Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal loan Sterling, Chelsea sign Sancho but lose Osimhen after deadline
The transfer deadline passed as several Premier League clubs are continued to finish off both sales and signings
The transfer window faced a frantic conclusion as Premier League clubs scrambled to complete last-minute business up to – and after – the 11pm deadline.
Raheem Sterling has completed a season-long loan move from Chelsea to Arsenal. The clubs announced the switch almost three hours after the Premier League transfer window closed. Sterling, 29, has won 82 caps for England but had found himself frozen out at Chelsea under Enzo Maresca.
Chelsea wanted to sign a striker, but top option Victor Osimhen turned down their wage offer in favour of staying at Napoli, while Ivan Toney has moved to Saudi side Al-Ahli in a £40m transfer from Brentford.
Instead, Chelsea and Manchester United have agreed on a loan a deal for winger Jadon Sancho, who is expected to depart Old Trafford. United also finally finished off a move for PSG midfielder Manuel Ugarte, after Scott McTominay was sold to Napoli.
Wolves signed a trio of players, Nottingham Forest captured James-Ward Prowse on loan, as Everton made a late move for Armando Broja from Chelsea and Fulham chased Reiss Nelson from Arsenal into the small hours.
Follow the latest transfer news and updates from the aftermath of deadline day below.
Confirmed! Raheem Sterling signs for Arsenal
Raheem Sterling swapped Chelsea for Arsenal in the most eye-catching move of the day, after the winger had been told he was surplus to requirements by Blues manager Enzo Maresca.
The Independent understands that the move was completed after a deal sheet was submitted to the Premier League on time. Sterling joins Arsenal on loan until the end of the season after the clubs agreed there would be no fee and that his vast wages would be shared between them. The move is a lot cheaper than Arsenal expected.
The winger escapes his Chelsea nightmare but still faces plenty of competition for a starting spot in the Arsenal team, with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard already competing for a place on the left wing. Arsenal also wanted additional cover for Bukayo Saka.
The clubs announced the switch almost three hours after the Premier League transfer window closed.
Chelsea loan Sancho with obligation to buy
In another of the more surprising developments over the past 48 hours, Chelsea loaned, and effectively bought, Jadon Sancho from Manchester United. Sancho’s move was also unconfirmed by the deadline but was widely reported to have been completed on time.
Sancho, 24, endured a troubled relationship with United manager Erik ten Hag and will get a fresh start at Stamford Bridge with Chelsea, the club he supported as a boy growing up in London. Chelsea are obliged to pay around £23m to sign Sancho permanently next summer, after he joined United from Dortmund three years ago for £73m.
Victor Osimhen latest: Chelsea move off as future hangs in balance
Chelsea were unable to complete a late move for Napoli striker Victor Osimhen last night after failing to agree terms with the player and club.
Osimhen now has three days to complete a move to Saudi side Al-Ahli, who have already purchased Ivan Toney for a fee of £40m.
The striker has been frozen out from Napoli’s first-team squad and reports in Italy suggest the relationship has completely broken down.
Arsenal face title race pressure already after Declan Rice’s moment of madness
In a Premier League title race of inches, Arsenal and Declan Rice may have already handed Manchester City a huge advantage. It’s only August, but there was an edge in the air at the Emirates long before Rice’s controversial red card in this 1-1 draw against Brighton, with additional heat to the post-match fury as Mikel Arteta reflected on a thunderous afternoon that was far more “emotional” than usual for this early stage of the season.
After losing out on the Premier League trophy by two points last season, Arsenal know how perfect you have to be to beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City to the title. And this was an opportunity missed, with crucial points dropped already, as Arsenal squandered their winning position so needlessly. Rice’s sending off - his first in the Premier League in 245 appearances - changed the game after Kai Havertz’s fine lob handed Arsenal a deserved lead before half time.
Arsenal face title race pressure already after Declan Rice’s moment of madness
Arsenal 1-1 Brighton: An ‘emotional’ afternoon for the Gunners brought dropped points after Rice’s controverial red card
Billy Gilmour completes move from Brighton to Napoli
Brighton sold midfielder Billy Gilmour to Napoli last night for an initial £12m. The Scotland international made 60 appearances for Brighton in two seasons at the club, following a move from Chelsea in 2022.
The move appeared to be off after Brighton’s new £25m midfielder Matt O’Riley suffered a ankle injury just 10 minutes into his debut, but the Italian club persisted and got the deal over the line with hours to spare.
Brighton’s technical director David Weir said, “Billy quickly established himself as a popular figure in the dressing room and was a key player last season when we competed in the Europa League for the first time.
“We wish him the best of luck with this move to Italy and thank him for his efforts with the club.”
Arsenal have to be ‘proud’ of transfer business, says Edu
It was a busy end to the transfer window for Arsenal with the club selling striker Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace, goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to Southampton and loaning Reiss Nelson to Fulham.
In the same window, the Gunners also sold Emile Smith Rowe on a permanent deal and signed Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori and Sain midfielder Mikel Merino, while bringing in Raheem Sterling and Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto on loan.
Sporting director Edu said: “A long day, a long transfer window but in the end, I think we as a club have to be proud once again. The way we are working together, the way we did all the deals.
“I think we are in a very good situation when see all the loan players in the right clubs. You see the signings we have like Riccardo and like Merino, so the players that we planned to sign, our targets, they are here. Also the players that we decided to sell, I think we sold them for the right price, to the right clubs, in the right way also which is important.
“So today to be here on the last day of the transfer window, to get someone like Sterling, who I believe will be someone very important for the squad, who is going to give a lot to the team. So it’s a pleasure, and in the end everyone – not only me because there are a lot of people working here as well – but it’s a pleasure we are finishing the transfer window.”
Raheem Sterling loan ‘makes sense’ for Arsenal - Edu
Arsenal’s sporting director Edu explains why the club made a late move in the transfer window to sign Raheem Sterling on loan.
“To be fair we never planned really to sign him when we started the transfer window, just to be very transparent, for different reasons.
“But we always say to everyone that you have to be prepared for every single scenario. So when that opportunity came to me, and I checked the squad, I checked how he plays, and spoke to Mikel [Arteta] of course. I spoke to Tim [Lewis], our vice-chairman, to check if everyone is comfortable for the step we are going to take, and it makes a lot of sense.
“It makes a lot of sense to have someone like him because I’m pretty sure he is going to add a lot in the squad. He has experience, he understands more than anyone the league, he’s played in the Champions League many times.
“He won the Premier League a few times as well, so I think he can add a lot to our squad and I feel really happy to see someone like him in our squad.”
Everton sign Armando Broja as Neal Maupay departs
Everton secured a very late loan deal for Chelsea’s Armando Broja, in a deal which includes a £30m option to buy the striker at the end of the season, despite a foot injury derailing a proposed move to Ipswich.
Marseille meanwhile sealed a move for Everton forward Neal Maupay on a season-long loan. The Ligue 1 side also have an obligation to buy the forward at the end of the season. The 28-year-old joined Everton in 2022 from Brighton and scored just once in 32 appearances for the Toffees, and spent last season at former club Brentford.
Wolves sign Andre, Forbs and Johnstone
Wolves signed 23-year-old Brazilian midfielder Andre from Fluminense, Portuguese winger Carlos Forbs and Crystal Palace goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on a busy day for the club.
Andre had been linked with a host of major European clubs over the past 12 months after helping Fluminense win the Copa Libertadores, and a transfer to Fulham earlier this summer fell through.
Forbs only broke into the Ajax first team last season but made an impression on watching scouts, and he knows English football after spending several years in Manchester City’s academy. He joined on loan, and Wolves have an £11m option to buy.
Johnstone signed a four-year contract and looks set to usurp Jose Sa as Wolves’ No 1 goalkeeper.
To make room, striker Fabio Silva joined Spanish side Las Palmas on a season-long loan, while winger Chiquinho also left for Mallorca on loan.
Arsenal bring in Neto as Aaron Ramsdale joins Southampton
Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto joined Arsenal on a season-long loan deal, the Premier League club announced on Friday after England keeper Aaron Ramsdale sealed a permanent move to Southampton.
Brazil’s Neto, who previously played for Juventus, Valencia and Barcelona, has made 61 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth since joining the club in 2022.
“I’m realising a dream in my life, a dream come true, and I’m really, really happy,” Neto said. “I had two dreams as a kid to play for a football team. It was my team in Brazil, where I grew up and became a professional footballer, and also Arsenal. And now I’m realising it. I’m a really lucky person.”
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