Fulham have completed the signing of Cedric Soares on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season.
The 31-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Craven Cottage throughout the January transfer window, but a deal proved complicated to thrash out between the two parties.
Premier League rules prevented Fulham from having three players on loan from domestic clubs at the same time, forcing them to turn Shane Duffy's loan move from Brighton & Hove Albion into a permanent switch on deadline day before wrapping up the Cedric signing.
Both Duffy and Cedric have now signed deals until the end of the season with the Cottagers.
"I feel great. I wanted this deal to happen, so we all pushed in the same direction, and I'm really happy and pleased to be here," the full-back told the club's official website.
"Me and my family are really, really happy for this move. It's a great move and I can't wait to start."
In the building. 📍#AcédIt ♠️ | #FFC pic.twitter.com/hwzCXeryhp
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) February 1, 2023
Fulham chairman Tony Khan added: "I'm excited to welcome Cedric Soares to Fulham on loan for the remainder of the season.
"Cedric has great experience against top competition, in international matches and in the Premier League. I'm pleased that we were able to reach an agreement with Arsenal to bring him to Fulham, and I'm excited for Cedric to flourish under the great coaching of Marco Silva!
"We're very happy with the work that we've done in this window, and look forward to the rest of the season ahead!"
The deal sees Cedric reunite with Fulham boss Marco Silva, under whom he played at Sporting Lisbon earlier in his career.
The Portugal international could make his debut for the club when they face free-spending Chelsea in the West London derby on Friday night.
Fulham will go into that match siting seventh in the Premier League table, three places and two points above their near-neighbours.
Barney Corkhill
