Fulham sign Charles from Southampton as Forest bolster defence with Diomande

WEB DESK: Fulham have signed Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles from Southampton on a five-year contract, while Nottingham Forest have strengthened their defence with the arrival of Ivory Coast centre back Ousmane Diomande from Sporting, both Premier League clubs announced on Tuesday.

Charles, 22, joined Fulham for a reported fee of up to $40.5 million. He moved to Southampton from Manchester City in 2023 and made 38 appearances across all competitions last season, scoring six goals and providing two assists.

“I’m buzzing to finally get it over the line. The club has got a really good foundation, from the bottom to the top really,” Charles told Fulham TV.

“To be here is a massive privilege. I hope to really kickstart my Premier League career. At such a good club as well, it’s perfect for me, and hopefully perfect for the fans as well.”

Meanwhile, Forest have signed Diomande, 22, on a four-year contract with an option to extend for another year. The club did not disclose the transfer fee, although British media reported the deal was worth around $46.3 million.

Diomande, who came through the academy of Danish club Midtjylland, joined Sporting in 2023 and quickly became a key member of the Lisbon side.

He made 132 appearances for Sporting in all competitions, helping the club win back-to-back Primeira Liga titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25, as well as the Portuguese Cup in the 2024-25 season.

The centre back also represented Ivory Coast at this year’s World Cup, where they were eliminated by Norway in the round of 32.

“Ousmane is a powerful, commanding defender, and arrives here with a winning mentality. He shares the same ambition for success we have, and we are excited to see the impact he can have in a Forest shirt,” Forest Chief Football Officer George Syrianos said.

Forest, who finished 16th in the Premier League last season, appointed Austrian Oliver Glasner as manager in July as they seek to rebuild ahead of the new campaign.

They will begin their league season at home to Leeds United on August 22.