Birmingham City have completed a deadline day deal for Fulham forward Jay Stansfield.
The League One side will pay an astonishing initial £15m for the 21 year-old. The deal could eventually rise to £20m with add-ons and the Premier League side have a 20% sell-on fee.
The England under-21 international has signed a seven-year contract at St. Andrew’s.
Stansfield told Fulham’s official website this evening:
Hiya Fulham fans. I just want to say a massive thank you for the last five years that I’ve been at this amazing club.
“I’ve taken this choice and opportunity to go and play first team football, and taken this next challenge to be able to develop my career, not just as a player but as a person. I can’t thank the club enough and all the fans, and everyone around the place, for the last five years and for making me into the person I am today.
Fulham will always have a special place in my heart, as that’s where I’ve made my home for five years. All the achievements that I’ve made, playing in the Premier League and scoring my first senior goal for such a major club, I can’t thank the Fulham family enough for all the opportunities and the love they’ve given me. I wish you all the best for the future and hopefully we come across each other again soon.”
Good luck Jay. Sorry to see him go.
Obviously if the numbers are correct it is a very good deal financially but a massive shame that we have let go such an exciting prospect and thoroughly nice individual.
Apparently we have secured Nelson on loan from Arsenal for the season so that replaces Willian but Marco wanted him replaced anyway and we have no replacement for Stansfield.
Anyway good luck at Birmingham Jay.
No trust in our young players, short sighted from Fulham FC, feeling unhappy about it. Suppose we will keep Carlos V.
Feel unhappy about this, no trust in young talent. I suppose Carlos V. will be back as cover.
I echo many. I love Jay and really wanted to see him flourish with us. Those numbers are insane. Clearly we didn’t want to let him go, but at least I can look at that fee and understand it if the player wanted the move too. Don’t like it, but I can understand it.
He wanted to move least we got good deal. But I’m down fill we weaker our team spoilt a good window
Gutted he’s gone but at that price its understandable. Nelson will be a good addition but jeez I hope Muniz doesn’t pick up an injury or we will be caught short.
Big mistake IMO.
Incredibly, it is THREE years ago that he showed Marco Silva his ability with a brilliant goal (ironically against Birmingham) yet he never got a look in -even in the Championship, that season.
He was never going to be given a real chance under Silva- just happens to be a sad fact. Being brought on in the 90th minute at Old Trafford said it all.
100% the lad did NOT want to go. He was desperate to make a real impact, this season. But I think he sensed that his playing time would be limited.
He drops two divisions but will have negotiated a hefty signing fee, quadrupled his wages and gone back to a club which DOES value his ability and where the fan base idolises him.
He has committed to a SEVEN YEAR contract.
He is the type of player that wears his heart on his sleeve and never gives less than 100%.
He is (was) the deadliest finisher at the club and his speed off the mark is (was) unparalleled.
According to some reports, his fee was 12m. But 12m or 15m, when he scores 20+ goals and gets Birmingham promoted this season, there will be clubs clamouring to pay double that money to sign him.
Maybe then Fulham will realise that they have made another glaring error when it comes to young players.
Charles man, chill out – is Jay better than anyone in the current starting 11? No. Obviously its a shame to see him go, but as he said in his final interview with Birmingham City – he would love to return, and now he can. Marco has built the strongest FFC team we’ve seen since Hodgson’s days – if a 21 years old who scored 10 goals in the championship cant beat out a 22 year old who scored 10 goals in the premiership, and we’ve been offered a genuinely absurd amount of money for him – its a shame but cash in. Birmingham increased their offer by 50% on deadline day – would be mad to say no. Charles man, trust the process. Marco knows what hes doing, and most importantly, hes not being held to ransom by T Khan. Let Marco cook
Some once said: you can’t have your cake And eat it
I could not believe this we I heard Another young player gone and a striker Marco must have a lot of faith in Muniz and Jimenez I don’t have a lot of faith in those two let’s hope one of these two strikers score regularly surely we could have kept Jay I hope this don’t come back and bite us on the Axxe
In Marco we trust
Of course we wanted him to stay. But if Marco has decided he’s below Muniz and Jiminez then for that money you can understand us cashing in. To me this really is about the money. That’s a lot to turn down if he’s going to sit on the bench. I can see why we’ve sold him. Look….on balance this has been a fantastic window for us. Above that…Marco looks like he’s in charge and signing off decisions. To me that’s the best news of all. We’ve been on TKs case for transfers. For me it’s time to say we’ve done as good as is realistically possible. COYW
Some people are never satisfied, are they? A few weeks back people were slagging off the Khans and bleating about nothing happening after Palhinha’s departure. Now we have made 6 variable but generally quality signings, lowered the average age of the squad, sold a home-grown talent in Jay, who may or may not have made it in the premier league, for a frankly astonishing amount of cash, strengthened the squad depth in most areas, presumably complied with FFP and PSR and there’s still moaning!
I’m gutted to lose Jay but, this reminds me that the club I have always loved is at the end of the day “A BUSINESS” I suppose the sport side of FFC is a side-line to the Khans whereas, Marco (I guess) is less bothered about the profitability and more concentrated on the teams abilities.
To say l’m very P…..Off would be an understatement. I agree with all the comments.
Yes in Marco l trust…. but Jay was never given an opertunity here to show his worth. Which he did last year at Brum. He and Luke were / are good enough and for his progression he has made the right / only option for himself.
Good luck Jay, very very sorry to see you go.