Fulham have completed the signing of Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles from Southampton, agreeing on a five-year contract. Simultaneously, Nottingham Forest have reinforced their defensive line by acquiring Ivory Coast centre back Ousmane Diomande from Sporting Lisbon, with both Premier League clubs confirming the transfers on Tuesday.
Charles, aged 22, joined Fulham for a reported fee reaching up to £30 million ($40.5 million). He had moved to Southampton from Manchester City in 2023 and featured in 38 matches across all competitions last season, contributing six goals and two assists.
Expressing his excitement, Charles said, “I’m thrilled to have finalized the move. The club has a solid foundation at every level. Being here is a huge honor. I aim to launch my Premier League career strongly at such a reputable club, and I hope to delight the fans as well.”
Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest secured Diomande, 22, on a four-year contract with an option to extend for an additional year. Although the club did not reveal the transfer fee, British media outlets estimate the deal to be worth approximately $46.3 million.
Diomande, who developed through the Danish club Midtjylland’s academy, joined Sporting in 2023 and quickly established himself as a key player for the Lisbon-based team. He has made 132 appearances in all competitions for Sporting, playing a vital role in their consecutive Primeira Liga titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25, as well as their Portuguese Cup victory in the 2024-25 season.
Notably, the centre back also represented Ivory Coast at this year’s World Cup, where the team was eliminated by Norway in the round of 32.
Forest’s Chief Football Officer George Syrianos commented, “Ousmane is a powerful and commanding defender who brings a winning mentality. He shares our ambition for success, and we are eager to see the influence he will have wearing the Forest shirt.”
After finishing 16th in the Premier League last season, Nottingham Forest appointed Austrian Oliver Glasner as manager in July as part of their rebuilding efforts ahead of the new campaign. The club will kick off their league season at home against Leeds United on August 22.
