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Maarten Stekelenburg: Fulham sign Dutch goalkeeper

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments181

Andres Iniesta (right) shoots to score a goal past goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg as Rafael Van Der Vaart tries to block his shot, during their 2010 World Cup final

Fulham have signed Netherlands goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg from AS Roma for an undisclosed fee.

The 30-year-old, who has agreed a four-year deal, spent 11 seasons at Dutch giants Ajax, helping them to two league titles before moving to the Serie A club in 2011.

"I'm happy to be joining Fulham and to have everything sorted out so early in the summer," he told the club website.

Watch Stekelenburg in action during the 2010 World Cup final

"I can focus on preparations for playing in the league next season."

Stekelenburg, who has won 54 caps and played in the 2010 World Cup final, worked with Fulham boss Martin Jol when he managed Ajax during the 2009-10 campaign.

"It's good that I'll be joining Martin again, he knows my capabilities very well," added the keeper.

"I am looking forward to joining up with the team in pre-season and enjoying some time with them prior to the new season starting."

Jol added: "He is a player of great quality and technical ability whose distribution and ability to react quickly and read the game is exceptional.

"He will be a fantastic addition to the talented team of 'keepers that we already have."

Fulham have already signed Fernando Amorebieta, midfielder Derek Boateng and Sascha Riether in this transfer window.

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181 comments

  • Comment posted by U15707688, at 17:51 5 Jun 2013

    So far all of Fulham's signings this season have been pretty impressive Maarten Stekelenburg, Fernando Amorebieta, Derek Boateng and Sascha Riether are all international quality players. I predict next season will bea good one for Fulham.

  • Comment posted by Huh-InsertQuestionMark, at 17:52 5 Jun 2013

    The last time Fulham signed a Dutch, former Ajax goalkeeper from an Italian side, he turned out to be kinda good...

  • Comment posted by Benji Hyer, at 18:31 5 Jun 2013

    Sadly, this most likely signals the end Schwarzer career as Fulham's first choice keeper. Over the years he's been a great service to the club and I wish him well for the future.

    As for Stekelenburg, he joins the long list of Jol's recently impressive signings, ranging from Berbatov to Riether to Boateng. Fulham will do well this season.

  • Comment posted by Sam Bigland, at 17:50 5 Jun 2013

    People, please just ignore comment number one, and any other obvious trolls posing as 'Liverpool Fans' ; they just want the attention, honestly.

  • Comment posted by Tomme7, at 17:49 5 Jun 2013

    Superb signing, Fulham look like they're strengthening with the right people, not just anyone.

  • Comment posted by Liam, at 22:06 5 Jun 2013

    To all the Liverpool Trolls... And I'm Liverpool fan. Shut up about how great Brendon Rogers is and how we will win the league and Suarez is the best.

    This is about Fulham, Great signing for them and another brilliant bit of business from Martin Jol who is massively underated as a coach.

  • Comment posted by U13895005, at 19:06 5 Jun 2013

    43. Reynolds1986
    3 MINUTES AGO
    Signing a 30 year old on a four year contract? Hahaha

    ======================================

    You do realise he's a goalkeeper? Hahahaha

  • Comment posted by Anthony, at 18:46 5 Jun 2013

    Classy signing for us Cottagers and he's a top notch keeper. Our signings have been impressive under Martin Jol as the Berbatov deal is still one of the biggest grins of my face for our team. I don't ever complain about how our seasons good, however bad they may be, but I'm looking forward to the next one already. We keep these signings going we could break into top 10 or have a cup run. Get in.

  • Comment posted by a_football_fan, at 22:37 5 Jun 2013

    Annoying that i feel the need to comment since this is about a quality signing for Fulham, but would the ever growing number of jealous, mindless, self-contradictory Liverpool 'fans' please comment somewhere else, perhaps on your own clubs board etc. At best you're a good team, but realistically, despite the 100's of millions of investment, you're average. Sort that out, then come back.

  • Comment posted by Elmo McElroy, at 20:12 5 Jun 2013

    I'm a Liverpool fan too, Stekelenburg is a top keeper, a very good piece of business from Fulham. Fulham are a good club with decent fans and they play decent football. It will be interesting to see if they sign any more top players in the transfer window.

  • Comment posted by U15524306, at 22:27 5 Jun 2013

    As a lifelong Fulham fan I'm really pleased at our early business this pre-season. Boateng, Amorebieta and Riether all in and hopefully a lot of deadwood to leave the Cottage too. Fans have been on Jol's back recently but I think we can put last season truly behind us. Gutted for MS as he's been a great servant, up there with EVDS, Stek' has a lot to live up to but seems a good signing.
    COYW!!!

  • Comment posted by Mark, at 22:03 5 Jun 2013

    If this guy had signed for MUFC the BBC would have done a double page spread, run a blog from Phil McNulty and hyped the signing up big time.

    As it is, we get half a page if that with little or no excitement or in depth knowledge.

    Once again, shame on you BBC.

  • Comment posted by U15479597, at 18:11 5 Jun 2013

    Schwarzer was playing really well towards the end of the season but he can't keep going forever. We need a top centre back though to partner Hangeland

  • Comment posted by SiMagee, at 12:22 6 Jun 2013

    @169. Our Academy team has won the last two Premier Leagues, runners up three years ago, and the recent worldwide Dallas cup.

    Plenty of youth coming though and I expect t see more of Kaca, Frei, Dembele and others this season.

  • Comment posted by U15597958, at 09:15 6 Jun 2013

    Another great signing! Fulham are going great under Jol. I always thought it very harsh when he lost the Spurs job.

  • Comment posted by U15438935, at 03:44 6 Jun 2013

    Why has this article been spammed by deluded liverpool fans? We get it, you have a history, but the fact you carry on about it like your the only club in england with one, is why your widely hated and your opinions on football are considered a mockery of any common sense.

    However, great signing for us, played at the highest level you can get and coming into his prime as a GK. Great business MJ.

  • Comment posted by Lholt09, at 22:12 5 Jun 2013

    #108

    Are you honestly having a laugh???

    What an idiotic and clearly misguided statement. I could reel off a list as long as my arm, my leg, my entire body of players who you have signed at over-inflated costs and with over-inflated wages.

    What an incredibly condescending and pompous remark, stick to worrying about your own team; theres enough for you to do on that front. Good times are over....

  • Comment posted by U15288864, at 22:08 5 Jun 2013

    Fulham are mixing it up well in the transfer market showing ambition. Top 8 and a good cup run hopefully.

  • Comment posted by U6793083, at 22:05 5 Jun 2013

    104
    is that what left with .?

    What's happened are you not able to wind the big clubs supporters up , so you turn too smaller premiership clubs ,
    Oh well you might finish above Everton next year
    By the way thanks for kalla and de Valle , it was not a bad swap deal for Konch

  • Comment posted by U15257067, at 20:21 5 Jun 2013

    Fulham do make some really good signings, and well priced.

    I was thinking, on the other article, that Arshavin/Denilson could probably play for half the EPL teams - be interesting to have Arshavin and Berbatov in the same side.

    You'd think zero chance of tracking back, showing much effort, but I think Berbatov's chipped in with a fair amount of goals for Fulham.

    Be weird seeing them both.

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