Evening Standard
·14 September 2023
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Yahoo sportsEvening Standard
·14 September 2023
F
ulham have announced new contracts for Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed, ending speculation over their futures after the summer transfer window.
Palhinha agreed personal terms with Bayern and was allowed to undergo a medical in Germany on summer transfer deadline day, only to see Fulham pull the plug at the last minute after they failed to sign a replacement. The player was understood to be disappointed by the collapse of the move.
Bayern are understood to plotting a January bid for the midfielder, but Palhinha has signed a new five-year deal which can be extended by a further 12 months to 2029.
Palhinha said: “I feel happy. A lot of history happened these few weeks for me, you heard a lot of things about my future, but I’m just focused on my work at Fulham.
“I always have 100 per cent commitment with this Club, I have all the respect for the Club, for the fans. Since the first day, they supported me a lot, and me and my family felt this since the first moment that I arrived here.
“I will give everything that I have. It was always like that, on the field, outside of the field, in our dressing room with my teammates. I have a lot of respect for everyone here in Fulham and I am ready to start again, to give all my best, and I want to achieve good things.”
Reed was a transfer target for Wolves during the summer but again a move failed to materialise with Fulham reluctant to let the player leave amid uncertainty over fellow midfielder Palhinha’s future.
and the player has now signed a new four-year deal. Again, the club can extend by a further year.
Reed said: “I’m buzzing to get it over the line. It’s something we’ve been working on for a short period, but I’m really happy to put pen to paper.
“I made it clear from the first day that, for me, my future was here, and if the Club matched that then let’s get something done.
“Thankfully, the Club’s ambition aligned with mine, so I’m really happy and looking forward to the future.”