Fulham seal Johnson deal

9:34pm Thursday 7th August 2008

Andrew Johnson has completed his transfer from Everton to Fulham for an undisclosed fee.

Johnson had been linked with a move to Craven Cottage for much of the summer, but the deal appeared to hit problems earlier this week, only for the clubs to come to an agreement on a fee, with 27-year-old Johnson signing a four-year contract.

Cottagers boss Roy Hodgson told the club's official website: "I have made no secret of my wish to add Andy Johnson to my squad. I believe that he has all the qualities needed to assist us in next season's campaign and I am more than delighted that we have secured his services for the long term."

He added: "There has been a lot of speculation regarding this transfer during the last week, very little of which has had any foundation.

"I am just happy to be able to focus on the positive news that Andy Johnson is now a Fulham player, one who we have great hopes for, and I am grateful to the chairman, the board of directors and the chief executive for working tirelessly to make this possible."

Johnson is the club's 11th signing since they secured their place in the Premier League on the final day of last season and looks set to form a new forward pairing with fellow new boy Bobby Zamora.

The former Birmingham striker made 73 appearances and scored 22 goals during his stint on Merseyside but found himself edged out of David Moyes' first-choice starting XI after the arrival of Ayegbeni Yakubu from Middlesbrough last summer.

Johnson was quick to thank Hodgson for his determination to close out the deal, and the former Birmingham and Crystal Palace striker has vowed to repay Fulham's manager with his performances.

"I am glad that the agreement is now finalised and that I can concentrate on playing football for Fulham," Johnson told www.fulhamfc.com. "Roy has been great over the last week or so of ongoing discussions and his support in getting me here has only strengthened my ambition to give 100% for him and the team every game.

"Fulham is a club with a lot of history and ambition and I'm pleased that I can be part of that. I'm now just looking forward to getting into the dressing room with the lads and to start training with them as soon as possible."

Features