Fulham have signed Tottenham midfielder Scott Parker on a three-year deal for a fee believed to be around £3.5m.
The England international had been expected to join Queens Park Rangers after his former manager Harry Redknapp agreed a £2m fee with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy, but Parker reportedly turned down a move to Loftus Road in order to continue playing Premier League football with Fulham. The 32 year-old had been deemed surplus to requirements by Tottenham manager Andre Vilas-Boas after the summer signings of Paulinho and Ettiene Capoue and arrives at Craven Cottage to strengthen Fulham’s midfield.
Parker has made more than 300 top-flight appearances and has won eighteen caps for England. He was named as Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association in his final season at West Ham and lifted the Premier League tittle with Chelsea in 2004/05. He spent seven years with Charlton Athletic after coming through the academy set-up at the Valley and told Fulham’s official website this evening:
I’m delighted to be joining Fulham and I’m looking forward to meeting my new teammates at training tomorrow morning. Fulham is an established Premier League club and I look forward to trying to help the team progress even further over the next three years.
Fulham manager Martin Jol said:
I’m delighted that Scott has joined us. He’s a midfielder who works tirelessly for his team and is a fantastic player both on and off the ball. It is wonderful to see a player of his stature playing for Fulham Football Club as he has shown his qualities in the Premier League and for the England team for many years. I’m happy that he’s here and joins us for training ahead of our first home match of the season.
Parker could make his Fulham debut in Saturday’s London derby against Arsenal at Craven Cottage.
Good on ye Scotty, Glad you went to Fulham and not them championship scumbags. Hope he does well for ya’s