Fulham have announced a new deal for Joao Palhinha that could keep him at the club until 2029 – just weeks after the midfielder came close to leaving Craven Cottage in a dream move to Bayern Munich.
The Portugal international flew to Munich to undergo a medical with the Bundesliga giants, but the transfer collapsed at the last moment after the Cottagers failed to secure a replacement for the player before the window slammed shut.
Fulham also handed Harrison Reed an extension until 2027, with the option to extend the deal for another year.
‘You can imagine the impact that has on a football player when these type of things happen,’ Silva shared after deadline day, but added: ‘He loves Fulham, he loves football, he loves to be with us.’
Joao Palhinha has signed a contract extension to keep him at Fulham for up to six more years
The player came close to a deadline-day move to Bayern Munich during the transfer window
Harrison Reed also put pen to paper on a new deal to keep him at Craven Cottage long-term
Palhinha echoed the sentiments as he shared his thoughts upon signing the contract extension, which will run until 2028 with the option for the club to offer the player an additional year.
‘I feel happy. A lot of history happened these few weeks for me, you heard a lot of things about my future, but I’m just focused on my work at Fulham,’ Palhinha said.
‘I always have 100 per cent commitment with this Club, I have all the respect for the club, for the fans. Since the first day, they supported me a lot, and me and my family felt this since the first moment that I arrived here.
‘I will give everything that I have. It was always like that, on the field, outside of the field, in our dressing room with my teammates.
‘I have a lot of respect for everyone here in Fulham and I am ready to start again, to give all my best, and I want to achieve good things.’
Fulham’s director of football Tony Khan added: ‘We all know what a fantastic player he is, and that his contribution to the team has been immense. I am very appreciative of how hard Joao fights for us on the pitch, and pleased that we’ve agreed a new contract.’
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The midfielder made an instant splash upon his arrival in west London at the start of the 2022/23 campaign, and was named the club’s Player of the Season in their end of year awards.
Reed has been a longer servant at the club, joining in 2019 on loan from Southampton, but the player remains a regular starter under Silva.
Upon inking his new deal, which will run until 2027 with the option of a one-year extension, Reed shared: ‘I’m buzzing to get it over the line. It’s something we’ve been working on for a short period, but I’m really happy to put pen to paper.
‘I made it clear from the first day that, for me, my future was here, and if the Club matched that then let’s get something done.
Fulham looked to pin down both Palhinha and Reed to long-term deals to keep them at the club
Reed (right) has been a loyal servant at Fulham since joining the Cottagers five seasons ago
‘Thankfully, the club’s ambition aligned with mine, so I’m really happy and looking forward to the future.’
Despite this, however, Palhinha’s brother failed to rule out a move to Bayern for his brother – and client – in the future as he stressed that relations between the two parties remained good under the circumstances.
‘They didn’t kill the dream, they just postponed it,’ Goncalo Palhinha said after the move to the German giants collapsed. ‘Very proud of my brother and the player I represent. ‘
The agent went on to praise the ‘respect, honesty and professionalism’ of the Bavarian club.
