Fulham are in active talks to sign right-back Andrei Ratiu from Rayo Vallecano, with the 28-year-old Romania international understood to be receptive to a switch to Craven Cottage ahead of Tuesday night's transfer deadline.
The player and his background
Ratiu has made 104 appearances for Rayo Vallecano since joining the Madrid club in 2023 — a figure that underlines how central he has been to their defensive set-up. Though primarily a right-back, he is capable of operating across other positions, which will appeal to a manager trying to add versatility quickly.
His path to La Liga is an unusual one. Ratiu was born in Romania but has spent almost his entire club career in Spain, coming through the academy at Villarreal before a loan spell at Dutch second-division side ADO Den Haag. He then moved to Huesca before Rayo made his La Liga debut possible following his 2023 transfer. That continental grounding — both in Spain and briefly the Netherlands — means he arrives as an experienced operator even if he has not previously played in English football.
Arbeloa's busy window at Fulham
New Fulham head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, who replaced Marco Silva in the dugout this summer, has moved quickly in the market. The Cottagers have already brought in striker Gonzalo García and attacker César Palacios from Real Madrid, as well as midfielder Shea Charles from Southampton. Forward Jonah Kusi-Asare's loan from Bayern Munich has also been made permanent.
Ratiu would add defensive cover and competition at right-back, a position Arbeloa is looking to reinforce. With the window closing on Tuesday, talks are described as continuing — meaning a deal is not yet done (caveats apply at this stage of any transfer deadline).
Context: a difficult Premier League opener
Fulham lost 3-2 at home to Chelsea in their Premier League season opener on Monday — a west London derby defeat that reinforced the urgency Arbeloa feels about bolstering his squad. The only positive that week came on Thursday, when the Cottagers beat AFC Wimbledon 3-0 in the Carabao Cup, suggesting there is enough in the squad to be competitive in cup football at least.
Whether Ratiu, if signed, would be eligible or ready to feature before the deadline matters less than the longer-term picture. At 28, he is entering peak years for a full-back and would give Arbeloa a reliable option with significant top-flight experience — even if that experience has come in La Liga rather than the Premier League.
The market will be watching closely. A deal that gives Fulham defensive depth before Tuesday's cut-off looks like smart business on paper; whether the two clubs can agree terms in time is the outstanding question.
Frequently asked
- Who is Andrei Ratiu?
- Andrei Ratiu is a 28-year-old Romanian right-back who plays for Rayo Vallecano in Spain's La Liga. He has made 104 appearances for the club and came through Villarreal's academy before joining Rayo in 2023.
- When does the transfer window close?
- The summer 2025 transfer window closes on Tuesday night, so Fulham need to finalise any deals — including the reported move for Ratiu — before that deadline.
- Who has Fulham signed this summer?
- Under new head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham have signed Gonzalo García and César Palacios from Real Madrid, Shea Charles from Southampton, and made Jonah Kusi-Asare's loan from Bayern Munich permanent. Andrei Ratiu is the latest player linked.