Fulham have reached a full agreement with Arsenal for the signing of Emile Smite Rowe.
Emile Smith Rowe was frustrated by his lack of game time at Arsenal last season and it appears a move for the Gunners academy graduate is on the cards.
Marco Silva’s Fulham were closing in on an agreement with Arsenal for the signing of the Englishman with that now being fully agreed.
Mikel Arteta, following Arsenal’s pre-season friendly against Bournemouth, suggested that things were going on behind the scenes for Smith Rowe.
The England international has left The Gunners’ pre-season tour of American to head for a medical with Fulham.
- Fulham strike agreement with Arsenal for Smith Rowe
The Cottagers have fended off rival interest which has mainly come from London rivals Crystal Palace with the Eagles looking for a potential replacement for Michael Olise, who joined Bayern Munich earlier this summer.
HITC previously confirmed that Arsenal wanted a deal worth £35million for Smith Rowe and they have sanctioned a deal worth £34million for the midfielder .
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was happy to keep Smith Rowe, but the club’s hierarchy – who have just finalised the capture of Riccardo Calafiori – want some sales to help them bolster other areas of their squad which includes in midfield and attack.
As well as Smith Rowe, Arsenal are prepared to let Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah depart the club, the English striker has agreed personal terms with Marseille but the Gunners want £50 million for the academy graduate.
Nelson has attracted interest from West Ham United with the winger also told he is free to leave the club, despite signing a new contract with Arsenal last summer.
- Smith Rowe’s England hope
Sources have told HITC that Smith Rowe made it clear to Arsenal that he wanted first team football at the club hence why he is now leaving the club.
As well as this, Smith Rowe is understood to still hold out hope of a call up by the England national team under a new manager, leading into World Cup 2026.
HITC understands that he feels he is good enough to be in the England picture once again, but he will only return with first-team action.
Former England manager Gareth Southgate once told The Mirror of Smith Rowe back in 2021: “He is a player we like a lot and he was very close to making this squad.”
However, with a new man in charge of the national team, Smith Rowe will be hoping to finally break into the first team on a regular basis and add to the three caps he has for his country.