The former Real Madrid and Juventus defender has signed a three-year-deal with Fulham, with the option of a 12 month extension.
Fulham have made their first signing of the transfer window by capturing former Real Madrid youngster and Juventus man Marcelo Djalo from Deportivo Luga for an undisclosed fee, as reported by the Whites’ official club website.
The 23-year-old defender made 25 appearances for Luga in Spain’s Segunda Division, helping the club to a ninth placed finish, and scored two goals for the Spanish side in the process, becoming a valuable member of the team.
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic
However, Djalo will be playing in the Championship next season for Slavisa Jokanovic’s Fulham, with the Whites keen to break into the top two of England’s second division to return to the Premier League since their relegation in 2014.
It appears from the outside that Djalo is a replacement for Chelsea loanee Tomas Kalas, who seems to be Hull City’s first choice to replace Harry Maguire following his departure to Leicester City, as reported by the Hull Daily Mail, with new Hull boss Leonid Slutsky’s relationship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich putting them ahead of Fulham in the queue.
How Fulham strengthen now will be interesting to see from an observer’s point of view, with a striker seemingly a priority at Craven Cottage following the end of Chris Martin’s loan spell from Derby County – which yielded mixed results – as the Whites gear up for another promotion charge.
The 2016/17 season saw Fulham finish sixth in the Championship, where they then lost to third placed Reading in the semi-finals of the play-offs, and many have tipped them as favourites for the Championship title for the upcoming season.
Fulham’s Tomas Kalas celebrates at the final whistle
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