Fulham loan Alphonse Areola from Paris Saint-Germain

LEGANES, SPAIN - JULY 19: Areola of Real Madrid CF looks on pror the game during the Liga match between CD Leganes and Real Madrid CF at Estadio Municipal de Butarque on July 19, 2020 in Leganes, Spain. Football Stadiums around Europe remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in all fixtures being played behind closed doors.
Quality Sport Images / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Alphonse Areola swapped Champions League evenings at the Santiago Bernabeu and Parc des Princes for quaint afternoons by the River Thames.

The French goalkeeper joined Fulham from Paris Saint-Germain on loan Wednesday. The recently promoted London club holds the option to make the move permanent after his season-long deal.

Areola, 27, spent most of the 2019-20 campaign on loan at Real Madrid.

"Fulham is a historic club in London and I have heard a lot about the stadium," Areola said.

"I hope this season will be a good one for us. I want to bring my energy and do everything for this team to keep us where we belong."

Marek Rodak took the Cottagers' No. 1 spot from Marcus Bettinelli last season, but it appears the opportunity to bring aboard Areola - a thrice-capped French international with three Ligue 1 titles and one La Liga crown - was too enticing for Fulham manager Scott Parker to pass up.

Areola, who was part of France's World Cup-winning squad in 2018, was Thibaut Courtois' understudy at Real Madrid last term after he temporarily moved to Spain as part of Keylor Navas' permanent switch to PSG.

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