Bayern Munich is set to acquire Fulham midfielder Joao Palhinha for £47.16m (€56m) plus add-ons, according to Sky in Germany, marking the most expensive sale in Fulham’s history.
Palhinha, 29, has signed a four-year contract with Bayern, keeping him at the club until 2028. Fulham owner Tony Khan commented on the landmark deal: “We’ve reached an agreement today that could result in the highest transfer negotiation in club history, with these resources coming in at an essential time in our summer squad planning for the season ahead and our long-term future.”
This transfer fee surpasses the previous record set by Aleksandar Mitrovic’s move to Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal last summer. Palhinha nearly joined Bayern last year, but the deal fell through on Deadline Day.
Bayern’s sporting director Max Eberl praised the acquisition, stating, “Joao Palhinha was already highly regarded at FC Bayern last summer – and rightly so! It was important that we never lost contact. Joao really wanted to come to FC Bayern and we need players like him. He is an important building block for our future.”
Eberl highlighted Palhinha’s experience and recent performance at the European Championships, noting his stability in the midfield. “He has once again demonstrated his strengths on a big stage and brings a lot of experience with him, having previously played in a European Championship and a World Cup and around 300 competitive matches in the Portuguese and English leagues.”
The Premier League and Scottish Premiership have aligned their Deadline Day with other major European leagues, with closing dates set after discussions with the leagues in England, Germany, Italy, Spain, and France.
