Shea Charles embraces record £30m Fulham transfer and takes pressure in his stride
Fulham midfielder Shea Charles insists he is not feeling the pressure of becoming the most expensive Northern Ireland player in history following his record-breaking £30m transfer from Southampton in the summer.
The 22-year-old moved from the Championship side to Craven Cottage to secure top-flight football and has taken the lofty price tag completely in his stride.
"I think I was like second or third before that. But to be number one, it's really cool. Just to be in the Premier League and just being able to play my football is amazing," Charles said in an interview with BBC Sport NI.
"For me, I don't really think about it [the price tag] too much, and you see what a lot of people are going for these days, it's kind of crazy. I've just got really good people around me, living with my younger brother and my older brother, mum and dad. I've got a really good friendship group that keep me grounded."
Flourishing on the International Stage
Already boasting 35 senior caps since making his debut in June 2022, Charles is set to play a pivotal role for Michael O'Neill's side over the international window, with fixtures scheduled against Georgia home and away, Hungary, and Ukraine.
The midfielder credited international duty with accelerating his development and giving him the platform to prove his Premier League credentials while playing in the second tier.
"International football has always been massive for me ever since I made my debut – the types of players you play against, the teams you are playing, you rarely got to play against them when you're playing in the Championship," Charles explained. "Being able to show your level against those kind of players was always going to help."
"I feel like he [O'Neill] has really trusted me from the moment that I came in, starting me in any game that he could really, and I'm obviously very thankful for that. I feel like Michael has given me a bit of responsibility, especially taking the armband a couple of times, so I just try to set an example, whether that's on the pitch or off the pitch, and just be someone the young lads can look up to."
Family Pride and Premier League Ambitions
Charles has featured in all five of Fulham's league fixtures so far this season, starting three games including draws against Liverpool and Manchester United.
"Whether it was with Southampton or by getting a move the aim was always to get back to the Premier League," he noted. "It's really exciting and I've settled in really well. It's a really good club and when I spoke to the manager we saw football in the same way."
Charles also shares the international stage with his brother, goalkeeper Pierce Charles, who is currently on loan at Queens Park Rangers from Manchester City.
"It's kind of the stuff of dreams to play with your brother on the international stage. When you're playing teams like France and Italy and he's playing alongside you it's really cool," he added, speaking fondly of their mother's support.
"She is dead proud, you can see on her face when you see her in the crowd at Windsor Park in particular. I can tell how proud she is of us and for us both to be playing together is just incredible."