Timothy Castagne swaps Leicester for Fulham in new long-term deal

Fulham has confirmed the acquisition of Timothy Castagne from Leicester City.

Castagne's contract stretches until the summer of 2027, with an option to extend by an additional year. Fans can expect to see him donning the number 21 shirt in the upcoming matches.

Expressing his relief and enthusiasm on joining Fulham, Castagne shared with FFCtv: “I feel very good. It’s been a long transfer window, but finally I’m here, and I’m happy to be here. It’s a big relief. I’ve talked to the manager and I just can’t wait to start training and playing.”

Fulham's Tony Khan extended a warm welcome to the Belgian full-back, stating: “I'm excited to welcome Timothy Castagne to Fulham! He's a versatile and very talented defender with great experience in the Premier League and international competition for Belgium. I'm pleased that Timothy has committed to a four-year contract with us, and we believe that he'll be an excellent addition to Marco's squad! Come on Fulham!”

The 27-year-old's football journey has seen him ascend steadily through the ranks.

His breakthrough came at Genk when he made his debut at 18, chalking up 27 appearances in his debut season.

The following year saw him assist the team in clinching a fifth-place finish in the Belgian top flight and a memorable run to the Europa League Quarter-Finals in 2016/17.

Castagne's exploits in Belgium were enough to turn heads in Italy, with Serie A's Atalanta acquiring him for a €6m deal.

In Italy, he shined further, making significant contributions in Atalanta's third-place league finishes and a foray into the Champions League knockout stages in 2020.

His time at Atalanta was marked with eight goals and 10 assists in 96 appearances.

Leicester City was the next team to secure Castagne's services, reportedly parting with €25m.

His tenure with the Foxes saw him score on his Premier League debut, contribute to an FA Cup victory, and feature in a Europa Conference League Semi-Final.

Castagne's stats at Leicester saw him score five goals and eight assists in 112 matches.

Internationally, Castagne's reputation has grown steadily.

After representing Belgium at various youth levels, he earned his senior debut in 2018 and has since graced the pitch at significant tournaments like the 2020 European Championship and the 2022 World Cup.

To date, he boasts 33 international caps and two goals for the Belgian national team.