Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea sign Saul Niguez as Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann rejoins Atletico Madrid
Follow all the reaction after a thrilling transfer deadline day that saw a number of deals go to the wire
It was a tremendous transfer deadline day with several transfers completed with minutes to spare as the Premier League dominated the market once again in terms of total spend.
There were big deals elsewhere though, including Eduardo Camavinga signing for Real Madrid from Stade Rennais, but the one that didn’t happen dominated the headlines: Kylian Mbappe stays at Paris Saint-Germain, that’s despite the France international having just one year remaining on his contract and Real Madrid making a bid of £172m (€200m).
For PSG, it was all about the Champions League and they even splashed out late on Nuno Mendes to ram home the point and prove their strength to resist Los Blancos in the ongoing power struggle.
Cristiano Ronaldo is now officially a Manchester United player and was unveiled in a red shirt - though we now await what number he will wear at Old Trafford in his second spell at the club. The return of the Portuguese allowed Daniel James to move on and finally join Leeds United for £25m two years after coming as close as possible to signing for a team when he left Swansea.
Chelsea had a fine window, signing Romelu Lukaku and adding Saul Niguez late on via a loan, with an option to buy, though they did miss out on one big deal, centre-back Jules Kounde stays at Sevilla despite interest from the Blues.
Arsenal were the other busy club as the deadline expired, retaining the disgruntled Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who had spoken out on his desire to leave, while allowing Hector Bellerin to join Real Betis on loan and bringing in Japan right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna for around £17m.
There is still the potential to add free agents, which will be the route for Serge Aurier after his Tottenham contract was mutually ended, with Spurs signing Emerson Royal from Barcelona - here’s all the latest news and reaction to the summer transfer window.
Cucurella reveals surprise recommendation behind Brighton move
You know the script. Every time a new player signs for a Premier League side they say the same things about it being the greatest league to play in, a great challenge for them, they can’t wait to get started, yadda yadda.
Well, Brighton’s new left-back Marc Cucurella has much a more personal and, frankly, more interesting reason than usual behind his desire to join the Seagulls.
Cucurella explained: “A neighbour was a pilot flying out of London and he lived in Brighton for seven years and his two children were born here,” he explained. “He only had good things to say about the city and the quality of life. We are in a hotel at the moment, but we’re looking forward to finding a house and starting our life in the city.”
He added: “It’s a difficult transition and not every player has this opportunity, but I must make the most of it and play well. I want the manager to believe in me so I can make my mark on this team.
Barcelona replace Messi as number ten
Barcelona have given the departed Lionel Messi’s iconic number ten shirt to teenage forward Ansu Fati as the club tries to recover from the Argentine’s move to Paris Saint-Germain.
18-year-old Fati, who missed EURO 2020 due to a meniscus injury suffered last November, was already under plenty of pressure to perform in Messi’s absence, and now the responsibility of his new shirt number makes clear that Ronald Koeman and his coaching staff really are pinning their hopes on the academy graduate to be their next talisman.
With Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Luuk de Jong all new to Koeman’s squad this season, Barca have the opportunity to build an entirely new frontline with plenty of experience and goalscoring ability. In Fati, though, they possess a player with the pace and dynamism to truly stand out and lead the club into its uncertain new era.
Premier League transfer spending still robust despite further drop
The amount of money spent on transfers by Premier League clubs remains “robust” despite the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Deloitte.
Premier League clubs spent £1.1billion in the summer transfer window – the lowest gross spend since 2015 but still higher than expectations amid the pandemic.
The figure marked an 11% drop on last summer, which was 9% down on 2019, effecting the first consecutive decline in gross expenditure since the global financial crisis of 2008 to 2010, according to Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.
The analysis showed the continuing impact on football finances of Covid-19. Not only did spending decrease, the proportion of players acquired on free transfers rose from 20% to 22%, although the number of players signed by clubs increased from 132 last summer to 148.
Premier League spending still robust despite falling again, Deloitte reports
Gross spending in the summer window has recorded consecutive declines for the first time since the global financial crisis.
Griezmann pays thanks to Barcelona supporters after Atlético move
Antoine Griezmann has said an emotional farewell to Barcelona fans after completing a sensational return to Atlético Madrid in the final moments of the transfer window.
The French forward’s time at Camp Nou never worked out after arriving for an enormous fee two years ago, and now heads back to the Wanda Metropolitano to re-unite with Diego Simeone and team-mates including Jan Oblak and Koke.
Griezmann said: “I say goodbye thanking you for your love. I gave everything for this shirt, I have spent time at a great club here and I am sad not to have been able to play more often surrounded by you in the stands, but I’m proud to have been one of yours.”
Rondon highlights importance of Benítez in Everton transfer
Salomon Rondón is joining up with Rafael Benítez for a third time having joined Everton just before the transfer window closed on Monday night.
The Venezuelan striker scored a combined 25 goals under Benítez’s tutelage in spells with both Newcastle United and China’s Dalian Professional since 2018, and now arrives at Goodison Park to cover and provide competition for England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
Rondón explained the influence Benítez has had on his career already: “I’m really glad to be back in the Premier League. It’s a competition I enjoyed playing in and where I felt the fans’ support in every game.
“Defending the colours of a club with a history as rich as Everton’s fills me with pride. I can’t wait to pull on the shirt and be reunited with Rafa Benítez, a coach who has changed the way I understand the game. I’m really grateful for the faith he’s shown in me.”
Czech mates re-united at West Ham as Alex Král settles in
Ever since his return to the West Ham United dugout, David Moyes has found success in building his side around a core of Czech footballers.
Tomas Soucek’s sensational goalscoring form since signing 18-months ago helped catapult the Irons into the Europa League last season, while Vladimír Coufal’s displays at right-back have impressed plenty of observers.
Now midfielder Alex Král is joining his compatriots after a competing a move from Spartak Moscow yesterday evening. The Hammers completed a double swoop in Russia after purchasing former Everton playmaker Nikola Vlasic from city rivals CSKA.
Král in particular has received a warm welcome from his new team-mates online, and if he can have anything like the same impact as Soucek and Coufal across the course of the campaign, Moyes will be delighted.
Odsonne Édouard explains motive behind Crystal Palace switch from Celtic
Odsonne Édouard has explained his reasons for joining Crystal Palace after his deadline day move south from Celtic.
The French striker signed on at Selhurst Park for four years with the option of a year’s extension, after spending five seasons at Parkhead in which he scored 77 goals in 150 appearances.
Having been linked with Leicester City and former manager Brendan Rodgers earlier in the window, the 23-year-old is joining a side with a new manager and plenty of new players.
Édouard described his motivations to join the Eagles as: “Everything. The way the team plays, the players there, the manager. It’s a new challenge, and it’s the best league for me.
“So, I can’t say no to this team.”
Saúl Ñíguez reveals motivation for joining Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid
Saúl Ñíguez insists the motivation to play his best position convinced him to join Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid.
While the Spain international also admits that the Blues’ back-up goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga helped persuade him to move to London.
The European champions will pay £3.5m for a season-long loan, while there is also an option to make the move permanent for around £30m.
Saul Niguez reveals motivation for joining Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid
The Spain international has revealed how Kepa Arrizabalaga played a key role in persuading him to join the Blues
AC Milan and Marseille among Europe’s busiest transfer market movers
Have you ever watched your team play poorly in an early season fixture and found yourself thinking, “We could do with a whole new team, here”?
Well, that’s exactly what the top brass at AC Milan and Olympique de Marseille have done this summer, with both sides bringing in a colossal 11 new players as the new campaign gets into the swing of things.
The Rossoneri have brought in a glut of fresh faces to the first-team including the former Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Real Madrid’s former Manchester City winger Brahim Diaz, and a trio of Chelsea players: Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori and Tiemoué Bakayoko.
Marseille’s sporting director Pablo Longoria, meanwhile, has been busy helping enigmatic coach Jorge Sampaoli build a squad to fit his notorious 3-3-1-3 formation, including former Barcelona wide-man Konrad de la Fuente, ex-Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi and AS Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez.
But will ripping everything up and starting over really work? Giroud is off to a good start, at least...
La Liga president Javier Tebas blasts ‘dangerous’ PSG
La Liga president Javier Tebas has branded “state-clubs” as “dangerous” to football and has compared Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance of the transfer window to the failed European Super League.
PSG signed an unprecedented number of star free agents, led by Lionel Messi, this window and also turned down Real Madrid’s bid of over €200m for Kylian Mbappe, a player who is set to leave for free next summer.
“State clubs are as dangerous for the football ecosystem as the Super League,” Tebas tweeted. “We criticised the Super League for destroying European football and we are equally critical of PSG.”
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