Ben Bloom looks at the deals made on a dramatic final day of the summer transfer window<\/p>\n
With the 2025 summer transfer window closing in thrilling fashion, football writer Ben Bloom evaluates the major incomings and outgoings.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some Transfer Deadline Days flatter to deceive, with the reality never coming close to matching the weight of expectation that precedes it. This was not one of them. Following an already extraordinary summer of incomings and outgoings across the Premier League, the final day of the 2025 summer window was a classic.<\/p>\n
A new British record fee \u2013 reported to be \u00a3125million \u2013 finally brought an end to the prolonged transfer saga of Alexander Isak<\/a>\u2019s move from Newcastle United<\/a> to Liverpool<\/a>, prompting the Swede\u2019s former club to spend big on Yoane Wissa<\/a>, who was successful in securing a move away from Brentford<\/a>.<\/p>\n There was also late drama when reports suggested that a deal sheet was submitted by Liverpool to the Premier League to complete Marc Guehi<\/a>\u2019s signing from Crystal Palace<\/a>, only for the central defender not to go north at the final hour.<\/p>\n Both Manchester clubs splashed out on new goalkeepers, with City allowing Ederson<\/a> to depart in place of Gianluigi Donnarumma, and Manchester United<\/a> opting for goalkeeper Senne Lammens after reportedly ending their interest in Aston Villa<\/a>\u2019s Emiliano Martinez<\/a>.<\/p>\n Tottenham Hotspur<\/a> bagged Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani on loan, Aston Villa picked up Jadon Sancho<\/a> and Harvey Elliott<\/a>, Arsenal brought in Piero Hincapie, and Nicolas Jackson<\/a> eventually secured a move to Bayern Munich a couple of days later than originally intended. It was truly a Transfer Deadline Day to remember.<\/p>\n See: What happened on Transfer Deadline Day<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n British transfer record<\/p>\n There was no doubting the top story of the day, with Isak finally joining Liverpool after days, weeks and months of statements, denials and behind-the-scenes wrangling in one of the most protracted transfer sagas of recent years.<\/p>\n The reported fee of \u00a3125m came after Liverpool\u2019s initial offer of \u00a3110m had been rejected earlier in the summer. It smashes the previous British transfer record of \u00a3107m, which Chelsea<\/a> paid Benfica for Enzo Fernandez in February 2023.<\/p>\n The deal took Liverpool\u2019s summer spending well above what media suggests is \u00a3400m \u2013 a similar outlay to Chelsea\u2019s in 2023, which remains the only other time a Premier League club has exceeded \u00a3300m in one transfer window.<\/p>\n Isak, who has reportedly signed a six-year contract at Anfield, had not been involved for Newcastle this season after making it clear that he wanted to leave the club.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel amazing,\u201d said Isak in his first Liverpool interview<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s been a long journey to get here. But I\u2019m super-happy to be a part of this team, this club and everything it stands for. It\u2019s something I\u2019m proud of and I\u2019m really looking forward to it.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just happy it\u2019s done and that I can get back to work. I\u2019m looking forward to seeing my team-mates and the fans, and getting back out there. I want to win everything.\u201d<\/p>\n The Premier League champions thought they were going to secure both of their primary Deadline Day targets, but their efforts to bring Guehi to Anfield proved to be in vain.<\/p>\n A deal was reportedly agreed by both parties, but the move fell through after reports said that Palace failed to sign the two defensive replacements they wanted. They did bring in Toulouse centre-back Jaydee Canvot, but with Brighton & Hove Albion<\/a> defender Igor Julio<\/a>\u00a0 opting to join West Ham United,<\/a> the Palace captain did not leave.<\/p>\n Nonetheless, Isak\u2019s arrival capped a truly extraordinary summer of spending for Liverpool, who had already broken their club transfer record for Florian Wirtz<\/a> earlier in the window, as well as bringing in Hugo Ekitike<\/a>, Milos Kerkez<\/a>, Jeremie Frimpong<\/a>, Giorgi Mamardashvili<\/a>, Armin Pecsi<\/a> and Giovanni Leoni<\/a>.<\/p>\n Isak\u2019s departure meant Newcastle resumed efforts to sign Wissa from Brentford, eventually agreeing a reported fee of around \u00a355m, having already seen two offers rejected this window for the DR Congo striker.<\/p>\n Wissa had issued a public statement on Sunday confirming that he wanted to leave the London club.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m very, very excited to put on the black and white shirt,\u201d said Wissa in his interview with Newcastle. \u201cI\u2019ve got dreams, I\u2019ve got faith and now I will do my best to make it all happen.\u201d<\/p>\n Eddie Howe\u2019s side had already spent a club-record fee to sign fellow striker Nick Woltemade<\/a> from Stuttgart last week.<\/p>\n Manchester\u2019s new goalkeepers<\/p>\n It is not often that two of the world\u2019s best goalkeepers find themselves unwanted by their clubs, but that is the position Ederson and Donnarumma had found themselves in over recent weeks.<\/p>\n Out of favour at Man City, where James Trafford has been preferred this season, six-time Premier League champion Ederson changed the face of goalkeeping during eight years in England but left the club in a Deadline Day move to Fenerbahce.<\/p>\n That transfer paved the way for Donnarumma\u2019s arrival from PSG for a reported fee of \u00a326m. The Italian has won 74 caps for his country, helping them to a penalty shootout victory over England in the 2020 UEFA European Championship final. He also won the UEFA Champions League and four Ligue 1 titles with PSG.<\/p>\n However, he had been dropped for new signing Lucas Chevalier this season, prompting the hunt for a new club.<\/p>\n Ruben Amorim decided Lammens was a better option in goal to Martinez, who was absent from Villa\u2019s match on Sunday evening amid talk of a potential move to Old Trafford.<\/p>\n Lammens had been Antwerp\u2019s first-choice goalkeeper since the start of last season, but has moved to United for a reported \u00a318m fee and is expected to challenge Andre Onana<\/a> and Altay Bayindir<\/a> for the No 1 spot immediately.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is a real dream come true,\u201d said Lammens. \u201cThe past few years have been an amazing journey; it\u2019s now ended in an incredible destination and hopefully the beginning of something special.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou can feel the positive atmosphere that is being created here, and I know that I can make a real impact at the club in the coming years.\u201d<\/p>\n Last-minute loans<\/p>\n There was no shortage of last-minute loan deals struck, the most notable of which was Kolo Muani\u2019s switch to Spurs.<\/p>\n The Frenchman won two Ligue 1 titles with PSG, but fell out of favour with the European champions and spent the second half of last season on loan at Juventus, where he scored eight goals in 16 Serie A games.<\/p>\n Spurs, meanwhile, have been looking to boost numbers in the wake of injuries to a number of key players including Dominic Solanke<\/a>, who has been struggling with an ankle issue.<\/p>\n \u201cRandal is a quality player who has proven himself over a number of years, playing for big teams in the Champions League and also with good experience for the France national team,\u201d said Spurs head coach Thomas Frank.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a good age, in the prime of his career, has good qualities that will suit both us and the Premier League, and gives us a different option in the final third being able to play out wide and through the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n Villa are yet to score a single goal in three Premier League games this season, and have looked to Elliott and Sancho in an effort to find some creative spark.<\/p>\n Elliott moved to Liverpool in 2019 and was named Player of the Tournament after scoring five goals to help England win the UEFA European Under-21 Championship this summer.<\/p>\n Sancho had been told he could leave Man Utd earlier this summer, and will be looking to reinvigorate his career after last season\u2019s mixed time on loan at Chelsea, who decided against signing him on a permanent basis.<\/p>\n Arsenal completed their incomings with the addition of Ecuador defender Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen on a season-long loan. Hincapie will be seen as a direct replacement for Jakub Kiwior, who headed to Porto.<\/p>\n \u201cPiero has a real physical presence, with his versatility and tactical flexibility giving us strong added defensive options,\u201d said Mikel Arteta. \u201cHe is a big character, with a very good combination of both youth and maturity.\u201d<\/p>\n Elsewhere, there were loan moves for Facundo Buonanotte<\/a>, who joined Chelsea from Brighton,\u00a0Reiss Nelson<\/a>, who moved to Brentford from Arsenal, and midfielder Florentino Luis, who has gone to Burnley<\/a> from Benfica.<\/p>\n Sunderland<\/a> continued their plentiful transfer business by bringing in defender Lutsharel Geertruida on loan from RB Leipzig and forwards Brian Brobbey and Bertrand Traore<\/a> from Ajax, while Fulham<\/a> bringing in two wingers, AC Milan\u2019s Samuel Chukwueze and Shakhtar Donetsk\u2019s Kevin..<\/p>\n Forest\u2019s Brazilian quartet<\/p>\n Nottingham Forest<\/a> took their summer spending to reportedly around \u00a3200m after bringing in Strasbourg winger Dilane Bakwa and Botafogo full-back Cuiabano.<\/p>\n Cuiabano\u2019s signing was Forest\u2019s fourth from the Brazilian club this summer following in the path of John Victor<\/a>, Jair Cunha<\/a> and Igor Jesus<\/a>. Nuno Espirito Sano\u2019s side have brought in 11 new faces in total, including a late move for Arsenal left-back Oleksandr Zinchenko<\/a> on loan.\u00a0<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Sweden captain Victor Lindelof<\/a> joined Aston Villa. The centre-back left Man Utd at the end of last season following the expiry of his contract.<\/p>\n Having managed to keep hold of Jorgen Strand Larsen<\/a>, Wolverhampton Wanderers<\/a> further boosted their attacking ranks with the signing of striker Tolu Arokodare from Genk. The Nigerian topped the Belgian Pro League scoring charts last season with 21 goals.<\/p>\n AFC Bournemouth<\/a> made two defensive signings, with the capture of Serbian centre-back Veljko Milosavljevic from Red Star Belgrade on a permanent deal, and Spanish full-back Alex Jimenez on loan from AC Milan.\u00a0Everton<\/a> brought in German midfielder Merlin Rohl from Freiburg.<\/p>\n Premier League farewells<\/p>\n Among various Premier League outgoings, Jackson finally secured his Chelsea exit to join Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n The Senegal striker had travelled to Germany on Saturday, only for Chelsea to halt the proposed move when Liam Delap<\/a> picked up an injury during their 2-0 league win over Fulham.<\/p>\n Jackson reportedly did not want to return, and on Monday signed on an initial loan for Bayern with a reported mandatory obligation to buy. Reports suggest the deal could be worth a total in excess of \u00a370m.<\/p>\n Jackson\u2019s departure was only given the green light by Chelsea once they had decided to recall Marc Guiu<\/a> from his loan at Sunderland.<\/p>\n Elsewhere among big-name departures, Man City defender Manuel Akanji headed on loan to Internazionale<\/a>, Man Utd saw striker Rasmus Hojlund<\/a> go on an initial loan to Napoli, young midfielder Harry Amass<\/a> head to Sheffield Wednesday on loan, and winger Antony<\/a> join Real Betis on a permanent basis.<\/p>\n Julio Enciso<\/a> left Brighton for Strasbourg on a permanent basis. He will be joined at the French club by Ben Chilwell<\/a>, who departed Chelsea.<\/p>\n Former West Ham full-back Emerson<\/a> joined Marseille, striker Odsonne Edouard<\/a> left Crystal Palace to join Lens, and Arsenal duo Albert Sambi Lokonga<\/a> and Fabio Vieira<\/a> headed for Hamburg. Youssef Chermiti<\/a> left Everton for Rangers.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Ben Bloom looks at the deals made on a dramatic final day of the summer transfer window With…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":391584,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[79,661,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-391583","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports","8":"tag-sports","9":"tag-text","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115134085726959983","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391583","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=391583"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/391583\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/391584"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=391583"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=391583"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=391583"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}