Fulham snap up goalkeeper Steve Benda on a three-year deal… with German shot-stopper to fight with Bernd Leno and Marek Rodak to be No 1 at Craven Cottage

Fulham snap up goalkeeper Steve Benda on a three-year deal… with German shot-stopper to fight with Bernd Leno and Marek Rodak to be No 1 at Craven Cottage

• Marco Silva has further bolstered competition in his goalkeeping department 
• Steve Benda established himself as Swansea City’s No 1 before injury struck 
• Would Mohamed Salah ‘do the dirty’ on Liverpool by leaving? And what about Man United ‘diving’?: Listen to It’s All Kicking Off , Mail Sport’s new podcast 

By Simon Jones for MailOnline

Fulham have signed goalkeeper Steve Benda from Swansea City on a three-year deal. 

Benda, 24, has put pen-to-paper on a deal until 2026 at Craven Cottage, with Fulham holding an option to extend it a further year.

‘I’m really happy. It’s a massive club with a lot of history and tradition, so I’m really happy to be here,’ Benda told FFCtv after signing.

‘Just look at this stadium, and the Club itself, playing for Marco Silva, it was a very easy decision.’

He will provide extra competition to both Bernd Leno and Marek Rodak for the No 1 spot in west London. 

Fulham have snapped up German goalkeeper Steve Benda from second tier Swansea City

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‘I’m pleased to welcome Steven Benda to Fulham,’ vice chairman Tony Khan added.

‘He’s a talented young goalkeeper, and while he’s currently recovering from injury, we’ve monitored him for some time and believe that he’ll be a valuable addition to Marco’s squad upon his return.’

A serious knee injury has halted Benda’s progress, but he will hope for a fresh start in the English capital.

He made the move to Swansea back in 2017 from 1860 Munich, going on to make 31 senior appearances in total. 

Asked about losing one of his main goalkeepers late in the window, Swansea boss Michael Duff was keen to look forward, not back.

‘Steven made it clear he wasn’t going to sign a new contract,’ Duff said after Tuesday’s 3-2 Carabao Cup loss to Bournemouth.

‘We probably wouldn’t have seen him until January so are we in a position to turn down the money for a goalkeeper that would have only been available for three or four months?

‘We think we’ve got a good goalkeeper in Carl [Rushworth] anyway.’

Benda is recovering from a knee issue – but he will be vying for the No 1 spot upon his return

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