Fulham have benefited from a FIFA rule impacting Ukraine-based players to complete a deal for Israeli international Manor Solomon.
Solomon had been on the books of Shakhtar Donetsk since 2019 and notably scored in a famous Champions League victory against Real Madrid in 2020. However, with FIFA allowing players to suspend their contracts with clubs in the country in light of the ongoing war with Russia, he has agreed terms with the Cottagers for the 2022-23 season.
Fulham have become the first team in the Premier League to take advantage of the rule. The deal comes after Shakhtar CEO Palkin hit out at agents enriching themselves, with Shakhtar losing a number of first-teamers in 2022.
"Their decision is not supporting Ukrainian clubs; indeed it is destroying them – we have a lot of foreigners in the league and FIFA's decision is hurting the club," Palkin exclusively told Mirror Football earlier in July. "We lost deals with the amount of up to almost €50million.
"When they are making the decision, they should have been communicating it with all stakeholders including the Ukraine FA and all its member clubs, with the decision made on the information they receive from them. But what they did was to issue a decision but not to communicate with any of the clubs, and they ignored a letter that all the clubs signed and a lot of emails that we sent them from our legal department."
Solomon's exit follows a number of other departures. David Neres joined in January but left without playing a game for the club, while another Brazilian - young winger Tete - moved to Lyon in March and will remain with the Ligue 1 club until the end of the 2022-23 season.
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“I'm really happy and delighted to be here at Fulham and I can't wait to feel the special atmosphere at Craven Cottage,” said Solomon. The 23-year-old cannot be registered until August 1, thanks to the terms of the Ukraine rule.
"There are some great players here and I am determined to help Fulham achieve its goals for the year," he added. "I also want to send a big hug to my friends and supporters in Ukraine. You are in my thoughts."
Solomon has scored 16 goals for Shakhtar in 70 league games and 23 in all competitions. The latter total includes the third goal in a 3-2 victory at the Bernabeu, while he also has six senior international goals for Israel.
His arrival makes him Fulham's third signing of the transfer window as they prepare for life back in the Premier League. Joao Palhinha has joined from Sporting CP and Andreas Pereira from Manchester United.
