Fulham's £3m Blackburn bargain became a Craven Cottage legend | OneFootball

Moving from Blackburn to Fulham in 2015, Tom Cairney went on to become a legend at Craven Cottage after a bargain £3 million deal.

When Fulham shelled out £3 million to sign Tom Cairney from Blackburn Rovers in the summer of 2015, few could have predicted the legacy he would go on to carve out in west London.

A technically gifted midfielder with an eye for a pass, and a knack for the spectacular, Cairney is a name synonymous with Fulham's modern-day rise.

From Championship standout to reliable Premier League elder-statesman, the now 34-year-old has been at the heart of Fulham's journey for a decade, and remains one of the shrewdest signings in the club's recent history.

Tom Cariney became a Championship icon

While Cairney may now be known to top-flight fans as a steady presence in Marco Silva's stable Fulham side, his most electric football came in the second tier.

His 2016/17 campaign in a white shirt remains the gold standard. Cairney racked up 13 goals and 10 assists while being the driving force behind Fulham's play-off push.

Ahead of the subsequent 2017/18 term, he was named club captain following the departure of Scott Parker. And despite a slow start to the campaign, Fulham's form after the turn of the year saw the Cottagers go all the way to Wembley after a 23-match unbeaten run.

Beating Aston Villa 1-0 in an all-important play-off final, it was Cairney who slid the ball underneath Sam Johnstone to bring top-flight football back to Craven Cottage after a four-year absence.

Few players embodied Fulham's attractive possession-based approach under Slavisa Jokanovic quite like Cairney. And his ability to influence matches in the Championship was only showcased again twice more during Fulham's 2019/20 and 2021/22 promotion campaigns.

The step-up to a Premier League leader

Though he is no longer the first name on the teamsheet in the Premier League, Cairney's role has evolved rather than faded.

A calm head in big moments, a respected voice in the dressing room, and a dependable option off the bench.

Cairney continues to serve as a key figure during Fulham's most stable top-flight spell in recent memory.

After reports that Championship newcomers Wrexham had offered Cairney a lucrative £50,000 per week deal to move back to the second tier, Fulham recently announced on their retained list that a new contract has been offered to the now veteran midfielder, with his contract set to expire at the end of the month.

Should he stay or should he go? Cairney has done it all with Fulham. He's been part of three promotions and two relegations with the Cottagers, and through it all, he has remained loyal - a true leader through the highs and lows.

What could have been for Blackburn Rovers and Hull City

Before his rise to become one of the Championship's best at Fulham, Cairney had spells with Hull City and Blackburn Rovers. But neither saw the best of him.

At Hull, he was a young talent trying to find his feet. At Blackburn, he was a fan favourite among supporters. However, his move to West London saw the Nottingham-born midfielder elevate to a whole new stratosphere regarding his rapport with the fans of his respective club.

Looking back to what is now ten years ago, the summer of 2015, the £3 million paid by Fulham to lure Cairney away from Ewood Park doesn't just feel like a steal, it is a steal by its very definition.

A fantastic player in a Fulham shirt, and an even better servant.