According to the Mirror (who credit the story to Spanish papers) : Fulham have agreed to sign Athletic Bilbao centre-back Fernando Amorebieta, according to reports from Spain. The 28-year-old's contract expires in June and he has been on the lookout for a move the Premier League. Despite interest from a number of clubs, it appears he has signed a four-year deal with the West London outfit Here is a link to the full story: http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/fulham-agree-deal-sign-athletic-1833753 Good but naughty please log in to view this image
This, if true, is an absolutely incredible signing. Targeted by Arsenal, Barcelona and Liverpool earlier in the season, the guy is quality. For free and a four year contract? Him and Hangeland will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
Beat me to the posting on this one Cottager,it seems an increadable signing, and for free.It seems he has more confidence signing for us than those other mentioned clubs.
Interesting signing. Watch a lot of Spanish football but haven't seen Athletic that much so not really noticed him. I know he is South American rather than Spanish and has been capped by Venezula. Just had a look on Wikipedia to see if there was much more about him (there isn't) but it does list him as playing for Fulham.
Well, I'll believe it once I read it on the Fulham site. But assuming it is true, I saw an interesting analysis from Bleacher Report (a site I usually use for my American sports!): Seems like exactly the kind of player Jol would target. I guess we have to hope that our slightly lower tempo style would suit him and help him hold his position.
Wow great news.. Does it also mean that Jol probably will be our manager next season? (Unless I have missed an announcement.)
I'm quite sure it was announced on the club website that his contract has been extended (can't find the link though). EDIT: here we go http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013/mar/20/fulham-martin-jol-contract I don't know anything about the fella in question, but it bodes well for next season.
I know we need to wait for the official confirmation by the Club but this Spanish paper is pretty certain (and gives a little bit more background on Amore: Fernando Amorebieta end his dream of playing in the Premiership next season, but will do so in the medium club, Fulham London. The center already has a commitment from four seasons by a significantly lower overall amount to which he came to offer the five-year Athletic (9 million) and then withdrew. The youth does not want to delay rojiblanco expected to announce his future and probably made public this week and agreed with the team coached by Dutchman Martin Jol. The Venezuelan international has already been in London last Easter with your partner to get an idea of ​​the area you could live. Amorebieta come to a club right now is far from the battle for Europe, ranked in the tenth position. The main star of the team is the Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov, who join the two former Madrid and Valencia, Moussa Sissoko and Mahamadou Diarra. Its most common partner to central Swiss international Philippe Senderos, who dominates the Castilian to be of Spanish origin, and Norwegian Brede Hangeland, a well-liked player Cottege Craven. After an unsuccessful approach to Arsenal and Everton, after rejecting the chance to go to Zenit and seeing that the cooling option Dortmund, Amorebieta has decided to embark on the project of Fulham, which grew thanks to investment from Egyptian billionaire Mohammed Al Fayed , former owner of Harrods almaceneces. From fry. Amorebieta, which grew from Fernando Llorente and fry it up like the Rioja this year, has played eight years in the first team, playing 254 matches and scoring four goals. The two have gone without leaving a single euro in Ibaigane coffers. His last season was, by far, the most successful. Bielsa managed to squeeze the maximum serenity and provide it with a field that was missing. Except for the final of the Europa League, where he played subdued, was one of the best performing players in the team. Source: http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2013/04/15/primera/1366039642_449170.html
This is the Marca piece in todays edition (English version of the paper so no dodgy translations - sorry Bidley). Looks like he is ours. http://www.marca.com/2013/04/15/en/football/spanish_football/1366043143.html
I wouldn't call 28 young, DR, but - younger than Hughes and Hangeland, older than Senderos - but it sounds like a good signing, even without the fact that it's a free transfer.
Think on Sky spanish show they said he had not finalised with Fulham and would wait to see if more interest came from other clubs, since Arsenal and other clubs had shown interest.
Guillem Balague, a respected Spanish journalist, has posted that the deal has been done - Source: http://sulia.com/channel/la-liga/f/1ec8c08a-8748-4e72-996b-911af0612935/?source=twitter Erm ⦠please log in to view this image
The words in this picture say convirtiendo partidos en esparta desde siempre which translate as becoming games in Sparta from always, although en can mean at, by, on and into as well as in and desde also means since. Literal translations don't help much but the basic thrust is that he always plays like a Spartan i.e. takes no prisoners. I think the picture explains that quite well.
