Fulham set to confirm signing of Southampton midfielder Charles

Fulham are today expected to complete the signing of midfielder Shea Charles from Southampton.

The Whites have agreed a deal to buy Charles for an initial £26m, with the fee potentially rising to £30m in add-ons, and he will sign a five-year contract.

Leeds are among a number of other clubs to have chased the 22-year-old Northern Ireland international, whose younger brother Pierce, a goalkeeper, recently joined QPR on loan from Manchester City.

New Whites boss Alvaro Arbeloa is keen to bolster the club’s midfield options and the arrival of the highly-rated Charles is a significant capture.

He has impressed hugely since being signed from Manchester City in 2023.

Charles spent most of the season before last on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, and last term he was a key player for Southampton, who reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup and missed out on promotion back to the Premier League when they were kicked out of the play-offs because of the Spygate scandal.

Fulham are looking to tie up a deal to sign him after completing the signings of Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid.

Charles’ arrival will follow the departure of fellow midfielder Sasa Lukic, who completed a move to Ipswich on Saturday.