Shay Charles has officially joined Fulham and will play for the club until 2031.

Fulham have officially announced the signing of 22-year-old midfielder Shay Charles from Southampton for an undisclosed transfer fee. The two sides have signed a five-year contract, running until June 2031, with Fulham holding an option to extend for another year. Charles will wear the number 19 shirt for the new season.  

In an interview with Fulham's official media, Shay Charles expressed his excitement about completing the transfer. He said, "I am thrilled to have made this transfer happen so smoothly. Fulham has a very well-developed youth academy and senior team, and the club has clear long-term goals. The manager also explained the team's future blueprint to me in detail, and I am honored to be a part of it."  

“I’m looking forward to actually stepping onto the Premier League pitch here. Fulham is a very good club, and I believe it will be the ideal next stop in my career. I also hope that my arrival will bring surprises to the fans.”  

Fulham owner Tony Khan welcomed the signing, saying: "I am thrilled to see Shay Charles join Fulham! He is a very promising young player who has already gained valuable experience in the domestic league and international competitions, and has set a record as the youngest captain of the Northern Ireland national team."  

"This transfer will provide Shea Charles with an ideal platform for development, allowing him to play for Fulham and continue to improve under Alvaro's guidance."  

Shay Charles possesses excellent physical attributes and good judgment on the field. Although he primarily operates in midfield, he can also fill in at center-back and right-back. He developed through Manchester City's youth academy, where he played alongside Oscar Bob and helped the team win the Premier League U21 title two years in a row. He also served as captain of the youth team in the 2022/23 season.  

Thanks to his impressive performances in the youth team, Shay Charles gradually caught Guardiola's eye and made his Premier League debut in May 2023. That summer, he left Manchester City to join Southampton, where he became an important member of the team, making 38 appearances in all competitions and helping the team successfully return to the Premier League through the promotion play-offs.  

During the 2024/25 season, Shay Charles joined Sheffield Wednesday on loan and had a very successful year with the team. He helped the team finish in the top half of the league table, played in every league game throughout the season, made 46 appearances, won the team's Player of the Season award, and was shortlisted for the Championship Young Player of the Year award.  

After returning to St. Mary's Stadium last season, Shay Charles quickly established himself in an important position for Southampton, making 38 appearances in all competitions, contributing 6 goals and 2 assists, directly involved in 8 goals, and helping the team reach the FA Cup semi-finals and promotion play-off final.  

During this stage of the competition, Shay Charles scored several crucial goals to help his team achieve key results, including a spectacular long-range shot against Oxford United that was nominated for the English Football League Goal of the Year. He also scored decisive goals in the FA Cup quarter-final against Arsenal and the promotion play-off semi-final against Middlesbrough.  

Although still in the early stages of his career, Shay Charles already has extensive national team experience, having made 35 appearances for Northern Ireland. He qualified to represent Northern Ireland through his mother's family background and has worn the captain's armband in four of those international matches.  

Image source: Internet/Fulham official website