Fulham have completed the signing of Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace.
The Whites initially offered £20m for the Denmark centre-back, who spent the 2020-21 campaign on loan at Fulham from Lyon.
That bid was rejected but negotiations continued and a deal was eventually agreed for him to return to Craven Cottage for closer to £30m.
He has signed a five-year contract with the option of an additional year.
Andersen, 28, was a standout performer during his time at the club but relegation from the Premier League scuppered any chance of signing him on a permanent deal.
He joined Palace that summer and has made 111 appearances for the Eagles.
Fulham recently signed centre-back Jorge Cuenca from Villarreal but have been looking to further strengthen in that position following the departures of Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream.
Speaking on Friday afternoon as the signing was about to be formally completed, Fulham boss Marco Silva said: “I think he’s a great signing and a player who is loved by this club.
“I am 100% sure he is going to bring something important for us. He is going to be a good tool for us this season and in the seasons ahead.”
Fulham FC statement by Geoff Pruce
The Club is delighted to announce the signing of Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee.
A fan favourite from his loan spell at Fulham in 2020/21, Andersen is now back on a permanent deal, agreeing a contract until the summer of 2029, with a Club option to extend by a further year.
Speaking to FFCtv, Andersen said: “It’s really nice to be here. Feels a little bit like coming home, so it’s a good feeling.
“Of course, I know the Club, I know how Fulham are playing, I know many players, I know some staff, so I didn’t need anyone to convince me because I knew a lot of things already.
“I had some good talks with the Manager. I know the playing style he likes to play, so it was just a decision I needed to make myself, with my wife and family, and see what’s the best for me, and I think this is a good step for my career.”
Andersen will wear the 5 shirt for the Whites, the same number he adopted during his previous spell at the Club.
Tony Khan added: "I'm thrilled to welcome Joachim Andersen back to Fulham, but this time as a permanent move! Joachim is a formidable and experienced defender, he proved to be a steady leader for us during his previous loan, and I know that he's excited to join us again!
"Come on Fulham!"
He made his Eredivisie debut for Twente as an 18-year-old substitute in March 2015, and marked his first start with a goal two weeks later in a 2-2 draw away at Groningen.
Andersen was a regular for the Enschede side over the subsequent two seasons, and had amassed 49 appearances – and four goals – by the time he joined Sampdoria in the summer of 2017.
After helping his new club to a top half Serie A finish in his maiden campaign in Italy, Andersen established himself as one of the best young defenders in the division the following year, playing 32 times as the club finished ninth.
That form prompted Lyon to make him their record signing, agreeing a deal worth up to €30m to bring him to France.
His first season was an eventful one, with Lyon reaching the Semi-Finals of both the Champions League and the French Cup, with Andersen featuring 29 times across all competitions, often in the same backline as Kenny Tete.
A loan spell at Craven Cottage followed, and while it was a frustrating campaign for the Club, Andersen excelled at the heart of the defence.
Despite playing the majority of the campaign in empty stadia due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Andersen was taken to the hearts of the Fulham faithful with his committed displays and quality on the ball.
His leadership abilities were clearly evident, too, with the defender captaining the side in 17 Premier League matches – something of a rarity for a loanee – while he also came a narrow second in the Club’s Player of the Season vote.
Despite Fulham’s relegation, Andersen had proven his top flight credentials, and duly made a permanent switch from Lyon to Palace.
The Eagles continually improved with Andersen in their backline, finishing 12th, 11th, and then 10th in his three seasons in South-East London, during which time he registered nine goal involvements (3G, 6A) in 113 outings.
Having represented Denmark at every age group, Andersen was handed his senior debut in October 2019 and has now won 36 caps, appearing at Euro 2020 – where he helped his nation reach the Semi-Finals – World Cup 2022 and Euro 2024.