- Planet Sport writer
- 2 August 2024
Fulham land Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe on five-year deal
Fulham have bolstered their ranks with the signing of midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal for an undisclosed fee.
Emile Smith Rowe is an English attacking midfielder who plays for Premier League side Fulham.
After being released from Chelsea's academy, Smith Rowe joined Arsenal's academy aged 10. And after eight years in the youth development programme, the midfielder made his debut for the Gunners.
Loan moves to RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town would follow until he would make his ultimate breakthrough into the first team, wearing the iconic number 10 jersey.
Due to his exceptional performances, a call-up to Gareth Southgate's England squad was earned in 2021, making him the latest Hale End graduate to play for the Three Lions.
But at the start of the 2022/23 season, he struggled to break into the Arsenal first-team with a number of injuries also hampering his progress, and by the summer of 2024 he moved to Fulham in a deal worth a deal worth up to £34million.
Arsenal European debut
Smith Rowe signed his first professional contract with Arsenal in 2017, which was extended by another five years in 2018.
Under new head coach Unai Emery, the midfielder would make his professional debut for the Gunners, replacing Alex Iwobi in Arsenal's 4-2 Europa League win against Vorskla Poltava.
The midfielder would then go on to score his first senior goal for Arsenal, the second in the Gunners' 3-0 Europa League win against Qarabag FK.
He would net once more in the competition away at Vorskla Poltava, before scoring again two days later, the winning goal in Arsenal's 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the EFL Cup.
His performances in Europe would grant the youngster a place on the bench in the Premier League against the likes of Leicester, Crystal Palace, and Liverpool.
However, his Arsenal season would end in December due to groin strain. After playing six times for the Gunners, in which he scored three times, Smith Rowe would make a loan move to Germany.
In the Bundesliga, the Englishman would sign for RB Leipzig until the end of the 2018/19 campaign. Despite his groin strain picked up in England, he would recover from his injury and play three times for The Red Bulls.
He appeared for the final minutes against Wolfsburg and Bayern Munich, as well playing the final 26 against Werder Bremen, the final game of the season.
Despite a disrupted first season as a professional, Smith Rowe made a significant impact on Unai Emery's squad and was appearing as one of Arsenal's future generational talents.
Development at Huddersfield Town
After returning from injury, Smith Rowe got back up to speed in Premier League 2 before returning to the first team for the 2019/20 season.
Smith Rowe scored once in four games unbeaten with the under-23s before playing in the Europa League once again. And after playing against the likes of Frankfurt, Vitoria, and Standard Liege, Smith Rowe was ready for the Premier League.
He made his top flight debut in December 2019, coming on as a second half substitute in a 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Then in the following week, he made his first professional start for the Gunners in the Premier League, playing 66 minutes against Everton.
However, despite showing promise in the games he played, the youngster would be once more shipped off on loan, this time he remained in England.
In January 2020, Smith Rowe signed on loan for Huddersfield Town until the end of the season in which he would help them secure survival in the Championship.
His first goal for The Terriers came in a 3-2 home defeat to Fulham, in which he also secured an assist.
His contributions against Bristol City would claim a much important mid-season win for his side, assisting Chris Willock and Karlan Grants' goals to win the game 2-1.
And when he couldn't have more of an impact, Smith Rowe scored a 86th minute winner against West Bromwich Albion to guide Huddersfield to safety in the penultimate game of the season.
His efforts on loan were once again noticed by the bosses at Arsenal, and new head coach Mikel Arteta would make him an integral part of his side for the 2020/21 season.
Arsenal's number 10
A shoulder injury would keep Smith Rowe out until late November 2020 where he would return to the first team for Arsenal's fourth Europa League group game against Molde, in which he secured an assist in the Gunners' 3-0 win.
Smith Rowe played in 11 of Arsenal's Europa League matches, achieving one goal and three assists before the Gunners were knocked of the competition to Unai Emery's Villarreal in the semi-finals.
It would take the Englishman until Boxing Day 2020 to return to Premier League football, assisting another in Arsenal's 3-1 win over Chelsea.
He would secure a further three assists in the top flight. Smith Rowe would go onto score his first Arsenal goal in May 2021 - just like at Huddersfield, against West Brom in a 3-1 victory.
The midfielder continued his goal scoring form into the next game against Chelsea where he scored the only and winning goal, completing his participations for the campaign as Arsenal finished eighth.
Due to the departure of Arsenal legend Mesut Ozil, Smith Rowe was handed the number 10 shirt as the Gunners entered a new era.
And in the 2021/22 season, he would equal his previous Premier League goal contributions in 11 games. His most notable performance of the season up to this point being his goal assisting and scoring display in the North London derby.
First North London Derby goal for Emile Smith Rowe 🌟 pic.twitter.com/IJKC5erlyH
— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 26, 2021
His opener with 12 minutes and his assist for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang settled the fixture as the Gunners went on to win 3-1.
Goals against Aston Villa, Leicester, and Watford would aid Arsenal in their impressive comeback following their first three game defeats.
Smith Rowe has become a fan favourite at The Emirates, alongside his Hale End counterpart Bukayo Saka.
However, things began to turn sour at the start of the 2022/23 season, as injury blighted Smith Rowe's progress.
He made just 14 appearances during that campaign and then 19 the following season, mostly coming off the bench.
He also failed to score across those two seasons, a stark contrast from his 31 appearances and 11 goals across all competitions in the 2021/22 campaign.
Smith Rowe moves to Fulham
On August 2, 2024, Smith Rowe agreed a five-year contract at Craven Cottage, with the option to extend the deal by a further 12 months.
“I’m finally here, so I’m really happy for me and my family – it’s a good moment,” the 24-year-old told FFCtv.
“I’m really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my team-mates.
“Listening to the project, speaking to the manager (Marco Silva) and seeing what players we have here already, I think it’s an exciting project for me and definitely the perfect step for my career going forward.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Smith Rowe’s commitment and attitude, adding on his club’s website: “I’m sad that Emile is leaving us but excited for him to take this new opportunity at this stage of his career, when he needs to be starting matches and playing regularly.”
International career
While progressing through the ranks at Arsenal, Smith Rowe also participated for England at youth levels.
He represented his country at under-16 level all the way to under-21s before more recently being called up to the senior side.
Smith Rowe was a member of the 2017 under-17s England World Cup winning squad. He claimed a goal against Iraq in a 4-0 group stage win before scoring an all-important semi-final goal to reach the last stage against Spain.
He didn't feature in the final but still claimed his medal after playing a key role in the journey. Since then, his luck with England has continued, especially with the senior squad.
Emile Smith Rowe scores his first England goal in his first England start 🦁 pic.twitter.com/L9KCp0vUPS
— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 15, 2021
After James Ward-Prowse withdrew from the England squad due to illness, Smith Rowe was called up as his replacement for the 2022 World Cup qualifications.
He made his debut for the Three Lions coming on for the last 13 minutes against Albania, before going on to score and assist in a 10-0 battering of San Marino.
Personal life
Smith Rowe, despite playing for both Chelsea and Arsenal in his youth, the midfielder idolised David Beckham when growing up.
He grew up in Thornton Heath in Croydon, before moving to North London when he signed for Arsenal in 2010.
Net worth
Emile Smith Rowe's net worth is reported to be £700,000.
