Senderos swaps Arsenal for Fulham

UEFA Europa League runners-up Fulham FC have signed Swiss international centre-back Philippe Senderos from Arsenal FC.

Senderos has agreed a three-year deal at Fulham with his contract at Arsenal due to expire this summer. The 25-year-old joined the Gunners from Servette FC in January 2003 having helped Switzerland win the previous year's UEFA European Under-17 Championship, but never established himself as a first-choice defender for Arsène Wenger's team.

He made 117 appearances for Arsenal, winning the 2005 FA Cup and helping them to the following season's UEFA Champions League final. In the last two seasons Senderos has spent time on loan at AC Milan and Everton.

Capped 40 times by Switzerland as he prepares for his second FIFA World Cup, Senderos joins a Fulham club who reached their first major European final in May, losing 2-1 to Club Atlético de Madrid in Hamburg. Senderos said: "I'm delighted to have finalised my transfer and happy that I am joining the club during the most successful period in its history."

The capture represents Roy Hodgson's first signing of the summer and the former Switzerland coach added: "Philippe is a player that I have admired for a very long time since he captained Switzerland to the UEFA U17 Championship in 2002."