Arsenal given major seven-figure FFP boost as clever Edu transfer trick secures huge windfall
Edu has earned Arsenal a £2million windfall after Fulham secured their Premier League status, according to the Mirror. The Gunners are due this payment for Bernd Leno, following the Cottagers' successful fight against relegation.
Arsenal received a similar bonus last season and are now poised to benefit again from the add-ons negotiated in the initial £8m deal back in August 2022. Fulham paid just £3m upfront for the German shot-stopper, with the remaining £1m contingent on appearances.
Since his move to Craven Cottage, the 32-year-old has been in impressive form, earning him a new long-term contract until summer 2027. Marco Silva's side, who are now targeting a second successive top-half finish, made sure of survival on Sunday when they completed a memorable double over West Ham.
Only David Raya has kept more clean sheets (12) than Leno (nine) in the Premier League this season. Nearly four years ago, the German suffered a serious knee injury in a dramatic 2-1 defeat for Arsenal at Brighton, marking the start of Project Restart in June 2020.
Despite the heroics of replacement Emiliano Martinez, who later helped the Gunners lift the FA Cup, the former Bayer Leverkusen man somehow outlasted his Argentine rival following a £20m switch to Aston Villa. But Mikel Arteta decided it was time for change in the summer of 2022 when he signed Aaron Ramsdale from relegated Sheffield United for £24m.
Since then, the England international has lost his place between the sticks to Raya at the Emirates Stadium while Leno is now a regular across the capital at Craven Cottage. The German shot-stopper has since claimed he 'wanted to fight for his place' at the Emirates Stadium but was left powerless.
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