Fulham have signed United States captain Clint Dempsey on a two-month loan, the Premier League club have announced.
The 30-year-old is currently with Seattle Sounders FC and he will spend the Major League Soccer off-season at Craven Cottage in what will be his second spell at the club.
The midfielder spent five and a half seasons at the west London club having first signed a permanent deal in January 2007 from New England Revolution.
In his first spell with Fulham Dempsey scored 60 goals in 225 appearances, among the most memorable was the fourth goal in a 4-1 win over Juventus in the Europa League which completed a comeback over two legs as they made their way to the final in 2010.
Dempsey also scored the only goal of the match against Liverpool at Craven Cottage in May 2007 which secured Premier League football for the club the following season.
He was voted Fulham’s player of the season two years in a row, the last after the 2011/12 season after which he signed for Tottenham in August 2012.
Dempsey moved to north London in a £6 million switch, despite having been heavily linked with Liverpool and Aston Villa, but he spent just a year at White Hart Lane before returning to the United States and the Seattle Sounders.
Dempsey joins a Fulham team second from bottom of the table and clearly hopes to be part of a squad that will improve under Rene Meulensteen.
The looming World Cup in Brazil, where he will guide the United States, was also a consideration.
In an interview aired on Fulham’s official website, he said: “It feels good to be back. This has always felt like my home in Europe. I am excited to be back and be a part of this team and play in this league.”
Of his reasons for returning, Dempsey added: “A lot of different things. I just wanted to be back playing at the highest level, get back to top form and get back to helping the team where they are not where they want to be in the table.
“Going into World Cup year you want to get to that top form and carry that forward, so hopefully have a good showing.”
