season ahead!"

Fulham begin their Premier League season with a trip to Old Trafford to play Manchester United on Aug. 16.

Information from ESPN's James Olley contributed to this report.

- ESPN 

ARSENAL LEAVES 11 PLAYERS AT HOME FOR LIVERPOOL MATCH ON US TOUR AMID TRANSFERS

Arsenal have announced a 26-man squad for their pre-season tour of the United States with 11 players not making the trip.

Mikel Arteta's side will be without several key players who are likely to feature in his starting XI for the Premier League season due to their involvement in Euro 2024 and the Copa America. As such, the Gunners will be without a group of players while Stateside.

Declan Rice, Aaron Ramsdale, Bukayo Saka, David Raya and William Saliba will not travel after featuring at the Euros. The north London outfit still have friendlies against Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon scheduled between their return from the USA and the start of the Premier League season.

From July 25, Gabriel Magalhaes, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz will link up with the squad. They will arrive in the States after Arsenal's match against Bournemouth but before games against Manchester United and Liverpool.

Kieran Tierney, who injured his hamstring representing Scotland at the Euros, and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has a knee injury, will not make the trip. Both will receive treatment in London from the club's medical staff at Sobha Realty Training Centre.

New signing Tommy Setford is included in the travelling party as Arteta takes a squad of mixed experience. Martin Odegaard, Ben White and Jurrien Timber have travelled, while Leandro Trossard, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jukub Kiwior are also with the team following their involvement at the Euros.

Emile Smith Rowe is also part of the travelling squad, despite transfer interest from Fulham and Crystal Palace. However, Charlie Patino didn't make the cut.

The midfielder is set to leave this summer after a loan spell at Swansea City last year. The 20 year old featured in an Arsenal XI victory over Leyton Orient on Saturday, with the team predominantly heading to the US including Gabriel Jesus.

Goalkeepers: Karl Hein, Tommy Setford, Lucas Nygaard, Alexei Rojas.

Defenders: Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Josh Nichols, Jakub Kiwior, Ayden Heaven, Omar Rekik. 

Midfielders: Thomas Partey, Jorginho, Michal Rosiak, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith Rowe, Fabio Vieira, Ethan Nwaneri, SalahEddine Oulad M'Hand, Jimi Gower.

Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Reiss Nelson, Charles Sagoe Jr, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah.

Liverpool.com says: Like Liverpool, Arsenal will be missing a host of first-team players for the tour of the States. The two line-ups that face off in Philadelphia will be a long way off the teams that take to the field for the start of the Premier League campaign. It will still be a good watch for our fans in the States though.

ARSENAL KICK OFF PRESEASON EARLY AS MIKEL ARTETA TAKES SIX GUNNERS IN MARBELLA FITNESS CAMP

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

 Half a dozen Arsenal players have begun their pre-season with manager Mikel Arteta three weeks early in an early bid to boost their title challenge.

Ben White, Eddie Nketiah, Jurrien Timber, Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith Rowe and Fabio Vieira joined up with Arteta in Marbella on Monday to work on their fitness and form. Captain Martin Odegaard is due to join the group in the coming days as the squad look to jumpstart preparations for a season where they will be bidding to go one step up the Premier League table.

For Timber and Vieira the mini camp will offer a chance to build fitness after an injury-plagued 2023-24 season, particularly for the former, who suffered a major knee injury on his Premier League debut in August. Timber's versatility in defense was missed by Arteta last season and the Dutch international will be out to carve out a role for himself in the Arsenal XI. The left back berth that was something of a problem for the Gunners last season is there to be claimed in the weeks ahead even as sporting director Edu, who will also fly out to Marbella for the camp, scours the transfer market.

Meanwhile the Hale End triumvirate of Nelson, Smith Rowe and Nketiah have begun their preparations for 2024-25 at a time when their futures are in doubt. All three have been linked with moves away from the club in recent weeks.

Most Premier League clubs are due to reconvene in mid-July, squads trickling back together in a summer of Euros and Copa America football. The Gunners play Manchester United in Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium on July 28 before meeting Liverpool in Philadelphia three days later. Subsequently they will play Bayer Leverkusen and Lyon on home soil.

CBS Sports understands that Smith Rowe travelled out a week before the rest of the squad to get a head start on his fitness work. The 23-year-old struggled to break into Arteta's first team last season, appearing in just 19 games across all competitions. Nelson, meanwhile, favors a move away from the club, according to CBS Sports sources. Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brighton are long term admirers.

- James Benge

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