On Friday 22nd August 2024, the Club announced the signing of Joachim Andersen from Crystal Palace for an undisclosed fee on a five year deal, keeping him at Fulham until the summer of 2029, with a Club option to extend by a year.

Andersen 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.

He 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.