Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen has completed his permanent move to Queens Park Rangers this afternoon for an initial fee understood to be in the region of £600,000.
The Norwegian midfielder enjoyed a successful loan spell in Shepherd’s Bush last season, scoring four times in 21 appearances as Rangers finished the Championship season strongly. Mark Warburton made the former Celtic man one of his key summer transfer targets – and, although negotiations were interrupted by the departure of Fulham boss Scott Parker and his subsequent replacement by Marco Silva – the QPR head coach has finally got his man.
Johansen, 30, has signed a three-year deal with QPR. He told the club’s official website this afternoon: “It is great to be back. This is a good fit. When the gaffer brought me in last season, I felt the way I play suits the way he wants us to play. He has played a big part in making this permanent. I come here where there is a group of good players and staff, and I am very much looking forward to it.”
The energetic midfielder was understood to have been unhappy at being left out of Fulham’s 25-man Premier League squad by Parker last season – the second time had been frozen out following promotion to the top flight. Johansen, a key part of Fulham’s two promotion-winning sides, scored 21 goals in 142 appearances for the Whites, featuring in every match of the famous 23-match unbeaten run under Slavisa Jokanovic. He forged a memorable midfield triumvirate with Tom Cairney and Kevin McDonald, swiftly becoming a Craven Cottage cult hero.
