Premiership club Fulham have announced the signing of young midfielder Giles Barnes from Derby County on loan. The Cottagers, who see Barnes as a long term replacement for Jimmy Bullard, will have the option to sign him permanently in the summer for a fee of £2m. Fulham have also paid Derby an undisclosed loan fee.
Barnes, 20, has played 82 times for Derby in the last four years. He was the Rams’ Young Player of the Year for the 2006-07 season.
Barnes also holds the individual record for most Premier League games without a win. When Derby County played in the 2007-08 Premiership, Barnes went 21 games without a win. Tottenham Hotspur’s Gareth Bale recently equalled this record.
The fee for Barnes could go up to £4m in the future depending on appearances.
Rams boss Nigel Clough said, ” “Giles has made it clear he wants to play in the Premier League again and this is a great opportunity for him to do that.”
Fulham, who barely managed to avoid relegation last season, are sitting comfortably in mid table this season under the guidance of Roy Hodgson.