Transfer news LIVE: Chelsea sign Saul Niguez as Barcelona’s Antoine Griezmann rejoins Atletico Madrid

It was a busy transfer deadline day

It was a tremendous transfer deadline day with several transfers completed with minutes to spare as the Premier League dominated the market once again in terms of total spend.

There were big deals elsewhere though, including Eduardo Camavinga signing for Real Madrid from Stade Rennais, but the one that didn’t happen dominated the headlines: Kylian Mbappe stays at Paris Saint-Germain, that’s despite the France international having just one year remaining on his contract and Real Madrid making a bid of £172m (€200m).

For PSG, it was all about the Champions League and they even splashed out late on Nuno Mendes to ram home the point and prove their strength to resist Los Blancos in the ongoing power struggle.

Cristiano Ronaldo is now officially a Manchester United player and was unveiled in a red shirt – though we now await what number he will wear at Old Trafford in his second spell at the club. The return of the Portuguese allowed Daniel James to move on and finally join Leeds United for £25m two years after coming as close as possible to signing for a team when he left Swansea.

Chelsea had a fine window, signing Romelu Lukaku and adding Saul Niguez late on via a loan, with an option to buy, though they did miss out on one big deal, centre-back Jules Kounde stays at Sevilla despite interest from the Blues.

Arsenal were the other busy club as the deadline expired, retaining the disgruntled Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who had spoken out on his desire to leave, while allowing Hector Bellerin to join Real Betis on loan and bringing in Japan right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna for around £17m.

There is still the potential to add free agents, which will be the route for Serge Aurier after his Tottenham contract was mutually ended, with Spurs signing Emerson Royal from Barcelona – here’s all the latest news and reaction to the summer transfer window.

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Rondon highlights importance of Benítez in Everton transfer

Salomon Rondón is joining up with Rafael Benítez for a third time having joined Everton just before the transfer window closed on Monday night.

The Venezuelan striker scored a combined 25 goals under Benítez’s tutelage in spells with both Newcastle United and China’s Dalian Professional since 2018, and now arrives at Goodison Park to cover and provide competition for England striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

Rondón explained the influence Benítez has had on his career already: “I’m really glad to be back in the Premier League. It’s a competition I enjoyed playing in and where I felt the fans’ support in every game.

“Defending the colours of a club with a history as rich as Everton’s fills me with pride. I can’t wait to pull on the shirt and be reunited with Rafa Benítez, a coach who has changed the way I understand the game. I’m really grateful for the faith he’s shown in me.”

Czech mates re-united at West Ham as Alex Král settles in

Ever since his return to the West Ham United dugout, David Moyes has found success in building his side around a core of Czech footballers.

Tomas Soucek’s sensational goalscoring form since signing 18-months ago helped catapult the Irons into the Europa League last season, while Vladimír Coufal’s displays at right-back have impressed plenty of observers.

Now midfielder Alex Král is joining his compatriots after a competing a move from Spartak Moscow yesterday evening. The Hammers completed a double swoop in Russia after purchasing former Everton playmaker Nikola Vlasic from city rivals CSKA.

Král in particular has received a warm welcome from his new team-mates online, and if he can have anything like the same impact as Soucek and Coufal across the course of the campaign, Moyes will be delighted.

Odsonne Édouard explains motive behind Crystal Palace switch from Celtic

Odsonne Édouard has explained his reasons for joining Crystal Palace after his deadline day move south from Celtic.

The French striker signed on at Selhurst Park for four years with the option of a year’s extension, after spending five seasons at Parkhead in which he scored 77 goals in 150 appearances.

Having been linked with Leicester City and former manager Brendan Rodgers earlier in the window, the 23-year-old is joining a side with a new manager and plenty of new players.

Édouard described his motivations to join the Eagles as: “Everything. The way the team plays, the players there, the manager. It’s a new challenge, and it’s the best league for me.

“So, I can’t say no to this team.”

Saúl Ñíguez reveals motivation for joining Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid

Saúl Ñíguez insists the motivation to play his best position convinced him to join Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid.

While the Spain international also admits that the Blues’ back-up goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga helped persuade him to move to London.

The European champions will pay £3.5m for a season-long loan, while there is also an option to make the move permanent for around £30m.

Saul Niguez reveals motivation for joining Chelsea on loan from Atletico Madrid

The Spain international has revealed how Kepa Arrizabalaga played a key role in persuading him to join the Blues

AC Milan and Marseille among Europe’s busiest transfer market movers

Have you ever watched your team play poorly in an early season fixture and found yourself thinking, “We could do with a whole new team, here”?

Well, that’s exactly what the top brass at AC Milan and Olympique de Marseille have done this summer, with both sides bringing in a colossal 11 new players as the new campaign gets into the swing of things.

The Rossoneri have brought in a glut of fresh faces to the first-team including the former Lille goalkeeper Mike Maignan, Real Madrid’s former Manchester City winger Brahim Diaz, and a trio of Chelsea players: Olivier Giroud, Fikayo Tomori and Tiemoué Bakayoko.

Marseille’s sporting director Pablo Longoria, meanwhile, has been busy helping enigmatic coach Jorge Sampaoli build a squad to fit his notorious 3-3-1-3 formation, including former Barcelona wide-man Konrad de la Fuente, ex-Arsenal midfielder Matteo Guendouzi and AS Roma goalkeeper Pau Lopez.

But will ripping everything up and starting over really work? Giroud is off to a good start, at least…

La Liga president Javier Tebas blasts ‘dangerous’ PSG

La Liga president Javier Tebas has branded “state-clubs” as “dangerous” to football and has compared Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance of the transfer window to the failed European Super League.

PSG signed an unprecedented number of star free agents, led by Lionel Messi, this window and also turned down Real Madrid’s bid of over €200m for Kylian Mbappe, a player who is set to leave for free next summer.

“State clubs are as dangerous for the football ecosystem as the Super League,” Tebas tweeted. “We criticised the Super League for destroying European football and we are equally critical of PSG.”

Barcelona’s surprise Griezmann sale hammers home mis-management at Camp Nou

Antoine Griezmann’s late return to Atlético Madrid late last night took plenty by surprise, with Barcelona’s desperation to cut their losses on the France forward leading them to accept a loan with obligation-to-buy deal from the club which beat them to the La Liga title last season.

Joan Laporta’s cost-cutting measures since returning as President of the Catalans earlier this year have, of course, included allowing Lionel Messi to depart on a free transfer, but the Griezmann deal arguably emphasises the horrendous financial mis-management at Nou Camp in recent even more.

Griezmann is Barcelona’s third most expensive purchase in history, at somewhere around €120m. The only two men more expensive than him? Ousmane Dembélé and Philippe Coutinho, two players whose time with the club has been equally as unsuccessful.

That Barca have accepted a cut-price deal for one of their ‘star’ men from a major rival shows just what a mess one the sport’s most important institutions now finds itself in.

Daniel James relieved to get Leeds move over the line

New Leeds signing Daniel James admitted to feeling “deja vu” as he completed his move to the Elland Road club from Manchester United.

Winger James was close to signing for Leeds in 2019 from Swansea but the transfer fell through in the final moments of the window.

“I’m happy to be here now, and I can’t wait to play in front of these fans,” James told Sky Sports. “I think there has always been interest in me from Leeds since I nearly signed from Swansea.

“It kind of happened in the last day or two. It happened very quick, but I’ve got my head around it and this is where I want to be moving forward.

“It feels brilliant to be here. Last time I had signed everything, but obviously it fell through at the last minute. Everything I’ve done today feels like deja vu, it feels like yesterday. In football terms, everything moves so quick.

“I’m delighted that everything is over the line now, and obviously I’ve got an international now, and then I’m looking forward to getting back and playing that first game back against Liverpool.”

Harry Kane’s “conscience is clear" after plotting move from Tottenham to Manchester City

Tottenham Hotspur captain Harry Kane says he feels his “conscience his clear” after the transfer deadline passed with the forward remaining at in North London.

A protracted dalliance with Manchester City ultimately failed to result in a move to the Etihad Stadium for the England skipper, who has started Spurs’ last two matches.

“I think anyone involved in the football industry knows the ins and outs,” he told talkSPORT. “I was quite calm with the situation, but when you’re in it, and you know the truth, then your conscience is clear.

“There’s always going to be noise. My whole career, I’ve had ups and downs from when I’m young to where I am. That’s just part of the parcel of it.

“A lot of people that know me will say I’m a professional athlete who’s dedicated my life to this game, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.

Harry Kane claims his ‘conscience is clear’ despite failure to join Manchester City

Kane feels relationship with Tottenham has not been damaged

Saul Niguez opens up on Chelsea move

New Chelsea signing Saul Niguez has opened up on why he has has made the move to the Premier League following his departure from Atletico Madrid.

The Spain international joined the European champions late on deadline day and then gave an interview to Twitch streamer Ibai Llanos.

The 26-year-old indicated that he had grown frustrated at being moved around the pitch at Atletico and that he has joined Chelsea to play in central midfield.

“Chelsea’s option was to leave [my] comfort zone,” Saul said. “It won’t be easy to get into that team.”

“At Chelsea I will train in my position. Then we will see if I play. That is the biggest cause of my decision.”

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