Emile Smith Rowe has joined Fulham on a permanent deal from Arsenal. The move sees Arsenal earn a fee of £34million with an initial £27million with £7million-plus in add-ons.
Smith Rowe made 115 appearances for the Gunners across six seasons having come through the Hale End academy. He joined the academy at the age of 10 and rose through the youth ranks before making a full breakthrough under Mikel Arteta.
He established himself in the side following an impressive performance against Chelsea on Boxing Day 2020, playing a pivotal role in a 3-1 win which got the Gunners’ season back on track. He would sign a new deal the following summer and take the No.10 shirt.
However, injuries and form ultimately saw his game time slashed. The rise of Gabriel Martinelli and the arrival of Leandro Trossard provided considerable obstacles for Smith Rowe and that has led to him seeking a move to find a way back onto the field more regularly.
His England career was accessed at Arsenal and getting more minutes for Fulham will provide a foundation and a potential pathway back to the national team. Arsenal are looking to replace the midfielder with a move for Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino.
Sporting Director Edu said: “Emile is loved by us all at the club. He has been with us for many years, and we are so proud that he has developed through our Academy system into our first team. It has been a positive collaboration to find the right place for Emile, where he will continue to grow and make his mark on the Premier League. We have completed an important and positive deal for everyone.
