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The Guardian - UK
Sport
Will Unwin, Daniel Harris, Rob Smyth, Michael Butler and Scott Murray

Transfer deadline day 2022: Antony, Akanji, Aubameyang, Melo and more – as it happened

Transfer Deadline Day Chelsea Andy Carroll PierreEmerick Aubameyang Brentford
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Chelsea’s new No 9 after the departure of Romelu Lukaku.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is Chelsea’s new No 9 after the departure of Romelu Lukaku. Photograph: Harriet Lander/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

Aubameyang and Zakaria to Chelsea confirmed!

Updated

That’s the end of Transfer Deadline Day, then. Still no official confirmation of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Chelsea, though our man Fabrizio Romano says the deal is all but done …

… and so all that’s left is to remind you of all today’s big signings. Thanks for reading this blog.

  • Antony (Ajax to Manchester United, £82m)

  • Manuel Akanji (Dortmund to Manchester City, £16.7m)

  • Wout Faes (Reims to Leicester City, £15m)

  • James Garner (Manchester United to Everton, £15m)

  • Leander Dendoncker (Wolves to Aston Villa, £13m)

  • Sam Edozie (Manchester City to Southampton, £10m)

  • Duje Caleta-Car (Marseille to Southampton, £8.6m)

  • Juan Larios (Manchester City to Southampton, £6m)

  • Willy Boly (Wolves to Nottingham Forest, £4.65m)

  • Idrissa Gana Gueye (PSG to Everton, £2m)

  • Carlos Vinicius (Benfica to Fulham, undisclosed)

  • Willian (to Fulham, free agent)

  • Martin Kelly (to West Brom, free agent)

  • Martin Dubravka (Newcastle to Manchester United, loan)

  • Layvin Kurzawa (PSG to Fulham, loan)

  • Jack Stephens (Southampton to Bournemouth, loan)

  • Boubacar Traore (Metz to Wolves, loan)

  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal to Southampton, loan)

  • Arthur Melo (Juventus to Liverpool, loan)

  • Jan Bednarek (Southampton to Aston Villa, loan)

  • Oliver Abildgaard (Rubin Kazan to Celtic, loan)

  • Josh Bowler (Blackpool to Nottingham Forest, undisclosed)

  • Josh Bowler (Nottingham Forest to Olympiacos, loan)

  • Dan James (Leeds to Fulham, loan)

  • Loic Bade (Rennes to Nottingham Forest, loan)

Updated

Bade joins Forest

Nottingham Forest finally finish their business by completing the signing of Rennes defender Loic Bade. The Michy Batshuayi came a cropper because the paperwork wasn’t filed in time.

Fulham land Dan James

The Wales winger joins the Cottagers on a season-long loan from Leeds.

Forest sign (then loan out) Bowler

Nottingham Forest are insatiable.

Having been let down by Bamba Dieng earlier in the day, Leeds look to have consoled themselves with a last-minute deal …

Celtic confirm Oliver Abildgaard

The Danish defensive midfielder joins on a season-long loan from Rubin Kazan.

Wolves announce Boubacar Traore

Wolverhampton Wanderers fill their Leander Dendoncker shaped gap with 21-year-old Malian midfielder Boubacar Traore. He joins on loan from Metz, with an £11m option to buy.

One deal that isn’t going to be announced late on: Michy Batshuayi’s move from Chelsea to Nottingham Forest is off.

More detail on Arsenal’s unsuccessful bid for Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz. Nick Ames has it all…

Hector Bellerin has joined Barcelona. Here’s his valedictory.

A summary of the top deals as the window shuts…

  • Antony (Ajax to Manchester United, £82m)

  • Manuel Akanji (Dortmund to Manchester City, £16.7m)

  • Wout Faes (Reims to Leicester City, £15m)

  • James Garner (Manchester United to Everton, £15m)

  • Leander Dendoncker (Wolves to Aston Villa, £13m)

  • Sam Edozie (Manchester City to Southampton, £10m)

  • Duje Caleta-Car (Marseille to Southampton, £8.6m)

  • Juan Larios (Manchester City to Southampton, £6m)

  • Willy Boly (Wolves to Nottingham Forest, £4.65m)

  • Idrissa Gana Gueye (PSG to Everton, £2m)

  • Carlos Vinicius (Benfica to Fulham, undisclosed)

  • Willian (to Fulham, free agent)

  • Martin Kelly (to West Brom, free agent)

  • Serge Aurier (to Nottingham Forest, free agent)

  • Martin Dubravka (Newcastle to Manchester United, loan)

  • Layvin Kurzawa (PSG to Fulham, loan)

  • Jack Stephens (Southampton to Bournemouth, loan)

  • Boubacar Traore (Metz to Wolves, loan)

  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal to Southampton, loan)

  • Arthur Melo (Juventus to Liverpool, loan)

  • Jan Bednarek (Southampton to Aston Villa, loan)

Updated

Duje Caleta-Car joins Southampton

Have Saints won this summer’s transfer window? Yet another piece of good business, right here, as they secure the 25-year-old Croatian defender in an £8.6m move from Marseille.

Andre Gomes has completed his move from Everton to Lille, joining the French club on a season long loan. The midfielder has two years remaining on a lucrative contract at Goodison Park but was clearly surplus to requirements under Frank Lampard.

The summer transfer window closes ...

… but that doesn’t mean the end of it. Oh no. Providing clubs got their paperwork filed by 11pm, they can announce their signings afterwords. But the window has now officially shut.

Aston Villa sign Jan Bednarek

The Saints defender joins on a season-long loan.

More for Brendan Rodgers, who has really cranked his Scotty Parker-o-meter up to 11. “This isn’t the club it was two years ago. That’s the reality. We haven’t brought any new players in, bar one late on, in the last two windows, and that’s a replacement.” This isn’t going to end well, is it.

A happy dressing room?
A happy dressing room? Photograph: Craig Brough/Reuters

Duje Ćaleta-Car has passed his medical with Southampton. Another paperwork rush coming right up.

Carlos Vinicius signs for Fulham

… and now the race is on to get the Dan James paperwork completed before the window closes in 12 minutes. Some top-quality admin required, right here, right now.

James Garner isn’t the only Manchester United midfielder to leave the club this evening. Jamie Jackson reports that Tahith Chong has joined Birmingham City on a permanent transfer.

There’s always one deadline-day fiasco. Bamba Dieng, who decided to turn down Leeds at the last minute in favour of Nice, has reportedly failed his medical at the French club.

Dan James has passed his medical at Fulham, while Billy Gilmour has done the same at Brighton. Expect both moves to go through now, though no official announcements have been made yet.

Everton have signed a second midfielder today with James Garner completing his move from Manchester United. The 21-year-old who spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest, has cost an initial £9m with £6.5m payable in add-ons. United are also entitled to 20% of the profit on any future sale. Garner has signed a four year contract and is eligible to make his debut against Liverpool on Saturday.

Bad news for Arsenal fans: I understand there’ll be no deal for Douglas Luiz tonight. Arsenal tried hard all day and made three bids, the final last-ditch attempt totalling £25m, but Aston Villa were not for turning and Mikel Arteta will have to go with what he’s got.

Turns out Liverpool may have an option to buy Arthur Melo after all. Juventus have released a statement laying out terms of the agreement, which includes a €4.5m loan fee, and the option to “definitively acquire the player’s registration rights” for a further €37.5m.

Updated

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Premier League bottom club Leicester City have done next to nothing in this transfer window. Brendan Rodgers, interviewed after his significantly weakened squad’s latest defeat, against Manchester United this evening, has launched a shot across the board’s bows. “With the greatest respect, we have not had the help in the transfer market that this team has needed,” he told BT Sport. This sort of thing didn’t do Scotty Parker much good, so it’ll be worth keeping an eye on events at the King Power over the next few days, weeks and months. Do we give it weeks and months?

James Garner joins Everton

As expected, James Garner has made the move from Old Trafford to Goodison Park. The fee is undisclosed, but rumoured to be £15m once add-ons are factored in. It’s a permanent four-year deal.

Juan Larios signs for Southampton

The path from the Etihad to St Mary’s is becoming very well trodden this summer. Manchester City’s 18-year-old defender Juan Larios is the latest to make the journey south to Southampton. Jamie Jackson reports that he joins for £6m with, again, buy-back and sell-on clauses part of the deal. Gavin Bazunu, Romeo Lavia and Samuel Edozie prepare to welcome their old pal with open arms.

Updated

Memphis Depay has decided to stay at Barcelona. Exactly how many options he had to leave remains unreported, though Chelsea were said to have been vaguely interested.

Sky are reporting that Arsenal have had a final £25m bid for Douglas Luiz rejected by Aston Villa. Other than that, they’re vamping. We’re vamping. Everyone’s vamping. Deadline day, right here.

Liverpool sign Arthur Melo

The formal announcement is in. Melo joins on a season-long loan from Juve, and Liverpool will stump up the majority of his wages. There’s no option to buy.

Updated

One hour to go, and …

In actual proper football news, the whistle has gone at the King Power. Manchester United’s resurgence under Erik ten Hag continues apace, as they make it three wins on the bounce for the first time since April 2021. Leicester meanwhile remain rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, and it’s not a happy club right now. Rob Smyth has the details.

Updated

Aston Villa’s new midfielder speaks!

Nottingham Forest. They’re insatiable.

Saints sign Sam Edozie

“Manchester City’s Sam Edozie has signed for Southampton for a fee that could rise to £10m,” reports Jamie Jackson. “The champions have retained a buy-back clause and sell-on fee.” Southampton’s social media team have immediately, eh, Kranked into gear. The depths we plumb.

A big transfer on the continent. Paris Saint-Germain have announced the capture of Spain midfielder Carlos Soler from Valencia.

Less than 100 minutes until the summer transfer window is slammed shut. Nice and tight, no draught, no noise.

A reminder of today’s big deals so far.

  • Antony (Ajax to Manchester United, £82m)

  • Manuel Akanki (Dortmund to Manchester City, £16.7m)

  • Wout Faes (Reims to Leicester City, £15m)

  • Leander Dendoncker (Wolves to Aston Villa, £13m)

  • Willy Boly (Wolves to Nottingham Forest, £4.65m)

  • Idrissa Gana Gueye (PSG to Everton, £2m)

  • Willian (to Fulham, free agent)

  • Martin Kelly (to West Brom, free agent)

  • Martin Dubravka (Newcastle to Manchester United, loan)

  • Layvin Kurzawa (PSG to Fulham, loan)

  • Jack Stephens (Southampton to Bournemouth, loan)

  • Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Arsenal to Southampton, loan)

Saints sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Southampton have had a good summer window, having already brought in Joe Aribo, Gavin Bazunu, Mateusz Lis, Sekou Mara and the extremely promising pair Romeo Lavia and Armel Bella-Kotchap. Now they’ve landed the versatile Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles hoists Southampton’s shirt.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles hoists Ajax’s Southampton’s shirt. Photograph: Matt Watson/Southampton FC/Getty Images

The less-travelled road from Rome to Oxford. Djavan Anderson was on the Lazio bench for their Serie A game against Sampdoria last night. Today he’s signed permanently for Oxford. “It’s always been my biggest dream to play in England,” the 27-year-old Dutch right back told the Oxford Mail. “I’m really a ‘feeling’ type of guy, if I feel something and it feels right then I know. I spoke with the owner and the head coach, we had a good chat and it felt like home. I didn’t even see the facilities or the city but as soon as I arrived I knew I made the right decision.”

James Garner is off to Everton. He’s reportedly signed on the dotted line at Goodison, with Manchester United pocketing an initial £9m that will rise to £15m with add-ons, and there’s no buyback clause. All together now, kids of the 70s …

Peter Griffin’s version is arguably even better.

Having packed Leander Dendoncker off to Aston Villa, Wolves have a gap in their midfield roster. They’re hoping to fill it this evening with Boubacar Traore, and Sky have just reported that a loan deal for the 21-year-old Malian has been struck with Metz. Wolves have also secured an £11m option to buy.

Rangers meanwhile are hoping the window will shut without any further movement. That’s because Nice and Reims are sniffing around Glen Kamara. Some better news: the Ibrox club will trouser 15 percent of the £10m fee Brighton are paying Chelsea for their old boy Billy Gilmour.

Celtic are reportedly preparing to announce one in, one out. Rubin Kazan’s defensive midfielder Oliver Abildgaard is heading for Parkhead, while Mikey Johnston is talking to Vitoria Guimaraes about a potential year-long deal.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is back in that London, ahead of his move to Chelsea. Here’s footage of him walking down the road while one of his goons sets about the Sky Sports camera crew. Enjoy, enjoy.

Updated

Arthur Melo to Liverpool is all but done, according to that man Fabrizio Romano. Looks like Liverpool will be bolstering their injury-decimated midfield after all.

Another Chelsea player heads for the exit door, albeit on a career-developing loan. The 18-year-old midfield prospect Harvey Vale has signed a new four-year deal with the Stamford Bridge club, before hot-footing it up to Hull, where he’ll play his football this season.

Leander Dendoncker joins Aston Villa

The 27-year-old Belgium international swaps Molineux for Villa Park. The fee is undisclosed, although rumoured to be around £13m. Will this have the knock-on effect of sending Douglas Luiz to Arsenal?

Our man in Manchester, Jamie Jackson, has this snippet from Old Trafford: Manchester United’s Ethan Galabrith has joined Salford City on a season-long loan.

WBA sign Martin Kelly

Martin Kelly has been snapped up by Championship draw specialists West Bromwich Albion. (Five in seven games!) Kelly, now 32, had been out of contract since leaving Crystal Palace in the summer after eight years at Selhurst Park.

Transfer deadline day: a tale of two tweets, as told by Leeds owner Andrea Radrizzani.

All roads lead in and out of Eindhoven. Fulham’s efforts to sign Blackburn Rovers striker Ben Brereton Diaz have come to nought, so they’re doubling down on their bid to prise Carlos Vinícius from Benfica. Vinícius is currently on loan at PSV, so if that’s cut short there’s a knock-on effect: anyone interested in Cody Gakpo – Leeds, Southampton, Manchester United – can pretty much forget about it.

Wesley Fofana’s transfer from Leicester to Chelsea: the story that keeps on giving. Brendan Rodgers has responded to that Instagram statement in his pre-match interview with BT Sport. “We’d hoped he’d stay on at least another year … he’s a good guy and I know probably other influences have taken him away from the club.”

Forgotten Men of Chelsea dept. Ethan Ampadu has agreed to move to Spezia on loan for the season, while Nottingham Forest are in for Michy Batshuayi.

A reminder of today’s big deals so far.

“Has everyone had Woly Boly by the Butthole Surfers going through their head this transfer deadline day, or is it just me?” asks Brian Sharon. “I look forward to hearing Forest fans belting this out on the terraces.” It’d be a departure from Mull of Kintyre all right.

Manchester United had been linked with Barcelona full-back Sergino Dest. However the 21-year-old USA international has opted to join AC Milan on loan. The Rossoneri have a €20m option to buy come the end of the season.

Fans of actual football are reminded that there’s some hot Premier League action coming up tonight. Rob Smyth has all the details of Manchester United’s trip to current Crisis Baton™ holders Leicester City here. But hey, we can squeeze some transfer-related stuff out of this if we really try hard enough. And look who’s getting off the coach outside the King Power! Yep, he’s turned up for work, has been named on the bench, and that surely puts any chance of his leaving the club in this window to bed. Great news for United!

Here we don’t go!
Here we don’t go! Photograph: Plumb Images/Leicester City FC/Getty Images

Chelsea’s extravagant summer spree continues right up until the last minute. They’ve secured the services of Juventus defensive midfielder Denis Zakaria on loan. Here Fabrizio Romano goes!

Paulo Gazzaniga’s days at Fulham looked numbered after the arrival of Bernd Leno, and so it has proved. He’s off to Girona on loan. Look!

Some potentially annoying news for Leeds United. It looked like they’d landed Bamba Dieng, but it appears the Marseille forward is off to Nice instead. He was preparing to take a flight to Leeds Bradford Airport when Nice’s bid for a one-year loan came through. The pilot was told to cool his boots, and Dieng went back to the terminal to think it through. Now all signs point to his staying in Ligue 1.

[Exhales slowly, and at length, through the nose. Rubs temples. Snaps out of it.]

Right, it’s going to be a long night. The transfer window shuts in less than four-and-a-half hours. All aboard the rollercoaster! Let’s go!

Billy Gilmour is closing in on that £10m permanent deal to Brighton. What a good move for the Scot that is – he’s miles from the first team at Chelsea and after a disastrous loan spell at Norwich, you would not have been surprised to see him in the Championship before too long. Loads of talent in there though, the 2022 Joshua McEachran.

That’s my little stint done on the blog, I’m going to hand over to Scott Murray, who will take you through to the close in a few hours. ‘Enjoy’ it. Cheers!

Julian Draxler has joined Benfica on loan from PSG. One of my favourite players to watch and terrifyingly silky when he’s on form. The thing is, he hasn’t been on form for a while now. Amazingly, though, he’s still just 28 years old. Feels like he’s been around for decades.

Nottingham Forest are at it again. They could complete two more signings in the coming hours, with Rennes defender Loïc Badé and Blackpool’s Josh Bowler (think Jarrod Bowen lite) both mooted for deals.

Bowler is a tricky left-footed winger that plays off the right that could apparently end up going immediately off to Olympiacos on loan, just as Hwang Ui-jo did last week. It would be a very odd deal, but with could sort all parties. Bowler is in the final year of his contract to Blackpool are minded to cash in now, Nottingham Forest are getting a promising young player for good value (reportedly £4m) and on sensible wages, and while Bowler gets to play in the Europa League this season and earn more money than he’s on at the moment. Steve Cooper has been a fan of Bowler for a while, and tried to buy him in January. I suspect Forest see him as one for the future and maybe even a player that would excel next season in the Championship if Forest aren’t able to stay up. Anyway, a long way to go before all.

The Guardian is funded by readers like you. We are entirely independent – there is no billionaire owner or proprietor who can censor what we write about. We are also free from a paywall, and everything we publish is open and available for all, regardless of means or status. But we rely on contributions from readers like you to power our journalism. If you’d like to support our work, from as little as £1, you can do so here.

Hot segue alert: somebody else that connects Newcastle and Manchester United together (sort of) is Matty Longstaff, who is tumbling out of the Prem and down the EFL to League Two Colchester United. The midfielder made famous by that screamer against Manchester United joins on a quite remarkable loan that runs to January.

Speaking of goalkeepers, Jamie Jackson has been in touch with more details of the Martin Dubravka loan to Manchester United. Newcastle are owed £2m, plus a £6m obligation to buy if he starts a certain number of Premier League games.

Down the coast from Almería, Girona have signed Paulo Gazzaniga from Fulham. The former Southampton and Tottenham keeper joins on a season-long loan which will take him to the end of his Fulham contract – the 30-year-old has been moved down the pecking order since the arrival of Bernd Leno from Arsenal earlier in the summer.

Anyway back to the football. A rather big deal that has just been completed is Real Sociedad’s move for Sadiq Umar from Almería, which is reportedly around €20m + €6m in add-ons. The pacy striker scored 19 goals in the Spanish second tier to help Almería to promotion and has bagged two in three in La Liga this season.

Updated

Evening all. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. It’s 1 September which means, here on the UK, the duvet has gone back on the bed and I can start dressing like an extra in Good Will Hunting once again.

I’m going to hand over to Michael Butler, so thanks for your company and emails. I’ll leave you with a list of the biggest deals so far. Bye!

Updated

Dubravka joins Manchester United

Manchester United have confirmed that they have signed Martin Dubravka, the Newcastle goalkeeper, on loan with an option to buy.

Billy Gilmour to Brighton?

Updated

Cristiano Ronaldo latest

He’s with the Manchester United squad for tonight’s game at Leicester (what kind of dinosaur schedules a football match on transfer deadline day?), so it looks like he will be stuck at Old Trafford until at least January. What could possibly.

Other news

Fifa has banned Obert Zhoya, the former secretary general of the Zimbabwe Football Association’s referees committee, from all football-related activities for five years after finding him guilty of sexually harassing three female officials.

Fulham sign Willian on a free transfer

Chelsea and Arsenal legend Willian, 34, has joined Fulham on a one-year deal. And he’s got his own hashtag.

Updated

Today’s biggest deals

Updated

Jan Bednarek is having a medical at Aston Villa, according to Sky Sports News. He will join on a season-long loan from Southampton. But will he have his own announcement video?

Updated

Idrissa Gueye rejoins Everton

Everton have re-signed Idrissa Gana Gueye for a fee of around £2m from Paris Saint-Germain. The 32-year-old has signed a two-year contract and becomes Everton’s seventh summer signing.

Gueye, who joined PSG for £30m in 2019 after three productive seasons at Goodison Park, agreed a return to Merseyside several weeks ago only for the terms of his release from the French champions, where the midfielder had 12 months remaining on his contract, to delay the deal.

The Senegal international is eligible for Saturday’s Merseyside derby at home to Liverpool and is expected to be joined by fellow midfielder James Garner, with a deal rising to £15m agreed with Manchester United. Everton are also exploring several forward options ahead of the deadline.

Gana Gueye said: “I’ll give my soul to this team. Coming back here was important to me because I feel like I’m in my home. I’ve followed the team every week and watched how they play. For me, there is no better place than Everton, so that’s why I chose to come back here.

“I felt very, very good when I was here (the first time) and even when I went to Paris, I kept in touch with some of the players here and continued to support the team. For me, it’s special. I told PSG if I am going to leave it will be for one team — and that was Everton. It was not a difficult decision for me because I love this club. That’s why I had to come home.”

Idrissa Gana Gueye back on Merseyside.
Idrissa Gana Gueye back on Merseyside. Photograph: Tony McArdle/Everton FC/Getty Images

Updated

Check out our comprehensive list of all the transfers from the big five European leagues.

Fulham sign Layvin Kurzawa on loan from PSG

Kurzawa, a left-back who has played 13 times for France, has moved to Craven Cottage on a season-long loan. And he’s got his own video.

Updated

Douglas Luiz latest

Sky Sports News are reporting, very excitedly, that Arsenal have upped their bid to £25m. Villa are close to signing Wolves midfielder Leander Dendoncker, which might impact the Luiz property chain.

“Forest now have 21 new signings,” says Kyle Robertson. “What happened to all the players who were already there?”

We don’t talk about that.

Nottingham Forest latest

The French defender Loic Bade is reportedly set to join Forest from Rennes. That’s 72 unforced errors 21 players they’ll have signed this summer, if deals for Bade and Josh Bowler go through.

Updated

“Martin Braithwaite can get effed,” says Dave Watton, casually scooping the award for the most emphatic opening gambit of the day. “Yours sincerely, a bitter and disillusioned Middlesbrough fan who watched him phone it in for 10 games in the Championship before begging for two loans, posting how much he loved the club on social media, and on the pitch being the most rank average of the average players we bought in the disastrous post-relegation Garry Monk-fuelled spending binge of 2016.

“Couldn’t happen to a more mediocre player, sure he can dry his tears with his US property empire (which I think makes him the second richest current Barca player, after Pique!).”

I’m sensing rancour.

Today’s Fiver has landed, and it’s all about last night’s fun and games at Anfield.

Arthur Melo to Liverpool?

No update on this, but it looks like he will join on a season-long loan. In the circumstances, I think that’s a really smart move. I never really understood why Arthur’s career started to drift as he looked a player at Barcelona.

“With respect to Chris Amirault’s comment on Aubameyang, perhaps he wasn’t at Barcelona long enough for things to turn sour,” says Chris Hennessy. “People forget that he was run out of Dortmund for disciplinary reasons, which is why the end at Arsenal should not really come as a surprise.”

Are we saying he’s the on-field equivalent of Jose Mourinho? He’s 33, so I suppose there isn’t much danger of fourth-season syndrome at Chelsea.

“To add to the discussion of contrived deadline-day poses,” begins David Hopkins, “whatever happened to the halcyon days of players from Europe being pictured ‘enjoying’ whatever passed for their national cuisine in the provincial town they’d found themselves in? I remember Sheffield Wednesday excelling in this when picturing Benito Carbone and Paolo Di Canio with what was obviously a stone-cold Morrisons pizza.”

I’d pay a lot of money to hear Di Canio’s internal monologue for the duration of this video.

Ligue 1

Here’s Eric Devin’s take on Marseille, who have made an impressive start to the new season.

Antony speaks

European round-up

Celta Vigo have signed Jørgen Strand Larsen, the 6’ 4” Norwegian forward also wanted by Middlesbrough, for a fee of around €11.5m. Sevilla have signed Kasper Dolberg on loan from Nice, with a €20m purchase option, while Martin Braithwaite has left Barcelona and is expected to join neighbours Espanyol.

Ligue 1 high-flyers Lens have sold striker Ignatius Ganago to Nantes, and signed midfielder Jean Onana from Bordeaux. Borussia Mönchengladbach have brought Julian Weigl back to Germany on loan from Benfica, with striker Krzysztof Piatek leaving Hertha Berlin for Salernitana. Marko Pjaca, who was surplus to requirements at Juventus, has joined Empoli on loan with a reported €1m buy option.

“I don’t want to sound like some sort of Frankenstein’s Monster mash-up of Jerry Seinfeld and Abraham Simpson but what is the deal with the modern-day footballer and their contrived ‘I’ve just been signed’ or ‘I’m starting today’s match’ poses?” says Graeme Neil. “In my day, you didn’t even get that with David Ginola...”

And nobody brings a squash racket any more.

Trevor Francis signs for Nottingham Forest in 1979
Trevor Francis signs for Nottingham Forest in 1979. Photograph: PA/PA Archive/Press Association Images

Updated

“I wanted to confirm your comment about Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Barca,” says Chris Amirault. “What has been most striking is, oddly enough, his attitude, which was certainly in question at Arsenal. It wasn’t just scoring: he brought a real joy to the team on the pitch at a time when it was desperately needed. It was hard to believe that this was the same person Arteta dumped.”

He’d been at Arsenal for four years, and for most of that time he was outstanding. Sometimes people just need a change; there’s no more or less to it than that.

“Don’t you think the whole Martin Braithwaite/Barcelona saga (if that’s not being too dramatic) demonstrates the sheer arrogance of the club in recent times?” says Rob Morgan. “Signing him as an ‘emergency’ transfer outside the window, meaning that he couldn’t be replaced by Leganes; hardly playing him when the squad was back to full health; publicly trying to get rid of him, but playing hardball with an exit fee and then also stating that they didn’t want him to sign for Espanyol (which he duly ignored).

“It was obvious that he was only ever going to be a squad player there, and I’m not feeling too sorry for a guy who’s just pocketed a couple of million quid, but where’s the respect? Combined with things such as spending millions on new players while expecting other squad members to defer wages or even play for free, you must think that at some point this is going to deter players from wanting to go there? I’m a neutral BTW – no dog in the La Liga/Champions League fight.”

On the plus side, nobody will be able to utter the words “Mes Que Un Club” with a straight face ever again.

Andre Gomes could be on his way out of Everton with Lille keen on signing the former Barcelona and Benfica midfielder on a season-long loan. The 29-year-old hasn’t featured at all under Frank Lampard this season, though he did have an injury during pre-season, and has two years remaining on a lucrative contract at Goodison Park.

“Dear Rob,” says Alan Gomes. “Following the English transfer deadline is now something of a frightful experience if you’re a fan of a club in continental Europe. The Premier League is now so financially dominant that many players would rather play for, say, Wolves or Bournemouth than for a team chasing titles in Portugal or the Netherlands.

“As an FC Porto fan, I’m nervously reading rumours and just hoping they don’t materialise: Taremi to Chelsea... Evanilson to Man United... João Mário to Arsenal... Gonçalo Borges to Everton... These are all almost certainly fluff, but it’s still annoying that one’s club is treated as a shop window. Well, I suppose we have been doing the same to clubs in Latin America, so what goes around etc. But still.”

Sky Sports News are reporting that Jan Bednarek’s move from Southampton to West Ham is off, and that he’s going to join Aston Villa on loan instead. All those claret-and-blue clubs look the same.

The deal for Manchester United to sign Martin Dubravka on loan from Newcastle United is expected to be sealed this afternoon.

Here’s Manchester City’s new signing Manuel Akanji on his dream move to the Etihad

Nottingham Forest: 20 not out

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latest

Sky Sports News are reporting that he is on his way to Chelsea for a medical. He’s 33, but when he’s motivated – as he was at Barcelona, where he scored 11 in 17 league games last season – he is still a major threat.

“More thoughts regarding the Premier League being the problem,” says Dominic Stevenson. “It can make it feel disheartening to follow teams in other leagues, or other leagues in general, though it can, at times, create quite humorous situations. I am a Union Berlin fan, and whilst it was quite saddening to see Taiwo Awoniyi go to Nottingham Forest (of all places!), it is pretty funny that their squad has a market value of some €70m less than Bournemouth’s or roughly equal to that of Phil Foden and yet they’re Europa League qualifiers and are beating teams like Leipzig. Long live Union.”

There’s so much to loathe about the Premier League, and then you watch the actual football and your soul starts singing. I haven’t had such an intense love/hate relationship since I first clocked the calorific content of Roysters crisps.

“A deadline day so unfamiliar that I even went to sleep,” says Yash Gupta, “and it’s almost 18 hours since I last checked Twitter. What is this dark magic Rob and what the hell happened to Tottenham?”

They’ve just signed Vedran Corluka from Manchester City, Roman Pavlyuchenko from Spartak Moscow and Fraizer Campbell from Manchester United. Here we go!

Football Weekly has landed, so that’s tonight’s commute/dog walk sorted.

“The Hleb Highway is indeed well-trodden these days,” says Matt Dony of the latest Arselona transfer. “Any chance of a truly leftfield ‘van der Vaart to Tottenham’ style move appearing out of nowhere this afternoon? Anything teetering on the edge that you really want to see happen?”

There’s something teetering on the edge, but it’s not a transfer. It does raise the question of whether JFK transfers (Cantona to Man Utd, Campbell to Spurs, etc) are possible in the modern world. Secrecy ain’t what it used to be.

The biggest deals so far

Updated

“I’m keeping everything crossed that someone, anyone, rescues Billy Gilmour from a club that clearly don’t want him and allows him to play and develop,” says Tony Reekie. “The thought of him wasting another year is so depressing. Any news?”

Brighton are interested, I believe, but whether a deal happens is another matter. They’d be the perfect club for him.

Updated

“Who should feel more frustrated?” begins Zach Neeley. “Arsenal that a player they let leave for nothing shortly makes €15 million for Barca, or Chelsea that their moneypile can only get them a striker that their London rival preferred to get rid of for free than have around?”

I’d say neither – they both got what they wanted. Arsenal didn’t really sell him for football reasons, and Thomas Tuchel had a great relationship with him at Dortmund, so he’ll feel like it’s a safe bet.

Hector Bellerin to Barcelona?

Who’d have thought FC Barcelona would become a dumping ground for Arsenal FC.

Updated

It’s over, you don’t need to tell me…

Thanks Will, hello everyone. What’s happening then? I’ll tell you what’s bloomin’ well happening: Bournemouth have signed Jack Stephens on loan from Southampton. This is going to be one of the great Jim White Days, I can feel it in my esophagus.

Jack Stephens pitches up at Bournemouth.
Jack Stephens pitches up at Bournemouth. Photograph: Robin Jones/AFC Bournemouth/Getty Images

Updated

And with that, I bid you farewell transfer fans. The wonderful Rob Smyth is here to see you through the next few hours.

Crawley Kwesi Appiah will be joining Colchester on loan, I am told. Keeps me honest.

Newcastle are in advanced talks with West Ham about taking Harrison Ashby, the London club’s Scotland Under-21 right back on loan. This potential move has been prompted by the ACL rupture suffered by Newcastle’s Sweden right back or centre half Emil Krafth. Without Krafth there is no one to understudy Kieran Trippier, Eddie Howe’s England right back, at St James’ Park but Ashby would be ideal.

Hull City have completed their fifth signing from the Turkish Super Lig this summer. The latest is Adama Traore, who joins after leaving Hatayspor.

An outgoing to Crystal Palace, who have loaned out young forward Rob Street to Shrewsbury Town for the season.

Some further details on Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang’s move from Barcelona to Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel really needs a No 9 and he looks to have got his man.

Plenty going on down at Craven Cottage. They got themselves a new left-back.

Chelsea agree Aubameyang deal

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is on his way back to the Premier League from Barcelona after Chelsea agree a €14m fee with the Catalans.

Looks like Crystal Palace are leading the race to sign Ronnie Edwards from Peterborough.

Nottingham Forest are still hoping to add to their squad, according to Steve Cooper.

“I think so (there will be new signings) and I hope so,” Cooper said. “There is nothing at this moment to say in terms of confirmation. Things are going on and it can be a little bit of a scramble on deadline day, not just for us, for any club, but we are certainly trying to do a few things. Some might come off, none of it might come off, so we will wait and see, but we are trying that is for sure.”

In more non-deadline day news … Ed Aarons and Romain Molina on the latest goings on in Gabon.

Burnley have completed their 15th signing of the summer in the form of Halil Dervisoglu on loan from Brentford. He spent last season on loan at Galatasaray but has swapped Istanbul for Lancashire.

“Thanks for remaining sane amidst the madness,” says Oliver James. “On Spurs’ purported pursuit of Dan James, (any relation, Oliver?) who was to replace Bryan Gil, wouldn’t it be better to (y’know) keep a talented young player who’s already at the club? Continuity and familiarity with patterns/tactics surely balances against the supermarket-sweepery of shiny new faces..?

“Perhaps I dislike all the lastminutery of it, but the dash for signings seems a bit crass given “everything” in the world ...”

Am I remaining sane is the big question here?

I suspect Antonio Conte must really have no fancied Gil. Will they go for someone else with James now seemingly off to Fulham?

Kári Tulinius emails: “Daniel mentioned how disquieting it is when mid-table Premier League teams raid big European clubs for their players. As a supporter of Stuttgart, it certainly caused me some anxiety to see that my club’s star striker left for a relatively modest sum by today’s standards, to Wolverhampton. Wolves have a gem in Saša Kalajdžić. He looks awkward but defenders always have trouble marking him. I worry for Stuttgart, who haven’t really replaced him.”

There is still time!

Daniel James has been linked to a number of clubs during the window but it looks like he will be leaving Leeds for the bright lights of London and Fulham.

Willy Boly signs for Nottingham Forest

Willy Boly has completed his move to Nottingham Forest from Wolves, with the aforementioned two-year deal confirmed by the club.

Updated

Righto, my watch is over – here’s Will Unwin again to guide you through the next bit. Ta-ra.

Asked for his deal of the window, the aforementioned Brassell gives Mohamed Camara, signed by Monaco from Salzburg to replaced Aurélien Tchouaméni. I’veonly seen him for Mali, but heard he was great when his team drew at PSG on Sunday and will be looking out for him in future.

He goes onto say that Arthur is much more of a Guardiola midfielder than a Klopp one, and he’ll be glad to know I agree. But I guess the plan is that he’ll only be at Anfield a year and will cover Thiago, also more Guardiola than Klopp – though if we cast our minds back a few seasons, to him dominating Spurs when Barcelona visited Wembley, we can remember that there’s a serious player in there, and there’s no one better at unlocking talent than Klopp. Vickery also makes the interesting point that Brazilian midfielders tend to find it harder to excel in Europe than Brazilian defenders and attackers – and by the sound of things, we’ll get to see how he does, because that deal is, apparently, likely to go through.

Tim Vickery says Danilo is useful to have around but not a world-beater; he thinks Palmeiras will want more than the £20m they’ve been offered and won’t want to sell, at least not until January.

Email! “I might be late to the party on this one,” says Darrien Bold, “but I’ve just spotted tenacious midfielder Vinny Samways tucking into a sandwich in a trendy Liverpool cafe as rumours of him bolstering Everton’s midfield for a cool £2m do the rounds...”

I think he could play really well with Ian Wilson.

Updated

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Southampton are closing on the signing of Marseille defender Duje Caleta-Car, a deal that would represent a coup at the end of a positive window for Ralph Hasenhuttl. West Ham and Aston Villa have also tracked the centre-back but Saints are hopeful of wrapping up a deal, having sanctioned the departures of Jack Stephens and Jan Bednarek, with the pair set to move to Bournemouth and West Ham respectively.

More Southampton news: they’re close, apparently, so taking Duje Ćaleta-Car from Marseille. He’ll replace Jan Bednarek, who’s off to West Ham as a replacement for Craig Dawson, who’s off to probably Wolves. My guess is Southampton have the best of that little chain, and I’ve never seen Ćaleta-Car play.

News from Newcastle: they’d like to take Harrison Ashby off West Ham. David Moyes is keen on the young right-back, but he’s only got a year left on his contract, and you can see why he might fancy a move up north.

Oh, and that aforementioned Spanish journo said that Atlético suits quite fancy Cristiano Ronaldo, but Diego Simeone is dead against. Imagine thinking you were well-placed to disagree with him; imagine telling him you disagree with him!

Reading matter:

I should also note that Sky just had a Spanish journo on, wearing a t-shirt that read “IN THE SHAPE OF MY LIFE”. Great stuff.

I don’t think this is quite certain enough to get the key event treatment, but apparently Fulham are still getting a striker – Carlos Vinícius, currently on loan from Benfica to PSV. On Sky, Andy Brassell, also of the Guardian, reckons Leeds have got by far the better player, noting that Dieng has serious potential.

I know it’s nothing new, but the way lower-half Premier League teams are relieving European giants of their best players is extremely disquieting.

Leeds agree fee in excess of £10m for Marseille striker Bamba Dieng

Fulham were also in the mix but he’s going to the River Aire, not the River Thames.

A bit more on City: Lucas Mbete, who is 18, a defender, and has three senior City appearances, is to go on loan to Huddersfield.

Apparently Edson Álvarez has refused to train today, following Chelsea’s bid for him yesterday. Thing is, the Dutch window closed last evening, so Ajax wouldn’t be able to replace him and, presumably, having sold Seb Haller, Antony and Lisandro Martínez, with Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui. I what Jurien Timber makes of it all.

Talking of City kids, Roméo Lavia, who left for Southampton in July, looks a player – as does Armel Bella-Kotchap, as it happens. Ralph Hasenhüttl might just be building something.

News from our man in Manny – I still can’t believe people call it that, but I am, as I said, 43: Sam Edozie and Juan Larios are at Southampton hoping to complete moves. Edozie, a 19 year old winger, may cost up to £10m. Larios, who is 18 and primarily a left-back, will cost £5m.

I’m 43 years old, I shouldn’t enjoy this, but I enjoyed this. Everything I hear of Antony tells me he’s got what he’ll need to wear a ludicrous price-tag and deliver.

Arsenal have, apparently, offered £20m for Douglas Luiz of Villa. I can’t imagine they’ll want to let him leave, but I also can’t imagine he’ll want to stay, so.

Wout Faes, the centre-back Leicester have just signed, will be in the crowd tonight, as the Foxes take on Man United. It’s remarkable, really, that he’s their first outfield acquisition of the summer – they desperately need something and will be hoping that he’s it, or part of it. They are, though, also looking to get hold of a right-winger with Atalanta’s Jérémie Boga in their sights.

Updated

Thanks Will and happy transfer deadline day one and all! May we merit many more.

Right … I am off to find some lunch. In the meantime, I will leave you in the hands of Daniel Harris.

There is interest from Chelsea, among other clubs, in the Peterborough centre-back Ronnie Edwards, though no deal has been agreed. The teenager was part of England’s triumphant Under-19s squad this summer. Posh co-owner Darragh MacAnthony previously christened Edwards “new stadium” because he said the former Barnet defender would end up fetching a fee that would pay for a new ground …

In non-deadline day news … Yoshimi Yamashita, one of three women who will become the first female referees to officiate at a men’s World Cup in Qatar, said on Thursday she hoped to inspire girls in the region to become match officials.

It looks like Leeds will get some business done today. Bamba Dieng, who has been linked with a plethora of Premier League clubs, is on his way to Elland Road from Marseille.

Wolves accept Aston Villa offer for Dendoncker

Leander Dendoncker looks set to join Aston Villa from Wolves after a £13m fee was agreed. The Belgian’s medical is expected to take place this afternoon.

Speaking of Belgians on the move, Leicester have completed the signing of Wout Faes from Reims. The defender has signed a five-year deal with the club.

Updated

Check out all the deals from the women’s game this summer.

Wolves are interested in signing the West Ham centre-half Craig Dawson. Were West Ham to sanction the sale they would want £7m.

Danny Rose has departed Watford, meaning he can join a club on a free transfer outside the window. He has Turkish Super Lig written all over him.

Steven Gerrard wants Douglas Luiz to be an Aston Villa player come 11pm but last night hinted the Brazil midfielder could be sold. Villa have been in talks with Douglas Luiz over a new contract but a €15m bid for Leander Dendoncker suggests they have a contingency plan in place. Dendoncker’s move to Villa Park looks likely. “Douglas has got a year to go and it is one of those really touchy situations where the club has to do what is best for the club, even if it is not necessarily best for me,” Gerrard said.

The word from inside Manchester United regarding Cristiano Ronaldo and his want-away wish is this will close to 100 per cent not occur. Only football’s most important law: never say never prevents it being the deadest of dead certs. So: never say never but highly unlikely so tune in between now and the January transfer window to see how this narrative strand of The Manchester United Soap Opera starring CR7 and Erik ten Hag plays out …

Arsenal midfielder James Olayinka will join League One Cheltenham Town on a permanent deal.

After being linked with a £77m move to Chelsea, Joško Gvardiol has agreed to extend his contract at RB Leipzig.

Manchester City have a new centre-back!

Bournemouth and Wolves, fresh from playing out a stalemate, both expect to be busy. Jack Stephens is joining the former on loan from Southampton, who are also happy to allow Jan Bednarek to depart. Aston Villa and West Ham both keen.

Arsenal intend to test Aston Villa’s stance that Douglas Luiz is not for sale with a bid of about £20m. The Brazil midfielder is out of contract next summer and Steven Gerrard admitted he may be powerless to keep him, despite Villa’s determination to do so. The player is thought to be keen on a move, but has only 12 hours to make one. Douglas Luiz scored directly from a corner against Arsenal in defeat at the Emirates on Wednesday. Villa are pursuing a move for Leander Dendoncker, who was left on the bench for Wolves at Bournemouth. Wolves aim to sign a centre-back following the departure of Willy Boly to Nottingham Forest. They have offered a contract to the free agent Jason Denayer and are also keen on Craig Dawson from West Ham. In the east Midlands Leicester are set to wrap up a deal worth about £15m for the Reims centre-back Wout Faes as a replacement for Wesley Fofana.

Jason Denayer is a target for Wolves.
Jason Denayer is a target for Wolves. Photograph: BSR Agency/Getty Images

Updated

David Squires on the transfer window …

I guess who suits their style as someone who is good at hitting teams on the break and Antonio Conte fancies a touch more variety on the bench.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is on his way to Southampton but will sign a new deal with Arsenal, despite there being an option to make the deal permanent. I am sure there is a business logic involved but my simple mind cannot compute.

Tottenham’s surprise enquiry for Leeds’s Dan James looks doomed to fail, as things stand, because they want him on an initial loan, which is a non-starter for the Yorkshire club.

Ideally, Eddie Howe would sign a midfielder today but, although a loan is not out of the question, Newcastle’s options have receded and they may now wait until January.

However there are a few outgoings; while Martin Dubravka is expected to finalise a season-long loan at Manchester United with a view to a £6m move next summer, Federico Fernandez seems set to head to Spain for a loan at Elche - unless Stoke manage to hijack that move - and Matty Longstaff in en route to another loan with Barnsley.

Slovakia’s Dubravka has lost his place in goal to Nick Pope this season, while Fernandez has been pushed down the central defensive pecking order by Sven Botman’s arrival. At 33 the immensely popular Argentinian - who will be much missed at St James’ Park where he is regarded as an extremely positive dressing room influence and is known for organising excellent South American style barbecues - wants to play regularly. So, too, does Matty Longstaff. The younger brother of Newcastle’s Sean Longstaff, his career has stalled in the three years since he marked his debut by scoring against Manchester United. Barnsley have an option to buy Matty should the loan work out well.

I think this is the first time I have watched Sky Sports News for more than 30 seconds in a year. Not sure how much of the ‘We are hearing team X might bid for player X’ I can take.

After a tough summer of Barcelona pretty much forcing Martin Braithwaite to leave, he has finally found a new club and will not even need to move house.

From the archives … Scott Murray on deadline buys.

There is an outgoing at Southampton, who have sold Oriol Romeu to La Liga side Girona. The Catalan started his career at Barcelona and is back in Spain after 11 years in England, following a move to Chelsea in 2011.

Jamie Jackson has plenty more on Antony’s arrival at Manchester United.

Manchester City sign Akanji from Borussia Dortmund

Manuel Akanji is a Manchester City player. The defender joins from Borussia Dortmund for £16.7m, and has signed a contract until 2027. The move came out of the blue a couple of days ago and means City now have five senior centre-backs, with John Stones, Rúben Dias, Aymeric Laporte and Nathan Aké already on the books.

“It was a bit unexpected in the last stage of the transfer market, but I had no doubts about moving,” Akanji said. “I’m here to prove myself. I want to show everyone that they were right in choosing me.”

They have already signed one player from Borussia Dortmund this summer, so this could work out quite well for City.

City teased the deal a few minutes ago.

Updated

Liverpool are attempting to sign Brazil midfielder Arthur Melo on a season-long loan from Juventus. The 26-year-old, who swapped Barcelona for Turin as part of the deal for Miralem Pjanic in 2020, has been made available by the Italian club and received an offer from Liverpool. The deal would be a loan with no obligation to buy, leaving the path clear for Jurgen Klopp to move for long-time target Jude Bellingham at Borussia Dortmund next summer.

Klopp was satisfied with his midfield options earlier in the summer but a raft of injuries has prompted a change of heart. His latest problem concerns captain Jordan Henderson, who sustained a hamstring injury against Newcastle last night and is expected to miss Saturday’s Merseyside derby. Henderson will undergo a scan in the next 24 hours with doubts already surfacing over his availability to face Chelsea on 18 September.

Arthur Melo is heading to England.
Arthur Melo is heading to England. Photograph: Daniele Badolato/Juventus FC/Getty Images

Check out our comprehensive list of all the transfers from the big five European leagues.

It is already starting to feel like a three coffee kind of day. In addition to the usual scratching around for players to fill space on the bench there will be a few big deals today. Everyone working hard to get things over the line.

Which summer signing are you most excited about?

Fill your boots with rumours.

In unsurprising news, Antony is very pleased to join Manchester United on a deal running to 2027. I spoke to an Eredivisie full-back who said the Brazilian is the best he has come up against in the league. Now he just needs to prove it in England.

“This is an incredible moment in my career to be joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world,” Antony said. “I’m thankful to everyone who has believed in me, especially my family, and all my coaches and team-mates, because I could not have got here without them.

“Playing under Erik ten Hag at Ajax was perfect for me and my development. His style of football and coaching brings out the best in me, and I am excited by what he has told me about his plans and ambitions in Manchester.

“My time at Ajax was fantastic and I will always be grateful for the trust they put in me, but now I am ready for the next challenge, and I can’t wait to join my new team-mates and play my part in bringing success to Manchester United.”

Antony pen in hand.
Antony pen in hand. Photograph: Manchester United/Getty Images

Updated

It looks like Liverpool will get the midfielder they need. Arthur Melo is set to join from Juventus, according to Fabrizio Romano. Jurgen Klopp’s need for more bodies in the engine room was highlighted on Wednesday night after Jordan Henderson picked up an injury in the win over Newcastle.

Antony completes €100m move to Manchester United

Manchester United have completed the signing of Antony from Ajax in a deal worth €100m. The Brazilian made it clear he wanted to leave the Eredivisie to move to the Premier League, and he has his wish. It’s an exciting signing for Manchester United fans.

United are still in the market for a second-choice goalkeeper, with Newcastle’s Martin Dubravka the key target.

Antony is a Manchester United player.
Antony is a Manchester United player. Photograph: Pedro Nunes/Reuters

Manchester City are closing on a deal for Manuel Akanji. The Swiss international will make it five senior centre-backs at the club. It is being reported that his imminent arrival means youngster Luke Mbete will be allowed to depart on loan to Huddersfield.

Has United’s summer been a success in the market? Erik ten Hag believes circumstances have not helped.

Send in your favourite panic buys of deadline days past. I will kick off with Andy Carroll joining Liverpool from Newcastle for £35m.

Andy Carroll did not live up to the hype or price tag at Anfield.
Andy Carroll did not live up to the hype or price tag at Anfield. Photograph: Nigel Roddis/REUTERS

A little news from me … Nottingham Forest will complete a deal for Wolves defender Willy Boly before the close of play. Two-year deal agreed with the centre-back.

Some early bad news for Brentford, courtesy of Nick Ames, who knows his Ukrainian football.

Updated

Chelsea close on Aubameyang deal

The Guardian’s very own Fabrizio Romano will be leading the way with all the news. It looks like Chelsea will get the No 9 they so desperately need. Although, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang will arrive with a broken jaw after a burglary at his home.

Updated

Preamble

Welcome one and all to this most wonderful of events: Transfer Deadline Day. It only comes round twice a year so we really need to make the most of it.

I will be bringing you the very latest news from our correspondents, rumours and done deals from across the continent as clubs look to do some last-minute shopping. It seems everyone in the Premier League is still keen on adding to their squads, which will add an extra layer of intrigue because wherever we look something might be about to happen. What a celebration of capitalism this will be.

Manchester City still want a centre-back, Arsenal have high hopes of bringing in a fresh face or two, Chelsea need a striker and Liverpool might even be convinced to shell out on a midfielder.

There will be no shortage of deals done today, I am sure. We will go through the leagues to pick out the best under the radar transfers the Football League has to offer.

In England, the window closes at 11pm BST. Deals can be done after that, but that is the key time to keep in mind. I will be with you until lunch and then some other yellow ticker fanatics will take you through to the most bitter of ends.

Let the fun commence!

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