Fulham have finally signed American full-back Antonee Robinson from Wigan Athletic for fee believed to be £1.9m.
The Premier League newcomers confirmed their first signing of the summer this afternoon with left back Robinson signing a four-year contract at Craven Cottage. The Whites moved swiftly to activate Robinson’s release clause after Wigan were controversially relegated from the Championship and beat several top flight clubs, including Everton, Sheffield United, Newcastle, West Ham and West Brom, to the 23 year-old’s signature after putting together an attractive package of personal terms, which reportedly includes wages in the region of £45,000-a-week.
Robinson came through Everton’s academy, helping David Unsworth’s under-23 side lift the Premier League 2 title in 2017 but left Goodison Park without making a senior appearance. He has enjoyed two excellent campaigns with Wigan, his first on loan in 2018/2019, where he made 26 appearances. The full back then moved from Everton on a permanent basis and was one of the Championship’s most consistent performers, scoring once in 37 appearances, as Paul Cook’s men were cruelly relegated following a points deduction after the club’s new owners took them into administration. His form attracted the attention of several leading clubs, with a January move to AC Milan collapsing after his medical revealed a heart irregularity – which was later treated by an ablation procedure – and he returned to the Latics side for the run-in.
Robinson, born to an American father in Milton Keynes, has been capped seven times at senior level, creating a goal on his senior debut for the United States in a 3-0 win over Bolivia in Pennsylvania in May 2018. The pacy defender, who also made 34 appearances on loan at Bolton Wanderers in 2017/2018, will likely compete with Joe Bryan, whose brace against Brentford in the play-off final secured Fulham’s immediate return to the top flight for a place in Scott Parker’s starting line-up.
Robinson told Fulham’s official website:
I am made up to be a Fulham player. I was really excited to get down here and get everything signed. When the lads get back in here, I can’t wait to get going. I heard a few days ago that Scott Parker was interested in me and wanted to speak to me personally. We had a zoom call and he was really keen to get the deal done and for me to be a Fulham player. Fulham play a really nice style of football and I can see myself fitting in perfectly. As soon as I heard of the ambitions of the club it was an easy decision for me.
