Timothy Castagne, a Belgian international, has officially joined Fulham from Leicester City. The Cottagers paid a small fraction of what the Foxes did three years ago.
Castagne, 27, moved to Leicester from Atalanta for €25 million (about £21.4 million) during the summer transfer window of 2020. The right-back, who can also play on the left side with ease, made a name for himself in England as an offensive danger very fast.
Castagne made 112 appearances for Leicester and recorded five goals and eight assists. A number of departures were inevitable, though, given that the Foxes were relegated last season.
Castagne is now a Fulham player, according to both their and Leicester’s official websites. Fulham saw an opportunity to bring inventiveness to their full-back positions.
Castagne said to FFCtv at his unveiling at Craven Cottage, “I feel very pleased. “It’s taken a while, but I’m finally here, and I’m glad to be here.
It’s quite reassuring. I’ve spoken with the management, and I’m really eager to get back to practicing and playing.
Finer details of Fulham coup emerge
The Athletic clarified the transfer amount, saying Fulham’s deal is for £15 million, including potential add-ons. As a result, Leicester has suffered an unexpected loss of about £6.4 million on the outstanding defender.
Castagne signed a four-year contract with Fulham that runs through 2027 and will see him wear the No. 21 jersey.
The contract includes a club option for a further 12 months, according to the Athletic.
In a related development:
AGENT ADMITS FULHAM ARE SHOWING ‘INTEREST’ IN SIGNING 26-YEAR-OLD BRAZILIAN
Fulham agree deal to sign Sevilla striker Lucas Ocampos
Transfer notebook: Argentine must decide if he wants move, while Ajax target Man City’s James McAtee and Axel Tuanzebe trains with Luton ByMike McGrath and James Ducker, NORTHERN FOOTBALL CORRESPONDENT29 August 2023 • 11:21am Sevilla forward Lucas Ocampos will decide on a move to Fulham after the clubs agreed the terms of a deal for his switch to Craven Cottage. The 29-year-old has been on Marco Silva’s radar in his search for wide attacking options which has seen the club look at Everton’s Demarai Gray and Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.
The deal depends on whether the Argentine wants to give up Champions League play in Seville after winning the Europa League last season. There is general agreement that Ocampos would transfer to the Premier League.
Ocampos spent part of last season on loan at Ajax, but his time there was cut short. He then returned to Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium, where he helped the team win the Europa League, beating Manchester United along the way.
With Sevilla exploring bids for some of its most valuable players this summer, including Moroccan goalkeeper Bono, who joined Al-Hilal in the Saudi Pro League, he has been available for the appropriate deal.
After announcing the signing of Leicester full-back Timothy Castagne, Fulham is anticipating a busy final week of the summer transfer window. Their first target right now is Swansea goalkeeper Steven Benda.
Silva would prefer Werder Bremen attacker Niclas Füllkrug but his Bundesliga club is unwilling to sell the Germany international after selling Aleksandar Mitrovic, also to Al-Hilal. They also have Owen Wijndal, a left-back for Ajax, on their list of potential recruits.
Ajax target City’s McAtee as Kudus replacement
Mohammed Kudus may need to be replaced at Ajax temporarily, and James McAtee has surfaced as a candidate as suitors try to convince Manchester City to loan the England Under-21 midfielder.
The 20-year-old is being pursued by Ajax, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Leicester City, and Sheffield United, where he spent last season on loan.
The Dutch team is seeking a replacement for Kudus, who moved for West Ham United for a reported £38 million.
City has informed possible buyers that they will not be considering selling McAtee, who they believe has a chance to make the first team in the future.
The Premier League and European Champions’ willingness to allow McAtee to depart on loan for a second straight season before Friday’s transfer deadline is still up in the air.
Pep Guardiola would want to keep McAtee at City this season, but the team is aware that he needs playing time after the advancements he made when on loan at Sheffield United the previous year.
Tommy Doyle, a teammate of McAtee’s from City, is also of interest to Wolves.
Tuanzebe training with Luton
Axel Tuanzebe, a former center back for Manchester United, has been working out at Luton Town while he searches for a new team.
Tuanzebe, 25, left Old Trafford this summer after spending eight years as a professional there on loan to Aston Villa, Napoli, and Stoke.
Since the start of the Premier League season, Luton has evaluated center-backs, and in their first two games this year, they have let up seven goals.
