Championship side Fulham paid Chelsea £8million for the signing of defender Michael Hector, a report from the Daily Express has claimed.

It was announced earlier this week that Hector had signed a contract at Craven Cottage until the summer of 2022 - with the club holding the option of extending that deal by a further 12 months - although the centre back will not be available to feature for Scott Parker's side until the transfer window reopens in January.

According to the latest reports, Fulham have paid £8million for the 27-year-old, who was in the final season of his contract at Stamford Bridge, meaning he could have left the club for free next summer.

Fulham had previously made just one senior permanent signing during the summer transfer, with midfielder Josh Onomah joining from Tottenham as part of a move that saw Ryan Sessegnon head in the opposite direction.

Hector joined Chelsea from Reading in the summer of 2015, but never made an appearance for the Premier League side, instead spending the entirety of his career with the club on loan with the Royals, Hull City, Eintracht Frankfurt and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Verdict

I don't actually think this is too bad a deal for Fulham.

Having struggled to recruit in the defensive areas during the summer, and with other clubs seemingly interested in Hector, I can understand why they moved quickly to secure the services of the defender ahead of the January window.

Considering they hadn't exactly spent big during the transfer window - instead relying mostly on loan deals to strengthen their side - and with funds from their spell in the Premier League last season also available, you imagine this was rather affordable for the Cottagers.

Given he never actually played for Chelsea, you also imagine The Blues themselves will have been happy with the business done here.