Berge Joins Fulham

The Club is delighted to confirm the signing of Sander Berge from Burnley for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old has agreed a five year deal, keeping him at Fulham until the summer of 2029, with a Club option to extend by a further 12 months. He will wear the number 16 shirt.

Speaking to FFCtv, Berge said: “It feels fantastic. It’s been a little bit back and forth the last few weeks, but I’m finally sitting here in the shirt in this beautiful stadium, knowing that my future is here, which feels great.

“Fulham has always been a team that excited me. I’ve played them both in the Championship and Premier League, and it’s fantastic how they play, 4-3-3, 4-2-3-1.

“The DNA of the Club is to be dominant, aggressive, front-footed, and play nice football, and I think that suits me.”

Tony Khan added: “I’m excited to welcome Sander Berge to Fulham! Sander has tremendous experience playing in the Premier League and in international competition, and we believe that he’ll be a great addition to our squad, as we look forward to our first home game of the season this weekend!

“Come on Fulham!”

A defensive midfielder who is also at home playing further forward as an 8, Berge began his career in his native Norway with Asker, but didn’t have to wait long before a move to top flight Vålerenga, where he scored on his debut having just turned 17.

After 43 appearances and winning the division’s Young Player of the Year award, Berge took on a new challenge in Belgium, joining KRC Genk in January 2017.

He was immediately thrown into UEFA Europa League action, helping his new employers reach the Quarter-Finals where they were narrowly beaten by Celta Vigo over two legs.

The highlight of his time in Belgium came in 2018/19, when he helped Genk claim their first league title in eight years.

That led to a first taste of Europe’s elite continental competition, and in December 2019 he was named in the Champions League Breakthrough Team of the Year, alongside the likes of Kai Havertz, Dani Olmo, Rodrygo and Erling Haaland.

A move to the UK followed as Sheffield United made Berge their record signing to bring him to Bramall Lane in January 2020, and he went on to help his new team to one of their finest ever campaigns as they finished ninth in the Premier League.

The following year was a tougher one for the Blades as they suffered relegation, but their efforts won’t have been helped by Berge missing four months of the campaign with a leg injury.

Back in the Championship, they reached the Play-Off Semi-Finals in 2021/22, before banking an emphatic 91 points the following season to secure automatic promotion – a campaign which also saw them compete in an FA Cup Semi-Final – with Berge integral to their success.

Burnley were champions that summer, and having seen Berge’s qualities up close decided to bring him to Turf Moor, ending a productive spell in Sheffield which yielded 15 goals and 12 assists in 109 outings.

Though only with the Clarets for one year, Berge was a near ever present in the Premier League last term, featuring in 37 of their 38 fixtures, duly winning the club’s Player of the Season, and Players’ Player of the Season awards.

Having been a regular throughout the youth age groups, Berge was handed a senior Norway debut in a World Cup Qualifier against Northern Ireland, coming off the bench to replace Fulham midfielder Stefan Johansen, and he now has 46 caps for his country.