The Portugal international was on the verge of joining Bayern Munich in the final weeks of the summer transfer window.
Palhinha headed to Germany to finalise a transfer, but the move did not materialise before the deadline.
The 28-year-old then signed a new contract with Fulham, extending his tenure to June 2028 with an option for an additional year.
When asked if the renewal was due to the failed Bayern move, Palhinha made the unexpected admission that West Ham attempted to sign him before the German club.
“No. “The renewal had been planned since our pre-season training camp in the United States,” Palhinha told Portuguese newspaper O Jogo
“At the time, I had received an excellent offer from West Ham and spoke with Fulham’s owner, who committed to renewing my contract.”
“I accepted that as a vote of confidence. I never anticipated Bayern to show up in the closing stages of the market.”
Palhinha, who joined Fulham from Sporting Lisbon in 2022, has continued to play an important role in his second season at the West London club.
The Portuguese midfielder has started 22 of his 24 Premier League games this season, contributing three goals and one assist.
Will Palhinha be on the move this summer?
Despite having a long-term deal with Fulham, Palhinha is linked with a move away from Craven Cottage ahead of the summer transfer season.
Last month, Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan stated that the club would accept “sensible offers” for Palhinha ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Liverpool, Arsenal, and Chelsea have all expressed interest, but it is unclear whether Bayern would maintain their chase.
Palhinha’s current focus, after returning from international duty, will be to help Fulham win their away league game against Sheffield United on Saturday.
