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Republic of Ireland Under-21 international Alex Murphy has joined Bundesliga 2 side Kaiserslautern on loan from Newcastle United for the 2026-27 campaign. The 22-year old defender from Galway made two Premier League appearances for Newcastle last season, having spent the prior campaign on loan at Bolton Wanderers. Now, he joins the one-time Bundesliga champions, who last season finished sixth in the second tier of German football. "I'm very happy to be here. Kaiserslautern is a great club and I can’t wait to play my first game in this incredible stadium. I want to take the next steps in my development here and be as successful as possible with the team this season," Murphy told the club's website. The defender made 12 appearances for the Ireland Under-21 side, though has yet to earn a senior cap. He was called up to the squad for Ireland's summer international window friendlies against Qatar and Canada though did not play on either occasion. Fulham have signed Northern Ireland midfielder Shea Charles on a five-year contract from Southampton. The 22-year-old joined for a reported fee of up to £30m (€35m). "I'm buzzing to finally get it over the line. The club has got a really good foundation, from the bottom to the top really," Charles told Fulham TV. "To be here is a massive privilege. I hope to really kickstart my Premier League career. At such a good club as well, it's perfect for me, and hopefully perfect for the fans as well." Charles joined Southampton from Manchester City in 2023 and made 38 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring six goals and providing two assists. Brennan Johnson and Dwight McNeil have completed a rare straight swap between Premier League sides, with Everton signing Johnson from Crystal Palace and McNeil moving in the opposite direction. Johnson, 25, has signed a four-year contract with Everton, while McNeil, 26, has agreed a deal with Palace until 2030. The Wales international joined Palace in January from Tottenham Hotspur and made 26 appearances in all competitions. "There were a lot of reasons why I was so keen to join - the manager, the players, the direction the team is going in," Johnson said in a statement on Everton's website. McNeil scored 15 goals and provided 19 assists in 128 appearances for Everton following his move from Burnley in 2022. "The lads have had some great success over the last two seasons. It's something that I want to be a part of, so I'm really looking forward to getting started," McNeil said. Everton and Palace will meet at Hill Dickinson Stadium on 22 August on the opening weekend of the Premier League season.