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Chukwueze is a Cottager | Getty Images
Fulham have snapped up a winger with big upside after putting together a flurry of late business on deadline day.
Fulham pulled off an impressive coup on transfer deadline, just beating the deadline to wrap up a deal for AC Milan winger Samu Chukwueze. arrives on a loan deal and an option to buy worth around £21.6million, and it’s a statement signing for the Cottagers, especially given they also signed Chelsea talent Tyrique George.
Marco Silva was local about the lack of active recruitment during the summer transfer window, but the club chiefs ultimately pulled out their finger to get their boss some new weapons.
Chukwueze said upon arrival: “I’m so happy to be here. It’s an amazing club. It feels like home, because I have my people around me. I feel at home already, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Chukwueze has been with Milan for the last two years, but he came through at Villarreal and represented the first team between 2018 and 2023, winning the Europa League along the way. For context, I live in Spain and have followed Villarreal for years. I’ve had a season ticket for the last four years, and I saw Chukwueze play on countless occasions. Here’s what to expect from the winger.
What Fulham are getting from Chukwueze?
Speed and lightening feet. Let’s start with the positives. Chukwueze has unbelievable pace, and it’s the main reason he was courted by clubs aplenty around Europe early in his career. He burst onto the scene at Villarreal and he was one of those players fans were looking forward to breaking through after plenty of clips of him impressing with the B team and youth ranks.
He is likely to win pretty much any race out wide, and he has quick feet to match, able to dance his way out of a phone box. That agility and footwork saw him impress against top opponents aplenty in La Liga, and he also played a starring role in both the Europa League-winning season and subsequent the season that saw the Yellow Submarine reach the semi-finals of the Champions League.
In fact, his best moment in a Villarreal shirt came off the bench to put Bayern Munich to bed with a breakaway goal in the Champions League quarter-finals during that season. Personally speaking, I loved watching Chukwueze play because, quite frankly, you never knew what he would do next, and his fast-twitch ability meant he could beat a player even when you didn’t think there was enough space to do anything.
What are the downsides?
As with any high-level winger that has an option to buy worth only £21.6million, there are some downsides. At AC Milan, Chukwueze has struggled to displace the likes of Christian Pulisic, who has been very good, and injuries have not helped. As with any player who relied on speed, the winger is prone to hamstring injuries, and he has had three in the last two season.
In terms of his playing ability, it’s far to say Chukwueze is not always consistent with his final ball, another common trait for speedy wingers. He can produce a good finish and a good cross, too, but don’t expect Vinicius Jr or Lamine Yamal-level final product. That inconsistency is what stopped him going to the heights he was once tipped for. As a youngster, Chukwueze was backed by many to be a world-beater.
Other than that, the main weakness I would point out is his defensive ability, something that did leave Unai Emery frustrated at times. Emery is defence-first, and that saw Chukwueze brought in and out at times. Marco Silva will have similar qualms if the Nigeria international cannot adapt defensively, and there will an added physical element in the Premier League. In fact, I would go as far as to predict, if the winger does not see regular starts at Fulham, it will be because of his defensive issues.
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