Premier League club in 'advanced negotiations' to sign former Sheffield Wednesday loanee Shea Charles - report
Former Sheffield Wednesday loanee could be set for a move to Fulham in a big-money deal, according to reports.
Fulham are in ‘advanced negotiations’ with Southampton to sign former Sheffield Wednesday loanee Shea Charles, according to Sky reporter Florian Plettenberg.
Charles, who spent the 2024/25 season on loan at Hillsborough, played a starring role in helping Southampton overcome a poor start to their 2025/26 Championship campaign to finish inside the play-off places.
The 22-year-old, who excelled during his time with the Owls, made 38 appearances for the Saints last term, scoring six goals across all competitions. He scored at key moments, netting the winner against Arsenal in the FA Cup quarter-finals and what everyone thought was the goal that had taken Tonda Eckert’s side to the Championship play-off final.
The Saints were later expelled from the play-off final after being found guilty of spying on semi-final opponents Middlesbrough ahead of the first leg at the Riverside. They were also found guilty of spying on Oxford United and Ipswich Town earlier in the campaign.
With the Spygate saga derailing their hopes of securing an immediate return to the Premier League, Southampton had to brace themselves for the prospect of high-profile exits this summer, and Plettenberg’s report suggests Charles, who was adored by Wednesdayites during his time at Hillsborough, could be the first big-name departure.
It has been reported that the Northern Ireland international could move to Craven Cottage for a transfer fee of ‘around €30million (£25.7m at the current exchange rate)’. Personal terms between Fulham and Charles are described as ‘almost agreed’.
Charles, who scored one goal in 44 appearances for Wednesday, was heavily linked with a move to Leeds United earlier this summer, meaning a Premier League switch appears inevitable for the former Manchester City midfielder.
City are due a cut of any fee Southampton receive for Charles after inserting a 15 per cent sell-on clause into the deal that saw him move to St Mary's in July 2023.
The prospect of a move to Craven Cottage would see him based not too far away from his younger brother, Pierce, after the goalkeeper joined QPR on loan from Manchester City last month following his permanent departure from Wednesday. The talented shot-stopper could eventually earn the Owls up to £10m.