Fulham have announced the signing of midfielder Manuel Ángel from Real Madrid this week. The 22-year-old arrives for an undisclosed fee and has signed a contract until June 2029, with an option for a further year.
Fulham currently sit 16th in the Premier League with zero points from their opening two matches. They have scored two goals and conceded four, leaving them six points behind early leaders Manchester City.
Manuel Ángel is a two-footed central midfielder who began his career at Sevilla before moving to Real Madrid's academy in 2018. He progressed through the ranks to captain the Castilla side and made four La Liga appearances in the second half of last season. He also featured in Real Madrid's UEFA Champions League victories over Manchester City.
In a statement released by Fulham FC, the player expressed his excitement. "It's an incredible feeling to have signed for such a legendary club as Fulham, the oldest in London," Manuel Ángel said. He added that he is looking forward to experiencing the passion of the supporters at Craven Cottage.
Fulham's difficult start to the league campaign continued with a 1-0 defeat away to Sunderland. The match's only goal came from a combination of Sunderland substitutes Habib Diarra and Wilson Isidor, with the latter applying the finish. The result ended Sunderland's 17-year run without a Premier League home win against Fulham.
Manager Álvaro Arbeloa acknowledged his team's performance was lacking. "It wasn't our day for sure," he said after the match. "We need to improve many things, for sure, especially the energy and the attitude." Sunderland's central defender Nordi Mukiele was singled out as a key figure in frustrating Fulham's attempts.
The back-to-back defeats leave Fulham in a precarious early position. With a record of zero wins, zero draws, and two losses, they have a goal difference of minus two. Their next opportunity for points comes quickly with a home match against Crystal Palace on September 5th. Palace are currently 18th in the table, making it a significant early fixture for both clubs.
Fulham's opening day loss was a 3-2 defeat to Chelsea in a west London derby. Chelsea's Cole Palmer was voted the Premier League's Player of the Matchweek for his role in that victory, according to the league's official website. Palmer provided an assist and scored what proved to be the winning goal at Craven Cottage.
The immediate focus turns to preparing for the Crystal Palace match. Fulham will hope the arrival of Manuel Ángel can provide a boost to a squad looking for its first positive result. Fans can view the full schedule on the club's fixtures page. The new midfielder's contract includes a club option to extend his stay until the summer of 2030.
