Arsenal decide against including secret clause in Emile Smith Rowe transfer

Arsenal have opted against inserting a buy-back clause into Emile Smith Rowe's Fulham deal, according to reports, following his £34million switch to Craven Cottage.

Smith Rowe has agreed a five-year deal with the west Londoners, ending his 14-year spell at the Emirates having joined the club's academy at the age of just ten.

Quickly after his move was confirmed, speculation mounted over whether the Gunners explored options to potentially bring him back in years to come if he proves a success at Fulham.

However, Arsenal have not inserted any buy-back clause into the deal, as per Football London, despite some fans hoping to see the 24-year-old back in north London in the future.

Instead, the Gunners will benefit from a 10 per cent sell-on clause for a player who cost them nothing when he arrived in 2010 - continuing their track record of producing promising talent at their Hale End complex.

The midfielder said he was convinced to join Fulham after listening to boss Marco Silva discuss an "exciting project" and believes it is the "perfect step" to continue his development as a player.

"I'm finally here, so I'm really happy for me and my family - it's a good moment," he said. "I'm really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my teammates.

"Listening to the project, speaking to the manager, 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."

Smith Rowe enjoyed a breakout season in 2020-21 - playing 33 times for the Gunners and scoring four times. The following season he built on his progress by featuring a further 37 times and netting 11, his best campaign to date.

However, in recent years he has seen first team opportunities dwindle after boss Mikel Arteta brought in £100m Declan Rice from West Ham and £65m Kai Havertz from Chelsea. He has made 33 appearances in total across the last two seasons.

Smith Rowe's rise to prominence at Arsenal has also seen him make the England squad - picking up three caps, the first of which came in 2021, netting one goal against San Marino in a 10-0 win.