Bristol City have wrapped up a deal to take Alfie Mawson on loan from Fulham for the 2020/21 season.
The 26-year-old joins Joe Williams and Chris Martin in signing up at Ashton Gate this summer and adds to City's central defensive optons.
City made enquiries for Mawson - a transfer target of the club for several years - earlier in the transfer window and have returned to strike a deal for the Fulham defender with head coach Dean Holden confirming at the weekend that Nathan Baker is out injured until Christmas.
With Filip Benkovic returning to Leicester City at the end of last campaign, the Robins have been looking for defensive reinforcements, and now City have secured a major transfer target.
But they have had to see off considerable competition to get him, with Watford and other sides interested in the former Swansea City man too, who worked with Lee Johnson at Barnsley previously.
Mawson made 28 appearances for Fulham last season as Scott Parker's side won promotion. And he has six caps for the England U21s.
City chief executive officer Mark Ashton said: “Alfie will make an excellent addition to Dean’s squad and I am delighted to see this deal completed at the beginning of the new season.
"Alfie is a player we have been interested in for some time and I am pleased to say we have got our man.”
Fulham FC statement
The Club can confirm that Alfie Mawson has joined Bristol City on a season-long loan.
The defender signs for the Robins for the full 2020/21 Sky Bet Championship campaign.
Mawson has featured 44 times for Fulham since joining from Swansea in August 2018.
We’d like to wish Alfie all the best with his endeavours in the South West this season.