Nottingham Forest returned to the Premier League following a 23-year absence and, judging by their summer shopping spree, they look determined to stay in the top flight after bringing in an English record 21 players in a single transfer window.
On Thursday’s transfer deadline day, the newly promoted side completed deals for Wolverhampton Wanderers centre back Willy Boly, Blackpool winger Josh Bowler – who was loaned to Greek side Olympiakos – and defender Loic Bade on loan from Rennes.
The previous English record for the most signings in one transfer window was Crystal Palace’s 17 in the summer of 2013, according to specialist website Transfermarkt.
Transfer deadline day deals
ZAKARIA COMPLETES CHELSEA TRANSFER
Chelsea announced the signing of Swiss international Denis Zakaria from Juventus on a season-long loan, with the English club having the option to make the central midfielder’s stay permanent at the end of the season.
AUBAMEYANG SEALS CHELSEA MOVE
Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has returned to the Premier League after Chelsea paid Barcelona 12 million euros to sign him on a two-year deal.
“I have some unfinished business with the Premier League so it’s good to be back,” Aubameyang said.
GILMOUR LEAVES CHELSEA FOR BRIGHTON
Brighton & Hove Albion have signed midfielder Billy Gilmour from Chelsea on a four-year contract. The 21-year-old will be eligible to play Leicester City on Sunday.
LEEDS RECRUIT ITALIAN FORWARD GNONTO
Leeds United completed the permanent signing of Italy international Wilfried Gnonto from Swiss Super League champions FC Zurich. The 18-year-old is a product of Inter Milan’s academy and is Leeds’ ninth signing this summer.
FOREST SIGN DEFENDER BADE FROM RENNES
Nottingham Forest have signed defender Lioc Bade from Rennes on a season-long loan, taking the promoted club’s transfer count to 21. They also signed winger Josh Bowler from Blackpool and loaned him to Greek side Olympiakos.
FULHAM SIGN JAMES FROM LEEDS ON LOAN
Fulham has brought in Wales winger Dan James from Leeds United on a season-long loan.
WOLVES BRING IN MALI’S TRAORE ON LOAN
Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Mali central midfielder Boubacar Traore on a season-long loan from Metz.
BELLERIN RETURNS TO BARCELONA
Spanish full back Hector Bellerin has terminated his contract with Arsenal and signed a one-year deal contract with Barcelona. The 27-year-old was a Barca youth product before moving to Arsenal when he was 16.
SAINTS MAKE LATE DASH FOR SIGNINGS
Southampton have signed Croatia international centre back Duje Caleta-Car on a four-year contract from Olympique de Marseille and winger Samuel Edozie from Manchester City on a five-year deal.
The south coast club also signed 18-year-old full back Juan Larios from Man City on a five-year contract while Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles joined on loan.
VILLA SIGN BEDNAREK ON LOAN
Aston Villa have signed Polish centre back Jan Bednarek on loan from Southampton for the rest of the season.
EVERTON’S GOMES MOVES TO LILLE ON LOAN
Everton midfielder Andre Gomes has joined Ligue 1 side Lille on loan for the rest of the season.
VINICIUS JOINS FULHAM FROM BENFICA
Fulham have signed Brazilian striker Carlos Vinicius from Benfica on a three-year deal. The 27-year-old returns to the Premier League for a second stint following a loan spell with Tottenham Hotspur in the 2020-21 season.
“I’m happy to be back in the Premier League again. I’m more experienced now and I think I can help the club,” he said.
EVERTON SIGN JAMES GARNER FROM MANCHESTER UNITED
Everton signed Manchester United midfielder James Garner for a reported fee of 15 million pounds.
The 21-year-old Merseysider had few opportunities at United but impressed on a loan spell at Nottingham Forest where he was a key member of their promotion winning team last season.
LIVERPOOL TAKE ARTHUR MELO ON LOAN
Liverpool moved to bolster their midfield by signing Brazilian Arthur Melo on loan from Juventus for season.
The 26-year-old former Barcelona player became an urgent target after Jordan Henderson injured his hamstring on Wednesday, adding to Liverpool’s injury woes.
ASTON VILLA SIGN DENDONCKER FROM WOLVES
Struggling Aston Villa have signed 27-year-old defensive midfielder Leander Dendoncker from Midlands rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee reported to be around 13 million pounds.
Dendoncker, who made more than 100 Premier League appearances for Wolves, has 29 caps for Belgium and his arrival will add to manager Steven Gerrard’s midfield options.
PSG SIGN SOLER FROM VALENCIA
Paris Saint Germain have signed Spain midfielder Carlos Soler from Valencia on a five-year deal. The 25-year-old had spent his entire career with his hometown club, making 182 appearances.
DUBRAVKA JOINS MAN UNITED ON LOAN FROM NEWCASTLE
Slovakia goalkeeper Martin Dubravka has joined Manchester United on a season-long loan from Newcastle United, with an option to make the move permanent.
FULHAM SIGN BRAZILIAN WILLIAN
Fulham have signed former Brazil winger Willian on a one-year deal. He returns to the Premier League on a free transfer following his departure from Brazil Serie A side Corinthians in August.
SENEGAL’S GUEYE REJOINS EVERTON
Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye has rejoined Everton on a two-year contract from Paris St Germain for a second spell, following his 2016-2019 stint.
KURZAWA JOINS FULHAM ON LOAN FROM PSG
Fulham have signed former France defender Layvin Kurzawa on a season-long loan from Paris St Germain.
WEIGL JOINS GLADBACH ON LOAN FROM BENFICA
German defensive midfielder Julian Weigl has joined Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach on a season-long loan from Portuguese side Benfica.
BARCELONA TERMINATE BRAITHWAITE’S CONTRACT
Barcelona have terminated striker Martin Braithwaite’s contract which ran until the end of the 2023-24 season, amid reports that the Denmark international is set to join Espanyol.
SOUTHAMPTON DEFENDER STEPHENS JOINS BOURNEMOUTH ON LOAN
Southampton defender Jack Stephens has joined promoted club Bournemouth on loan for the rest of the season. He made 151 appearances for Southampton after joining the club’s academy in 2011.
FOREST MAKE 19TH SIGNING AS BOLY JOINS
Promoted Nottingham Forest have made their 19th signing of the summer, bringing in defender Willy Boly from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a two-year deal.
LEICESTER SIGN DEFENDER FAES
Leicester City have signed defender Wout Faes from French club Stade Reims on a five-year deal, subject to international clearance. He comes in as a replacement for Wesley Fofana, who moved to Chelsea.
ROMEU LEAVES SOUTHAMPTON FOR GIRONA
Spanish midfielder Oriol Romeu has joined LaLiga side Girona after a seven-year spell at Southampton.
MAN CITY SIGN DEFENDER AKANJI FROM DORTMUND
Premier League champions Manchester City have signed Swiss international defender Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year contract.
ANTONY SIGNS FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT WITH UNITED
Manchester United have completed the signing of Brazil winger Antony from Ajax on a five-year deal, with the option of an additional year.
British media reported the transfer was worth initial 80.75 million pounds ($93.66 million), with a further 4.25 million pounds in add-ons for the 22-year-old.
Five most expensive Premier League transfers:
- Antony – Ajax to Man Utd, 85 million pounds
- Wesley Fofana – Leicester City to Chelsea, 70 million pounds
- Darwin Nunez – Benfica to Liverpool, 67.5 million pounds
- Casemiro – Real Madrid to Man Utd, 63.5 million pounds
- Marc Cucurella – Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea, 63 million pounds
Five best value transfers:
- Erling Haaland – Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City, 54 million pounds
- Gabriel Jesus – Man City to Arsenal, 48 million pounds
- Oleksandr Zinchenko – Man City to Arsenal, 30 million pounds
- Kalidou Koulibaly – Napoli to Chelsea, 32 million pounds
- Ivan Perisic – Inter Milan to Tottenham, free
Five transfers least likely to work out:
- Lucas Paqueta at West Ham United
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Chelsea
- Cesare Casadei at Chelsea
- Christian Eriksen at Manchester United
- Antony at Manchester United
Five transfers clubs should have made but didn’t:
- Manchester United: selling Cristiano Ronaldo
- Everton: signing a back-up number nine with Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s injury history
- Chelsea: signing a deep-lying midfielder with N’Golo Kante averaging only 21 starts a season now
- Leicester City: Buying a new striker to take the load off Jamie Vardy
- Newcastle Utd: James Maddison from Leicester City