Fulham have signed central defender Simon Stewart on a free transfer following his release from Sheffield Wednesday.
The Whites had been looking to bring in the 22 year-old centre half last season after watching him play for the Owls reserves but couldn’t persuade the Hillsborough club to let him leave permanently. Fulham boss Micky Adams placed the defender, who has made nine first-team appearances for Wednesday among his list of summer targets, but thought his chance had gone when David Pleat changed his mind and offered Stewart a new contract.
Adams, a native of the steel city himself, invited Stewart down to London for a few days for talks about a proposed move and is delighted that the centre back has signed a two-year contract. “We originally watched Simon in the Wednesday reserves last season – and when David Pleat gave him a free transfer, we made our move,” he said. “We thought the offer of a new contract had put pen paid to our chances but Simon came down for three days and liked what he saw. He plans to move down with his young family and get a place in the south.”
Stewart had spent six years with the Owls and was denied a regular starting spot by the presence of Nigel Pearce and Des Walker in the Wednesday defence.
