Born: Lisbon, Portugal, 9 July 1995
Position: Defensive midfielder; central midfielder
International caps: 34
International goals: 2
Signed: 4 July 2022 from Sporting CP (£17.2m)
Fulham debut: Fulham 2-2 Liverpool, 6 August 2022
Fulham appearances: 79
Fulham goals: 8
Sold: 11 July 2024 to Bayern Munich (£47.4m)
Fulham pinched tough tackling midfielder Joao Palhinha from under the noses of Wolves when they signed him for £17.2m from Sporting CP in July 2022. The Portuguese international, revelled in being reunited with his former Sporting boss Marco Silva, became an instant hit at Craven Cottage owing to his penchant for a strong challenge and popping up with crucial goals: in the derby against Brentford, a brilliant strike to put the Whites in front at Nottingham Forest and the late winner against Southampton in his first season alone.
Palhinha’s reading of the game was exceptional and his love of tackling meant he seemed tailor made for the cut and thrust of English football. He topped the Premier League tackling table in two terrific seasons in SW6 and, whilst Fulham tried to keep him away from top-tier suitors, it was only a matter of time before the Lisbon-born lad moved on. He was close to joining Bayern Munich in September 2023 and eventually signed for the German giants in July 2024 for £47.4m.
