Premier League teams splash cash on transfer deadline day
Sports Desk, Sep 1 (EFE).- There was a frenzy of transfer activity among top flight teams in Europe ahead of the close of the summer window for signing players at midnight on Thursday, with Premier League teams again far outspending their counterparts on the continent.
Manchester United made the day’s biggest splash by bringing in Brazil forward Antony from Ajax for a reported €95m million euro, with 5 million in add-ons, the club’s second-highest fee.
The 22-year-old is new United manager Erik ten Hag’s fifth signing of the summer.
“This is an incredible moment in my career to be joining one of the most iconic clubs in the world,” Antony said in a statement. “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.”
His arrival boosts United’s attacking options, which already feature Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial and veteran star Cristiano Ronaldo, who had reportedly been pushing to leave the club this summer but now looks set to stay at Old Trafford after no appropriate suitors came forward.
United’s local rivals and reigning Premier League champions Manchester City got the bulk of their summer business done early in the window, notably bringing in goal-machine Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund, but the Citizens made a late addition to the squad with the surprise signing of Swiss international Manuel Akanji on deadline day to boost their defensive options.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Barcelona’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reportedly ended his brief stint at the Camp Nou by agreeing a move to Chelsea for 14 million pounds (16.25 million euro), with Marcos Alonso heading in the other direction as part of the deal.
La Liga teams were less involved in the frenetic deadline day activity, with the wealthiest three teams – Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid – bringing in recruits ahead of the end of the window.
Real’s marquee 80 million-euro signing, French defensive midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni, and Antonio Rudiger who joined from Chelsea on a free transfer, were confirmed in July, while Barcelona brought in Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Jules Kounde earlier in the window for a combined total of 153 million euros.
Atletico Madrid were less active, but they did unveil Sergio Reguilon on Thursday who joined Tottenham Hotspur on loan for the season.
The Real Madrid academy graduate and former player at the Bernabeu insisted that he would leave everything on the pitch to succeed in red and white, despite his history with Ateltico’s eternal rivals.
“I understand that because of the past they do not want me, but we are all in the same boat,” Reguilon said at his presentation in response to objections from some Colchonero fans.
“For me, Atlético de Madrid is a top team that aspires to (win) everything. The ambition to win is what excites me the most,” the 25-year-old full-back, who was asked if he would celebrate a goal if he scored against Real Madrid.
“How many goals have I scored in La Liga? I think three. I don’t think I’ll score, especially against Real Madrid. It’s too much of a coincidence,” he said.
Elsewhere in the Spanish top flight, Real Sociedad paid a reported 20 million euro, potentially rising to 26 million, for striker Sadiq Umar from Almeria, who he led to promotion last season, scoring 19 goals. EFE
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