Transfer deadline day LIVE: Fulham try to loan Armando Broja from Chelsea as window closes
Clubs in the Premier League and across Europe made last-ditch moves before the January transfer window slammed shut
Transfer deadline day came and went as the January window slammed shut and Premier League clubs raced to try and complete last-minute deals ahead of the 11pm deadline.
Armando Broja’s future was still yet to be decided as the window closed as Chelsea reportedly agreed a loan deal to send the striker to Fulham, who could do with some goals over the second half of the season, but no official confirmation had landed by the time the deadline passed. West Ham duo Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals’ exits to Lyon and Real Betis respectively were in a similar situation.
A relatively quiet transfer deadline day mirrored the January window as a whole, with financial restrictions stopping Premier League clubs splashing the cash too much. Crystal Palace swooped for midfielder Adam Wharton in a reported £22m switch from Blackburn to mark the biggest Premier League move of deadline day, as the talented 19-year-old cost an upfront fee of £18m with a potential £4m of add-ons.
Burnley completed loan deals for two defenders as Montpellier’s Maxime Esteve and Lorenz Assignon from Rennes signed until the end of the season, while Nottingham Forest signed goalkeeper Matz Sels from Strasbourg and striker Enes Unal joined Bournemouth on loan from Getafe, with an obligation to buy.
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Done deal! Burnley sign Montpellier defender Maxime Esteve
Burnley have completed a loan deal for Montpellier defender Maxime Esteve, who has joined Vincent Kompany’s side until the end of the season.
The 21-year-old centre-back watched Burnley’s 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday night before completing the formalities of his deal before Thursday night’s deadline.
“I feel very good, I’m really happy and ever since I first heard about the move I wanted to move here,” Esteve said. “I have followed the Premier League since being a young child and had only pictured myself ever being here, so I am really excited.
“The manager spoke really positively about the project here and I just wanted to be a part of it straight away.”
Esteve becomes Kompany’s second signing of the January transfer window after forward David Datro Fofana joined on loan from Chelsea.
Leverkusen sign striker Borja Iglesias in bid to clinch title
Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen’s new signing Borja Iglesias is ready to boost their attack in the absence of injured striker Victor Boniface, and his arrival could not have been better timed with Bayern Munich awaiting them on Feb. 10.
Leverkusen will be looking to bounce back with a win at bottom club Darmstadt 98 on Saturday to make amends for their goalless draw against Borussia Moenchengladbach last week. Their lead over second-placed Bayern has been cut to two points and they will want to preserve that gap going into the crunch match against Bayern.
With the title race looking increasingly like a two-horse race as Bayern are 10 points ahead of third-placed VfB Stuttgart, Leverkusen know they cannot afford to drop points on Saturday.
“Until the season ends it is still a long, hard way,” said 31-year-old Spaniard Iglesias, who joined on a loan deal from Real Betis until the end of the campaign. “We are taking one step after the other. First of all I am looking forward to the game against Darmstadt on the weekend and then the coming weeks in Leverkusen.”
Boniface, who had scored 10 goals in 16 league games, will be out of action for at least three months after undergoing surgery on an adductor muscle injury he picked up while preparing with Nigeria for the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this month.
Leverkusen urgently need Iglesias’ efficacy in front of goal, having failed to score against Gladbach despite having 28 goal attempts compared to their opponents’ four.
“This is an ambitious team that wants to achieve something,” Iglesias said. “I will give my best to help this team.”
Often derided as lacking a winning mentality and nicknamed ‘Neverkusen’ for their inability to win titles, Leverkusen are unbeaten in 28 consecutive matches across all competitions this season.
Adam Wharton discusses reasons behind Crystal Palace move
Adam Wharton has revealed Crystal Palace’s track record for developing young prospects from the Championship was a big factor in him signing for the club.
Wharton completed a move to Selhurst Park from Blackburn on transfer deadline day, putting pen to paper on a five-and-a-half-year deal with the Premier League outfit.
England Under-20 international Wharton leaves Rovers after making 51 appearances for his boyhood club and will hope to follow in the footsteps of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in making the jump up from the second tier.
Wharton told Palace TV: “I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League and to play for such a big club like Crystal Palace is a great honour.
“The way they’ve brought players from the Championship and developed them into world-class players in the Premier League is something that stood out to me, and it’s a big reason why I wanted to come here.”
Real Betis sell Luiz Henrique to Botafogo
Botafogo have signed Brazilian winger Luiz Henrique from Spanish side Real Betis for a Brazilian record fee, the club said on Thursday.
Financial details were not disclosed, but Spanish media said the Brazilian Serie A club had paid Betis a fee of about €20m (£17m) for the 23-year-old.
Botafogo said that the deal represented the highest transfer fee ever paid by a Brazilian club. The player has signed until the end of 2028.
Brazilian media reported the forward could leave Botafogo at the end of the season or in 2025 on loan to Olympique Lyonnais, with both clubs being owned by American businessman John Textor.
Henrique made 64 appearances for Betis, scoring four goals and providing 10 assists, after joining from Fluminense in 2022.
Betis are meanwhile set to sign Pablo Fornals from West Ham for around €8m.
Done deal! Luton sign teenage forward from Reading
Luton have completed the signing of teenage forward Taylan Harris from Reading.
Harris, 18, has been a regular for the Royals’ Under-21 side this season and scored on his senior debut in the EFL Trophy in September, going on to be called up into the squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Ipswich.
Luton’s head of recruitment Mick Harford said on the club website: “Taylan is technically very good. He is a winger or forward who is very quick, has a real eye for goal and likes a shot from range. He is also a good dribbler, who likes to beat players and make things happen. We are looking forward to working with him and are excited to see how he develops.”
Harris is looking forward to the next step of his career with the Hatters and said: “My aim is to play in the Premier League - every player in the world wants to do that. This has given me an opportunity to do that and achieve that.”
Ivan Toney staying at Brentford
Not that we really expected anything else but Brentford head coach Thomas Frank says that Ivan Toney will not be leaving the Bees on transfer deadline day.
England striker Toney has been linked with Premier League rivals such as Arsenal and Chelsea in the January window.
The 27-year-old has scored 34 goals in 68 top-flight games for Brentford and Frank insists Toney will stay put after a month of speculation.
“This will be breaking news, OK – but Ivan will stay,” Frank said at his press conference previewing Monday’s clash with Manchester City.
Mowbray secures Pritchard
Midfielder Alex Pritchard becomes Birmingham’s third signing of the January transfer window.
The 30-year-old will link up with former boss Tony Mowbray after joining from Sunderland on a two-and-a-half year contract.
ICYMI: Dahoud goes back to Germany
Midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud joined Brighton from Borussia Dortmund in the summer but will now head back to Germany on loan at Stuttgart until the end of the season.
The 28-year-old German has made 14 appearances in all competitions but has fallen out of favour since receiving a red card against Sheffield United in November and has not featured for the Seagulls since a 1-1 draw with Burnley at the start of December.
Technical director David Weir said: “This is a good move for Mahmoud. It will give him an opportunity to play regularly for a side doing very well towards the top of the Bundesliga. We wish him well for the rest of the campaign.”
ICYMI: Gio Reyna added to Forest ranks
Nottingham Forest have once again been one of the busier clubs on deadline day and completed a second loan signing of USA midfielder Reyna from Borussia Dortmund.
Reyna has made 121 appearances for Dortmund since 2019 and has already earned 24 caps in international colours.
Reyna will bring a wealth of experience from the Bundesliga and Champions League as Forest aim to bolster their bid to survive in the Premier League.
ICYMI: Rogers makes Villa switch
Aston Villa have completed a move for Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough, with the forward having impressed in the Sky Bet Championship so far this season with seven goals and eight assists to his name.
The 21-year-old arrived at Villa Park after Middlesbrough finally succumbed to an offer in the region of £16million.
Rogers will now line up in the Premier League to help Unai Emery’s side pursue a spot in Europe come the end of the season.
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