When Bernd Leno reflects on the £3million that Fulham paid to sign him from Arsenal last summer, he says with a smile: “I have to say it’s a bargain. It’s very, very cheap, especially in the Premier League. I am not £3m — I’m probably worth a little bit more. Otherwise I would be a very bad player!”
That transfer fee could rise to £8m with add-ons being met, but it still looks a steal. The 31-year-old German goalkeeper has excelled since his switch to Craven Cottage and is playing a crucial role in Fulham’s unlikely push for Europe under Marco Silva.
Fulham will be three points off the Champions League places if they win Monday’s west London derby at Brentford, and there is an argument that Leno has been one of the signings of the season.
He has rebuilt his career since being replaced by Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal No1. Leno was hurt by his departure from Emirates Stadium, but says he has no ill-feeling towards his former club.
“I don’t have toxic [feelings] or bad energy for Arsenal,” he tells Standard Sport. “It didn’t end in the perfect way, but my reception at the Emirates was really good. I get fans coming up to me saying, ‘thank you for your four years... you were very good’.
“I was really happy with my performances. Even when they dropped me, I did nothing wrong. I came through the front door and I left through the front door. I still have a connection to the club.”
Leno jumped at the chance to join Fulham and has been in outstanding form this season, producing several match-winning displays and keeping seven clean sheets.
“It was clear for me, I wanted to stay in the Premier League,” he adds. “It’s the best league in the world by far — and London life, I really love it here.
“I spoke to people at Arsenal about wanting to join Fulham. Everyone said it’s a nice family club. And I played many times against Fulham and it is an old-school stadium. All these aspects played a role.
“The goalkeeper coach [Hugo Oliveira] and the manager [Silva] spoke to me about their plans. Hugo is a very good coach. I love my job, and if you have someone who is always smiling, he lifts you up in difficult times.
“At the beginning, the main goal was to stay in the Premier League. We are in the quarter-final of the FA Cup, we’re seventh in the League — no one saw that coming.”
Fellow summer signings Joao Palhinha, Andreas Pereira, Willian and Manor Solomon have also had a big impact on a Fulham side that cruised to the Championship title last season.
“We were all good additions, but we are not the spine of the team — the energy was already there before,” Leno says modestly. “My form is the same as the team’s: pretty good. Most of the games at the beginning, you have the feeling you are the underdog. At Arsenal it was a little different, because you always had to win and there was a lot of pressure.
“This season, we gave everything back to the fans. The expectations were different but now the fans dream, it’s growing. I feel at home here.”
With Arsenal pushing for the title, Leno is backing his old club to stay ahead of Manchester City. “I hope they do it, I think they can,” he said.
His main focus, however, is finishing the season strongly with Fulham, while he is also targeting a Germany recall, having not been in the national squad since November 2021.
“I didn’t go to the World Cup because I didn’t play at Arsenal and then the World Cup was in November,” he says. “I can accept that. But, hopefully, in March, in the summer, or maybe next season, I can go back. That is a target for me.”
