Fulham in advanced talks for Rayo Vallecano defender Andrei Ratiu
Fulham are negotiating a deal for 28‑year‑old Romanian right‑back Andrei Ratiu from Rayo Vallecano as the club looks to bolster its defence before the transfer deadline.
Fulham are in talks to sign Romania defender Andrei Ratiu, 28, from Rayo Vallecano. The 28‑year‑old, primarily a right‑back but capable of covering other defensive positions, has indicated openness to a move to Craven Cottage.
Ratiu spent the bulk of his career in Spain after joining Villarreal’s academy. A brief loan spell at Dutch side ADO Den Haag preceded a permanent switch to Huesca, before he made his La Liga debut with Rayo Vallecano following his 2023 transfer.
Alvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Marco Silva as Fulham manager this summer, is keen to add defensive depth before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline. The Cottagers have already completed signings of striker Gonzalo Garcia and attacker Cesar Palacios from Real Madrid, midfielder Shea Charles from Southampton, and have made Jonah Kusi‑Asare’s loan from Bayern Munich permanent.
When a loan includes an option to buy, the borrowing club can secure the player’s services permanently by activating the clause, often by paying a pre‑agreed fee. Fulham exercised that mechanism with Kusi‑Asare, and the same strategic approach appears to underpin their pursuit of Ratiu as the deadline approaches.
