With the deadline for players moving clubs coming at 23:00 BST last night, here’s a look at who the
Premier League teams bought and sold over the course of the summer.
Arsenal
Arsene Wenger made eight first-team signings, five of which came very late on. Earlier he drafted in full back Carl Jenkinson from Charlton, Gervinho from Lille and Southampton prodigy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. In the last few days South Korea captain Park Chu-Young, Brazil left back Andre Santos, Germany centre half Per Mertesacker and at the eleventh hour Yossi Benayoun on loan from Chelsea and Everton playmaker Mikel Arteta have all arrived in North London.
Six names and a whole host of reserve team and youth players have departed the Emirates Stadium on the other hand. Cesc Fabregas’s return to Barcelona and Samir Nasri’s switch to Manchester City were the most high-profile, but versatile Emmanuel Eboue moved to Galatsaray, whilst Gael Clichy also came to Eastlands, Denilson went back to his native Brazil and on deadline day Nicklas Bendtner was loaned to Sunderland.
Aston Villa
A change of management and star players leaving has been the story of Aston Villa’s summer. They’ve only brought in half the first XI regulars they let go with Alex Mcleish lured across the Second City from bitter rivals Birmingham. Shay Given joined from Manchester City, Charles N’Zgobia was captured from Wigan and Alan Hutton and Jermaine Jenas came from Spurs in a permanent and loan deal respectively late on deadline day.
Widemen Ashley Young and Stewart Downing were big money departures to Manchester United and Liverpool. Central midfielders Jean Makoun and Nigel Reo-Coker both left Villa Park as did Luke Young, Brad Friedel and John Carew who switched to London clubs QPR, Tottenham and West Ham. Veteran Frenchman Robert Pires was released along with reserve team players.
Blackburn Rovers
Seven new faces were recruited by Steve Kean after frustration early on in the summer. Scottish football’s promising talent David Goodwillie came south of the border from Dundee United and was quickly joined by Serbian Radosav Petrovic and Montenegro’s Simon Vukcevic who will partner each other in the middle of the park. Brazilian centre half Bruno Ribeiro was a free from Gremio. Blackburn added Birmingham’s Scott Dann to their backline and Everton’s Yakubu besides Sheffield United teenager Jordan Slew in attack at the eleventh hour.
One player Rovers kept hold of was commanding Congolese centre back Chris Samba. Impressive young English defender Phil Jones was prized away from Ewood Park though by Manchester United for big bucks. Croatia’s Nikola Kalinic left for Dnipro having struggled to make an impact in the Premier League. Goalies Frankie Fielding and Jason Brown moved on, unable to displace Paul Robinson from the number one jersey. Keith Andrews has been loaned to Ipswich, Zurab Khizanishvili transferred to Turkey and Benjani returned to Portsmouth. Long-serving utility man Brett Emerton also made his exit in a homecoming to his native Australia with Sydney FC.
Bolton Wanderers
Owen Coyle has strengthened his squad with prudent purchases and clever loans. Eight players in all have come to the Reebok Stadium. Central midfielders Darren Pratley and Nigel Reo-Coker on free transfers were followed by Burnley pair Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears in a joint deal. Unfortunately the latter suffered a serious injury in pre-season and is sidelined long-term. Turkey’s Tuncay came back to the Premier League on loan from Wolfsburg and right at the end of the window Liverpool’s David N’Gog was signed and joined by compatriot Gael Kakuta from Chelsea and Belgium’s Dedryck Boyata from Manchester City.
Johan Elmander and Daniel Sturridge both left the Trotters this summer, the former transferred to Galatasaray whilst the latter returned to Chelsea after an impressive loan spell. Full backs Jlloyd Samuel and Joey O’Brien have also gone as well as Israel’s Tamir Cohen who returned home. Ali Al-Habsi turned his loan at Wigan permanent and Matthew Taylor followed O’Brien in dropping down to The Championship to sign for West Ham United.