A look at the biggest late moves of the summer transfer window.
10. Peter Odemwingie (West Brom to Cardiff City)
After a long time in the wilderness at West Brom after infamously trying to force through a move to Queens Park Rangers in January, Peter Odemwingie has finally left the club in a deadline day move to Cardiff City. The Nigerian is still a top Premier League striker on his day, and could be an excellent piece of business for the newly-promoted side for just £2.5m, as they will need a proven goal scorer to help them maintain their top flight status with survival this season. The likes of Crystal Palace, Hull and Stoke were also chasing him, which shows that, despite his disciplinary problems, the 32-year-old is still a player with plenty to offer.
9. Stephane Sessegnon (Sunderland to West Brom)
Replacing Odemwingie at West Brom will be Benin international forward Stephane Sessegnon, who becomes the Baggies’ record signing after completing a £6m deadline day move from Sunderland. A few years ago, Sessegnon looked like a highly exciting Premier League talent with his displays for the Black Cats, though he appears to have lost his way somewhat, and no longer looked guaranteed a regular starting place under new manager Paolo Di Canio, who himself has invested heavily in new players this summer. A new striker had been a priority for West Brom boss Steve Clarke, who failed to land Chelsea youngster Romelu Lukaku on loan for a second season, and Sessegnon will now join Nicolas Anelka, Victor Anichebe and loan stars Scott Sinclair and Matej Vydra in the Baggies’ new-look attacking lineup this season.
8. Victor Moses (Chelsea to Liverpool)
One of three deadline day signings for Liverpool, Chelsea winger Victor Moses looks like a good piece of business as he joins the club in a £1m season-long loan deal. The former Wigan man has failed to settle since moving to Stamford Bridge last summer, and will be looking to get his career back on track under Brendan Rodgers, who has also managed to work wonders on Daniel Sturridge since signing him from Chelsea back in January. A speedy, skillful and strong attacker, Moses should fit in well into Rodgers’ style of play, and looks to have made the right move for himself after falling down the pecking order at Chelsea with their flurry of new signings this summer.
7. Tiago Ilori (Sporting Lisbon to Liverpool)
Something of an injury crisis in defence seemingly forced Brendan Rodgers’ hand on the final day of the transfer window, as he stepped up his interest in long-term target Tiago Ilori, signed from Portuguese outfit Sporting Lisbon. The 20-year-old is an outstanding defensive prospect and could be ready to challenge to be first choice straight away, although he is more likely to be ushered in slowly due to his inexperience. Valencia were also linked with him earlier in the summer, but the Reds managed to snap him up for just £7m, which will likely be seen as a bargain in the not so distant future.
6. Mamadou Sakho (PSG to Liverpool)
As well as bringing in exciting youngster Ilori to shore up a defence that could be without injured pair Kolo Toure and Sebastian Coates for some time, Liverpool have splashed out £18m out on outstanding PSG centre-back Mamadou Sakho. The French international has been one of the best defenders in Ligue 1 for a number of years now, but had grown increasingly concerned about being a regular in the Paris side after their recent big-money signings of Thiago Silva and Marquinhos. Still only 23, Sakho is vastly experienced and a proven quality defender, who looks more than capable of adapting to the Premier League, and a player that could go down as one of the best defensive signings of the whole summer.
5. James McCarthy (Wigan to Everton)
On a deadline day that could so easily have gone badly wrong for Everton, their fans will be feeling pretty pleased now, as exciting young midfielder James McCarthy, also a target for Newcastle, was brought in for £13m from Wigan. The 22-year-old was one of the Latics’ most impressive performers last season under Roberto Martinez, helping them to a shock FA Cup final win over Manchester City, even though the season ultimately ended in relegation. Reunited with his old manager at Goodison Park, McCarthy can now continue his remarkable rise of the last few years, and is a player who is rightly back in the Premier League. With the experienced Gareth Barry coming in on loan as well, the Toffees’ midfield looks in good shape for the new season.
4. Kaka (Real Madrid to AC Milan)
After a disappointing four years in Madrid, Kaka is back at the club where he first made a name for himself as world class player. The Brazilian will join initially on loan, and could be a good piece of business by the Italian club who initially sold him for a then-record £56million in 2009. Still a highly skillful and creative attacker, Kaka may get more opportunity to shine at the San Siro, with a vast amount of competition in place at the Bernabeu. Arsenal and Manchester United were said to be keen on bringing him to the Premier League on the final day, and while it would have been good to see him have a spell in English football, it would also be great to see him back at his best in a Milan shirt.
3. Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea to Everton)
A great piece of business again by Everton, as they welcome talented young striker Romelu Lukaku to the club on loan for the 2013/14 season. The Belgian was in superb form in his loan spell with West Brom last season, and at one point last night it looked likely that the Baggies would snap him up for another year, before the Toffees pulled potentially one of the bargains of the summer out of the bag. It seemed likely that Lukaku might break into Jose Mourinho’s first-team plans at Chelsea this year, though in the end he made way as Demba Ba’s proposed loan move to Arsenal was blocked. The 20-year-old is certainly too good to spend the season sitting on the bench, so it will be great to see what he can do at Everton this year.
2. Marouane Fellaini (Everton to Manchester United)
After an entire summer of being linked to various midfielders, Manchester United finally landed long-term target Marouane Fellaini right on the deadline last night. The Belgian developed into one of the Premier League’s best players last season under David Moyes, and it is no surprise that the Scot was keen to work with him again at United. The tall and powerful midfielder is exactly the kind of commanding presence in the middle of the park that United have been lacking for a few years, and should give them a good alternative to the likes of Michael Carrick and Tom Cleverley. Although some United fans may have preferred a more creative midfield player in the mould of targets such as Thiago Alcantara and Cesc Fabregas, the £27m signing of Fellaini is up there with the best transfers of the whole summer, let alone of deadline day.
1. Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid to Arsenal)
Undoubtedly one of the biggest stories of the whole summer, Arsenal shocked the footballing world late last night with the sensational £42m signing of German international star Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid. In a move that smashes Arsenal’s previous transfer record by a long way, Ozil becomes the Gunners’ only major signing of the summer, joining youngster Yaya Sanogo and Mathieu Flamini who both arrived for free, but Arsenal fans won’t mind that, as they can finally enjoy a sense of optimism that their club is ready to challenge on the big stage and compete for the best players in the transfer market. One of the best creative midfielders in the world, the 24-year-old should pit in perfectly under Arsene Wenger’s style of play, and may just be the player who can take them up a level and fire them to glory.