Fulham smash transfer record to land Kevin in £34.6m deal
The number that jumps off the page is £34.6 million. That is the fee, plus bonuses, that takes 22-year-old Brazilian winger Kevin from Shakhtar Donetsk to west London on a contract running until 2030. It is a new high-water mark for Fulham, nudging past the £34m paid for Emile Smith Rowe in 2024.
The move ends a long pursuit. Fulham had been in talks with Shakhtar throughout the summer and finally got their man after Kevin’s breakout year in Ukraine. He was voted Shakhtar’s Player of the Season and posted 17 goals and 10 assists in 57 appearances across all competitions — a workload that shows both end product and durability.
Kevin’s route to England is familiar. He came through at Palmeiras and joined Shakhtar in 2024, following a well-trodden path of Brazilian talents who developed in Donetsk before stepping into a top European league. He has represented Brazil at under-20 level, and his age, output, and contract length tick the boxes clubs look for when they spend big: upside now, value later.
For Fulham, the timing matters. Until now their window had been quiet, with only 34-year-old goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte arriving. There were exits too, including Andreas Pereira’s move to Palmeiras and Carlos Vinícius departing on a free. This deal changes the tone. It is a statement that the club intends to add pace, goals, and creativity in wide areas for the Premier League grind ahead.
Financially, the structure — a headline fee plus bonuses — fits the modern Premier League playbook. Big outlays are increasingly tied to performance triggers to manage risk and keep within spending rules. The fact Fulham were willing to set a new record for a winger underscores their belief in Kevin’s ceiling and resale potential if he hits.
What Fulham did not disclose: wages and add-on details. What they made clear with the contract to 2030: they are investing for the long term and want control over his peak years.
What Kevin brings and how he fits under Marco Silva
Marco Silva’s teams lean on wide players. The wingers stretch the pitch, carry the ball up the field, and decide games with cut-backs or shots after quick breaks. Fulham have leaned on that pattern in recent seasons and needed a fresh threat on the flank. Kevin arrives as that option — a direct runner with numbers to back up the eye test.
The headline metrics from his year in Ukraine show balance: double figures for both goals and assists across a long season. That points to a player who isn’t just dribbling and hoping; he gets into scoring positions and finds teammates too. Shakhtar used him as a consistent outlet, which demanded stamina and decision-making under pressure. Those habits translate well to the Premier League’s tempo.
Where does he slot in? Expect competition and rotation across the wide roles. Fulham’s existing options bring different profiles: veteran savvy on one side, a left-footed creator on the other, and a pure sprinter for chaos off the bench. Kevin adds another lane — a starting-caliber winger in his early 20s who can carry the ball, combine in tight spaces, and attack the back post. He gives Silva the flexibility to tweak the front line without losing speed or end product.
The adjustment is real, though. The Ukrainian Premier League plays at a different pace and physical level than the Premier League. Defenders close gaps faster, and mistakes are punished. There is also the weekly rhythm: travel, winter conditions, and the grind of back-to-back games in league and cups. Many new arrivals start with cameos, then step up to starts once they adapt to the intensity and learn defensive triggers in the press.
Set pieces and penalties often inflate numbers for young attackers abroad. There is no sign Kevin’s stats are padded like that; the spread of goals and assists across competitions suggests open-play production. That is exactly what Fulham need: an outlet who can beat a man, force center-backs to shuffle, and create angles for onrushing midfielders.
There is also a knock-on effect. With Andreas Pereira gone, some creative load shifts to the wings and the advanced midfielders. Kevin’s presence allows the full-backs to pick their moments, knowing there is a reliable outlet ahead. It can also free a central attacker to stay between the posts while Kevin drives at full-backs, rather than dropping deep to build every move.
Risk comes with the price tag. Record signings carry expectations, and Premier League defenders are an unforgiving measuring stick. But the bet here is structured around age and development curve. If Kevin tracks like other Brazilians who made the same jump via Donetsk, the first months will be about adaptation and the next seasons about end product. The contract length gives Fulham space to manage that runway.
On the dressing-room side, the balance looks sensible. Blending a 22-year-old winger with experienced pros keeps urgency high and minutes competitive. The manager gets tactical options without tearing up the shape that worked before. And if Kevin pushes his way into the XI quickly, it forces everyone else to raise their level — a healthy problem.
Registration and paperwork matter next. Players arriving from abroad require work permit clearance before they can play. Once that’s sorted, Silva chooses how to introduce him: bench impact in the early weeks, targeted cup starts, or a full debut if training levels look right. There is no rush when the contract runs to 2030, but there will be a temptation to use his pace whenever games open up late.
Zoom out and the logic is clear. Fulham needed a jolt in attack, they had tracked Kevin all summer, and they were willing to pay to secure a winger with production and room to grow. The fee is the headline, but the football case is what will stick if he brings the same direct, fearless style to England.
- Fee: £34.6m plus bonuses, a club record
- Contract: until 2030
- Age: 22
- 2024–25 output for Shakhtar: 17 goals, 10 assists in 57 games
- Honour: Shakhtar Player of the Season
- Pathway: Palmeiras to Shakhtar in 2024, Brazil U20 international
This is the boldest move of Fulham’s window. It raises the ceiling for the attack and sets a new bar for what the club is willing to do in the market. Now the football has to match the ambition.
