Fulham beat Everton to the signature of Hugo Rodallega

Hugo Rodallega will be out of contract in the summer (GETTY IMAGES)

Fulham have signed out of contract Hugo Rodallega on a three-year contract, subject to a work permit.

The Colombian international was a free agent after running down his contract at Wigan, and it was understood numerous clubs were interested in his services.

Everton were heavily linked with the 26-year-old, but as The Independent revealed earlier today, they were priced out of negotiations when Rodallega asked for £70,000-a-week.

Such exorbitant wages may seem high for a striker who scored just two goals in 21 appearances last season, but the Cottagers have taken the opportunity to clinch his services.

"I'm thrilled to have signed for Fulham football club," Rodallega told the club's official website.

"I wanted to stay in England and I'm delighted that I now have this opportunity with Fulham.

"I'm looking forward to pre-season training with the rest of the Fulham squad and starting a new chapter in my career."

The west-London club will be hoping he can return to the form that saw him score 10 league goals in his first full season and nine the year after that.

Manager Martin Jol said: "I am delighted that Hugo has decided to join Fulham.

"There has been a lot of interest in him from other top flight teams in England and abroad, so to be able to add his quality to our squad is a massive boost this early in our preparations for the new campaign.

"He is a great addition and I think he will contribute very well to our style and philosophy here."

Fulham will be relieved to have brought in a striker of Premier League pedigree. After selling Bobby Zamora to QPR in January, Andy Johnson joined him at Loftus Road after his contract ran out this summer. The Cottagers also missed out on retaining the services of Pavel Pogrebnyak, who impressed at Craven Cottage after joining in January. The Russian opted to join newly-promoted Reading instead.

Despite Rodallega's arrival, Fulham fans will remain concerned by the continuing speculation surrounding last season's top scorer Clint Dempsey. A move to Liverpool for the American continues to be rumoured.