Guardiola loses City wonderkid as Bobb makes £26m Fulham switch
Norwegian talent Oscar Bobb leaves Manchester City for Fulham in search of regular playing time, becoming the Cottagers' third most expensive signing ever.
Manchester City’s talented Norwegian forward Oscar Bobb has completed a permanent move to Fulham, with Pep Guardiola reluctantly waving goodbye to one of his highly-rated youngsters.
From Etihad prospect to Craven Cottage
Bobb, still only 21, has struggled for consistent game time at City despite Guardiola’s clear admiration for the versatile attacker. The Norwegian made a splash two years back with that last-gasp winner against Newcastle, when Pep raved about his ability to “play in five positions” and his “incredible work ethic.”
But life comes at you fast in the Premier League. A nasty fibula fracture in August 2024 saw Bobb sidelined for a whopping 200 days, and since then he’s been unable to force his way back into City’s star-studded lineup. This season he’d managed just 739 minutes of action, with his last appearance coming back in mid-December.
Big money move
Fulham haven’t been shy with the old readies, splashing approximately £26 million (€31m) to secure Bobb’s signature, making him:
- The Cottagers’ third most expensive signing ever
- Only behind João Palhinha (£40m) and Emile Smith Rowe (£31.8m) in Fulham’s transfer record books
The deal represents smart business from both clubs. Bobb gets the regular football he craves ahead of potentially representing Norway at the World Cup, while Fulham secure a promising talent with Premier League experience.
City’s clever clauses
In typical City fashion, they’ve covered their backs with this deal. The champions have inserted:
- A 20% sell-on clause for any future transfer
- A matching rights option, allowing them to equal any bid Fulham might accept for Bobb in future
Seems Guardiola and the City brass aren’t completely convinced they won’t regret letting the Norwegian talent leave. Can’t blame them – the lad’s got serious potential.
For Fulham fans, this represents a proper bit of business. A technically gifted forward who can play across the front line and has learned his trade under the best manager in world football? Sounds like Christmas has come early down at the Cottage.