Fulham have agreed a deal worth up to £30m for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles.

Subject to a medical, the 22-year-old will move to Craven Cottage on a five-year contract and become the most expensive Northern Irish footballer of all time.

Charles, who started his career at Manchester City, also attracted interest from Leeds United but has opted to move to west London to replace Sasa Lukic following his move to Ipswich Town last week.

He becomes Fulham‘s third signing since the appointment of new manager Alvaro Arbeloa after his spell leading Real Madrid on an interim basis during the second half of last season.

Arbeloa’s arrival – following the departure of Marco Silva to take charge of Benfica – has led Fulham to sign two players from Madrid, striker Gonzalo Garcia and midfielder Cesar Palacios, before the capture of Charles.

The Cottagers face German club Stuttgart on Saturday, 15 August, before travelling to Stamford Bridge to take on rivals Chelsea on Monday, 24 August, in their Premier League opener.

Catalans Dragons wing Tommy Makinson has announced he will retire at the end of the season.

The 34-year-old former England international won five Grand Finals and a Challenge Cup during a trophy-laden spell with St Helens between 2011 and 2024.

Saturday’s 42-20 defeat for Catalans at Huddersfield Giants all but confirmed the end of their slim play-off hopes meaning Makinson’s final game will be at his hometown team Wigan Warriors on Friday, 11 September.

“As the 2026 season moves towards its final stages, I feel now is the right time to announce that this will be my final season as a professional rugby league player,” Makinson posted on social media.

“Rugby league has been incredibly kind to me, and when I look back on the journey I’ve been on, I feel nothing but pride and gratitude.

“I’ve been very fortunate to live out a dream I had as a kid and represent some of the biggest clubs in England and France and also the pinnacle which is representing my country.”

He added: “I’ve still got a few games left, and I want to enjoy every second of them.

“I’ll be taking it all in, appreciating the moments and giving everything I have to finish this chapter of my career in the best possible way.”