Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga has signed at Fulham ahead of the 2021/22 season after the conclusion of his four-year stay at Tottenham.
The 29-year-old departed the north London club with 37 first-team appearances to his name. The Argentine, who was mainly an understudy to Hugo Lloris at Spurs, also spent a short spell on loan at La Liga club Elche CF last term.
He departed Spurs at the end of the 2020-21 season and he’s now set to arrive at Craven Cottage to provide competition to Marek Rodak as they battle to become Marco Silva’s first-choice stopper.
Fulham FC statement by Geoff Pruce
The Club is delighted to announce the signing of Paulo Gazzaniga.
After leaving his native Argentina, goalkeeper Gazzaniga’s first port of call in Europe was Spanish side Valencia.
He spent four years at the Mestalla before moving to the UK, where he signed a contract with Gillingham ahead of the 2011/12 season.
Fulham Academy goalkeeper Ross Flitney began that campaign with the gloves, but the 20-year-old Gazzaniga soon won his place, featuring 20 times in the second half of the season as the Gills missed out on a League Two Play-Off spot by just two points.
His form had not gone unnoticed, and that summer newly promoted Southampton brought him in on a four-year deal, where he worked closely with Fulham legend Jim Stannard who was their goalkeeping coach at the time.
A Saints debut came in a 4-1 League Cup victory over Stevenage that August, with a Premier League bow following a month later as Aston Villa were beaten by the same scoreline at St Mary’s.
Gazzaniga got plenty of Premier League experience under his belt on the south coast, featuring 21 times in the top-flight before a loan move to Rayo Vallecano for the 2016/17 season.
He was first choice for the Spanish side, making 32 appearances.
That summer, Tottenham Hotspur signed him for an undisclosed fee, reuniting Gazzaniga with his former Southampton boss, Mauricio Pochettino.
He kept a clean sheet on his Premier League debut for Spurs, in a 1-0 win over Crystal Palace.
The following campaign saw Gazzaniga feature more regularly, including in the Champions League, and his form was rewarded with a first call-up for the Argentina national squad, for whom he made his debut in a 2-0 victory over Mexico in November 2018.
The 2019/20 season was his busiest in North London, featuring 25 times across all competitions.
Gazzaniga was back in Spain at the start of the current calendar year, appearing eight times across the second half of the campaign to help Elche avoid relegation from La Liga.
The 29-year-old departed Tottenham with 37 first team appearances to his name.
Speaking to FFCtv, Gazzaniga said: “Fulham is a great club. I love the challenge and I think this is an excellent opportunity for me.
“When they spoke of the project here at Fulham the decision was easy. The Championship is a very strong league and I am looking forward to getting started.”
Tony Khan added: “I’m delighted to welcome Paulo Gazzaniga to Fulham Football Club this evening.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Paulo to Fulham; we believe he’ll be a valuable addition to our squad. He’s had many clubs pursuing him since his contract expired, and I’m glad that he chose to come to Fulham.
“All of us at the Club are working hard to ensure we give ourselves and the beloved Fulham supporters our best possible chance to succeed this season, and I’m sure that Paulo will help us in our pursuit of another promotion! Come on Fulham!”