Chelsea spent almost €300 million on transfers this summer and three players – Antony, Darwin Nunez and Aurelien Tchouameni – moved for €100 million. And after the window closed, more deals were made…...CONTINUE READING
The window for the Turkish Super League closed a day after most of Europe, while some superstars who were available for free transfers were still able to complete their transfers.
Football Transfers presents the five best of them…
Juan Mata to Galatasaray
Juan Mata has led the stream of new signings to Galatasaray, and the Turkish record champions have also loaned Mauro Icardi from Paris Saint-Germain.
Mata could leave Manchester United on a free transfer after eight-and-a-half years, 51 goals, 47 assists and four major trophies at Old Trafford.
“I feel very good, I’m happy and very motivated,” he said after signing a possible two-year contract. “I’m grateful to be here. Everyone is very nice.
I can’t wait to win with Galatasaray. Everyone has told me how nice the atmosphere is in this city. I can’t wait to experience it. I can’t wait to fight in front of our fans.”
Diego Costa to Wolves
Also on his way out was Mata’s former Spanish international teammate Diego Costa, who returned to the Premier League after a five-year absence when he signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The striker last played for Atletico Mineiro in his native Brazil – Costa was born in the state of Sergipe and played 24 times for Spain – before winning two Premier League titles with Chelsea.
Sasha Kalajdzic suffered a cruciate ligament injury a few days after arriving from Stuttgart, which has forced Wolves to go back to the market.
Miralem Pjanic to Sharjah
Miralem Pjanic already looked to have a future at Barcelona under Xavi after a spell at Beşiktaş last year, and the Bosnia and Herzegovina midfielder convinced his coach during pre-season.
But when Frenkie de Jong decided to stay rather than move to Man Utd, Barca’s midfield began to look too busy and Pjanic – who cost the Catalan giants €65 million in June 2020 – could join Emirati team Sharjah for free.
Loris Karius to Newcastle
Loris Karius, who was once Liverpool’s number one, has been moved on a free after his contract at Anfield expired. Karius, who has long since been replaced by Alisson, is nevertheless a goalkeeper at Premier League level who Newcastle were relieved to sign.
After the injury to Karl Darlow and Martin Dubravka’s departure to Man Utd, Newcastle were left without Nick Pope as a replacement. Karius is on the bench at the moment, but he has been given the number 1 shirt…
Serge Aurier to Nottingham Forest
Only Chelsea spent more money than Nottingham Forest in the last transfer window, and the newly-promoted Premier League club signed a whopping 22 players in a bid to stay in the English top flight for the long term.
Even after the transfer deadline, they were not finished, as former PSG and Tottenham Hotspur right-back Serge Aurier, who last played in La Liga with Villarreal, arrived for free.
Honourable mentions:
Mauro Icardi (PSG – Galatasaray, on loan)
Michy Batshuayi (Chelsea – Fenerbahçe, on loan)
Nathan Redmond (Southampton – Besiktas, free).
