Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea sign Aubameyang, Arsenal’s Luiz bid rejected, Liverpool confirm Arthur
Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool, Man City, Leeds, Barcelona, PSG and many more were busy on deadline day
The transfer window closed with a flurry of late activity, as Chelsea signed the former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on a two-year deal from Barcelona. Aubameyang, who will wear the number 9 shirt at Stamford Bridge, was finally announced after midnight and was followed by the loan signing of midfielder Denis Zakaria from Juventus as Chelsea’s busy summer of transfer business concluded with two major deals.
Liverpool signed Arthur on loan from Juventus to ease their midfield injury problems but Arsenal‘s late chase of Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz ended in disappointment. Arsenal saw three bids rejected, the last around £25m, with Aston Villa holding out for £40m for a player out of contract next summer.
Earlier, Manchester United completed the signing of Antony from Ajax for €100m in the biggest deal of transfer deadline day. The Brazilian international has put pen to paper on a contract at Old Trafford that runs until 2027, and was followed by goalkeeper Martin Dubravka, who has joined on a season-long loan from Newcastle.
Elsewhere, Manuel Akanji sealed his move to Manchester City from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal while Leicester made their first outfield signing of the window as they announced the arrival of Belgium international Wout Faes from Reims. He replaces Wesley Fofana, who joined Chelsea for £70m on Wednesday.
Follow all the latest twists and turns on transfer deadline day below.
Gueye set for Everton return?
Idrissa Gueye has been linked with a return to Everton from Paris Saint-Germain before the end of the transfer window this evening.
And now he appears to have hinted at a potential move with a cryptic tweet in the last few moments.
Gvardiol deal to Chelsea off
RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol’s transfer to Chelsea will not be completed before the 11pm deadline, with the Blues set to renew their interest in January.
The 20-year-old has extended his contract with the Bundesliga outfit until 2027 - as per Fabrizio Romano.
It comes following the rejection of a €90 million bid from Chelsea yesterday.
Man Utd not expecting new signings
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag does not believe there will be any more arrivals on deadline day.
He said: “Will that be the end of the signings? I think so, [Antony and Dubravka] for this window, it will be the end.
“But when there is great opportunity, you have to be always alert as a top club.”
Forest boss Cooper wants transfer window to end
Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has claimed he will be pleased once the transfer window ends.
The newly-promoted club have already brought in 16 players this summer, but Cooper now wants to focus on the campaign ahead of them.
He told the BBC: “I look forward to it being shut. Of course it’s been a unique window going into the Premier League, the transition. In the end, the amount of transfers we’ve made will write a lot of the narrative for your questions. Once today comes and goes that’s us, ready to go into next weeks and months before next window.
“That’s what we’ve got to be focussed on - continuing to try and be best version of us whether players have been here for years or have just come through door. This is the team that represents the club at this moment in time. That’s really important. It gives us the best opportunity to be a good team in terms of togetherness when games come.
“The recruitment certainly dies down for sure, when the window closes. The guys will start the process again and get ready for January. When the window opens we’ll get a bit closer with communications again, that’s normal. All focus is just on performance and on the team we work with every day.”
Maitland-Niles finalises Saints move
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has sealed a loan move from Arsenal to Southampton, according to Fabrizio Romano.
He has also reportedly agreed a contract extension with parent club Arsenal.
In the last few minutes, transfer expert Romano tweeted: “Ainsley Maitland-Niles completed his move to Southampton, medical done and contracts to be signed now with Arsenal. 🚨⚪️🔴 #DeadlineDay
“New deal until June 2024 with #AFC and then loan to Southampton with buy option clause.”
Forest set for more transfers?
Nottingham Forest have been the most active Premier League club so far this summer, signing a remarkable 16 players.
And Steve Cooper refused to rule out the possibility of more acquisitions before the deadline following their 6-0 defeat to Manchester City last night.
Who else could arrive at the City Ground to join this group of strangers?
Akanji on signing for Manchester City
Manchester City’s newest signing Manuel Akanji has revealed he is ‘excited’ to play under Pep Guardiola after sealing a £15.1 million deal from Borussia Dortmund.
He said: “I am delighted to be here and can’t wait to get started.
“City have been one of the best teams in Europe over the last few seasons. They are brilliant to watch, play an exciting brand of football and compete for trophies year in, year out, so coming here feels like the perfect next step in my career.
“Pep Guardiola is an exceptional manager and this is an exceptional squad of players, so this is an exciting opportunity for me.
“I am really looking forward to testing myself in the Premier League and I will do everything I can to help this club be successful.”
Rodgers wants early transfer deadline across Europe
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers would back another move to close the transfer window early, only if other countries follow suit.
Clubs previously voted to close the window before the season started in 2019 but the Covid pandemic has impacted plans since.
But, with life returning to normal, Rodgers would like to bring the deadline forward to before the season, as long as it is Europe-wide after the Premier League’s 2019 summer window shut three weeks before other major leagues.
He said: “It works well if it’s across Europe. It can’t just be our league, it has to be across all leagues otherwise you’re at a huge disadvantage. That was the original plan (the Premier League closing earlier) and whenever it operated it showed it didn’t really work.
“Ideally it would be great if, throughout Europe, everyone would be on the same deadline but if it’s not we shouldn’t put ourselves at a disadvantage otherwise it would be more difficult.”
Rodgers only wants early transfer deadline if European divisions follow suit
Leicester have been unsettled by Wesley Fofana’s transfer to Chelsea.
Arsenal prepare £25m bid for Luiz
Arsenal are preparing a £25 million move to sign Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz, according to The Sun.
The Brazilian was dropped from Villa’s loss to Arsenal on Wednesday night, but did come off the bench to score direct from a corner.
And Steven Gerrard revealed after the match that Luiz’s future remains up in the air.
He said: “There’s more than two people that are in control of that (Luiz’s future) but I’m certainly not one of them. That will be Douglas, that will be his agent and that will be what happens around that.
“I would like to keep him, he’s a fantastic player and I’ve made that abundantly clear. We are not in a position where we need to lose top players.
“But at the same time, Douglas has got a year to go and it is really one of those really touchy situations where the club has to do what is best for the club, not necessarily what is best for me.”
Premier League clubs splash the cash
If there was any doubt which league is currently the most lucrative then this is quite the statistic from our very own Miguel Delaney.
Premier League’s sides have been splashing the cash all summer and it has culminated in an astonishing amount of money being exchanged.
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