Fulham defender Tim Ream is traveling to the United States to complete a permanent transfer to Major League Soccer side Charlotte FC.
Talks between Charlotte and Fulham have been at an advanced stage for some time, with The Athletic reporting in June that an agreement was close.
On Sunday, Fulham confirmed the €6.7million signing of Villarreal central defender Jorge Cuenca, paving the way for Ream to depart.
The USMNT international did not travel with the Fulham squad for their pre-season trip to Portugal last week while negotiations continued. The 36-year-old was granted permission to travel to the US on Monday and will undergo a medical before completing the move.
Ream joined Fulham from Bolton Wanderers in 2015 and has made 312 appearances during his nine years with the club.
The defender has enjoyed a late-career renaissance under Fulham coach Marco Silva, and his form ensured a place in the USMNT squad for the World Cup in 2022 as well as this summer’s Copa America.
He was a regular in the Fulham team during the first half of last season, captaining the side in 12 of their first 13 Premier League matches.
However, he was sidelined with a calf injury in December and featured just five times in the league during the second half of the campaign, with Tosin Adarabioyo and Calvin Bassey Marco Silva’s preferred central defensive partnership.
Charlotte are coached by former Brentford, Norwich and Aston Villa manager Dean Smith.
GO DEEPER
Tim Ream – the USMNT defender who is relatable, resilient and a rock for Fulham
‘Ream has adapted and thrived across difficult years for Fulham’
The departure of Tim Ream would mark the end of an era for Fulham.
In their Premier League years, the west London club have regularly welcomed American representation. From the first in Marcus Hahnemann in 1999 to the exploits of Brian McBride and Clint Dempsey in the Mohamed Al Fayed years, there has always been a USMNT connection.
Ream stands among the modern greats.
The Missouri native made his 300th appearance for the club last season, a milestone nine seasons in the making. He was the first player to reach that mark for the club since Simon Morgan 26 years ago. Morgan played for the club in the 1990s, adapting and thriving to play for the club across difficult years and then kept his place as the team rose through the leagues.
Ream has previously spoken about how a player wants to make a mark when they sign for a new club, without necessarily thinking about time or accumulating appearances. The central defender has not always been a first choice but that has not changed his character and that sticks with supporters. He has enjoyed standout moments — the two play-off finals, a Championship title under Marco Silva and then his Premier League rejuvenation.
But his off-field influence has resonated too, becoming a leader by example and an ambassador for the club away from the pitch.
His presence will be sorely missed. For Fulham, there will be a changing of the guard, with his most recent defensive partner, Tosin Adarabioyo, also departing this summer.
(Photo: Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
