Fulham
have struck a deal worth up to £30m to sign Southampton midfielder Shea Charles.
Pending a medical, the 22-year-old will join Craven Cottage on a five-year contract, becoming the most expensive Northern Irish footballer in history.
Charles, who came through the ranks at Manchester City, was also on the radar of Leeds United but has chosen a move to west London to replace Sasa Lukic after his transfer to Ipswich Town last week.
He becomes Fulham‘s third signing since the appointment of new manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who served as Real Madrid’s interim boss in the second half of last season.
Following Marco Silva’s departure to take over at Benfica, Arbeloa’s arrival has already seen Fulham recruit two players from Madrid — striker Gonzalo Garcia and midfielder Cesar Palacios — before sealing the capture of Charles.
The Cottagers head to Malaga on Wednesday and host German side Stuttgart on Saturday, 15 August, before Chelsea visit on Monday, 24 August for their Premier League opener.