Fulham have added Fernando Amorebieta and Derek Boateng to their squad.
The Londoners ended the season with a 3-0 win at League Cup holders Swansea City, which ensured they finished in 12th position and seven points above relegation. However, the three points at the Liberty Stadium was their first maximum haul since the beginning of April, and their first win away from their Craven Cottage home since mid-March.
Martin Jol knows he must improve his squad if they are to fare better next time round, and he has staved off interest from a number of clubs to sign Amorebieta on a free transfer. The Venezuelan international has spent the past eight years in Spain with Athletic Bilbao, and with his contract up this summer, he had been linked with Arsenal and Everton.
But the Cottagers have stole a march on their rivals by landing the 28-year-old, who looks set to partner Brede Hangeland in the heart of the back four next season. The 6ft 4in player has signed a four-year deal with the Londoners, and he is already looking forward to next term.
“I’m delighted to have signed a four-year deal with Fulham and I’m looking forward to competing in the Premier League next season,” he told the official club site. “I’m impressed with the talent already at the club and I look forward to meeting the players for pre-season training in July.”
Boateng, meanwhile, was a target for Fulham during the January window, but they were unable to complete a deal. Like Amorebieta, the midfielder is out of contract this summer, and the Ghanaian international has decided to call time on his spell with Ukraine club Dnipro to sign a one-year deal with Jol’s club, with the option to extend this by a further 12 months.
“I’m very happy that I have signed and I want to thank the chairman, the manager and the board at Fulham Football Club,” the 30-year-old also told the official club site. “I’ve been working hard to come here and I’ll do my best for the club. It’s been a long road for me but now I’m here I’m so happy and I can’t wait to start and give everything I have.”
