City unveil $79m gun after ‘dream move’ as promoted side launch huge raid: Transfer Centre
Two massive deals involving Manchester City have been confirmed – with one player leaving and another arriving – while promoted Fulham have made a big splash in the transfer market.
Here are the latest Premier League done deals!
England midfielder Kalvin Phillips completed a “dream” move to Premier League champions Manchester City in a £45 million ($A79 million) transfer from Leeds on Monday.
City agreed an initial fee of £42 million for Phillips, with a further £3 million to be added in potential bonuses.
Phillips, who has signed a six-year contract with Pep Guardiola’s side, said: “I am absolutely delighted to have joined Manchester City.” Guardiola has picked Phillips to bolster his midfield after the departure of long-serving Brazilian Fernandinho at the end of last season.
City negotiated a deal in principle to sign Phillips in June and the transfer has now been officially completed.
Phillips, who came through the youth ranks at Leeds, moves to the Etihad Stadium after making 235 appearances for his hometown club over the past eight seasons.
“City have again proved to be the best team in the country with an amazing squad and a manager in Pep Guardiola who is rightly considered to be the finest in the world,” Phillips said.
“To be able to play under Pep and learn from him and his coaching staff as well as be part of such a fantastic squad is a prospect that I am incredibly excited about.
“City are a world-class club with world-class staff and facilities and it’s a dream come true to have joined the club.”
Phillips is City’s third close-season arrival after the signings of Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland and Arminia Bielefeld goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
The 26-year-old came through the youth ranks at Leeds and played a key part in their promotion back to the Premier League two years ago.
He went on to establish himself as an England international, featuring in the run to the European Championship final last year.
Following the blockbuster swoop for Haaland, City have again signaled their determination to retain the Premier League title with the Phillips deal.
Phillips’ arrival came on the day City sold Brazil striker Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal, with City forward Raheem Sterling also linked with a move to Chelsea.
“We are absolutely delighted to be able to welcome Kalvin to Manchester City,” City director of football Txiki Begiristain said.
“He is a player that we have long admired, and at both domestic and international level, he has proved his fantastic ability and quality over the past few seasons.
“We feel he will be a superb addition to our squad and that he will complement our game perfectly.” Phillips was quick to acknowledge the role of former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa in his development from an underused member of the Elland Road squad into an England regular.
“I cannot mention Leeds without mentioning one special person — Marcelo. The best manager I have ever come across. He was a man that gave the club life,” Phillips said.
To his fellow Leeds supporters, Phillips said: “I hope you guys understand my decision and will accept that I only want to chase my dreams and test myself against and with the best teams and best players on the planet.”
FULHAM SPEND BIG ON FIRST STAR
Fulham signed Sporting Lisbon midfielder Joao Palhinha on Monday as the newly-promoted Premier League club splashed out 20 million euros ($A30 million) for the Portugal international.
Palhinha is Fulham’s first new arrival since the west London club clinched promotion from the Championship last season.
The 26-year-old agreed a five-year contract, with the club holding the option for an additional 12-month extension.
“I’m very glad to be here. It’s a big opportunity for me, for my career, to play in what is — in my opinion — the best league in the world,” Palhinha said.
“I’ve signed with a great club. The club wanted me, and I chose the club, so I promise the fans that I will do my best, and I hope we can win so many things in this season.” Cottagers vice-chairman Tony Khan added: “Joao Palhinha has excelled in Portugal playing both club and international football. He’s been one of our top targets in this window.
“While there were other prominent clubs aiming to secure his signature, we’re thrilled that Joao chose to come here and that he wants to play for Fulham under our great coach Marco Silva.”
JESUS WANTS TO FOLLOW HENRY’S FOOTSTEPS
Gabriel Jesus has set his sights on emulating boyhood hero Thierry Henry after Arsenal signed the Manchester City striker for a fee of around £45 million ($54 million) on Monday.
Jesus, who scored 95 goals in 236 appearances for City, has signed a “long-term contract” with Arsenal after deciding to leave the Premier League champions in search of more regular first-team action.
The Brazil international revealed he was a big Arsenal fan as a youngster, having been captivated by Henry during the France star’s successful spell in north London.
Now Jesus will follow in Henry’s footsteps as the main man in Arsenal’s attack. “I followed Arsenal when I was young because of Henry,” Jesus said. “Obviously I didn’t follow too many European teams, but when I saw some of the players that played here, I was like ‘Wow, this club is big’.
“I’m so happy to sign for this big club. Since day one when I knew I could come to play for Arsenal, I was happy.
“I know the staff, I know some players, the Brazilian ones. I know there are a lot of top players.”
Jesus was expected to fall down the pecking order at City had he stayed for the final year of his contract as the champions have bolstered their striking options with the signings of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez.
He is reunited with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at City before he took charge at the Emirates Stadium.
“I’m very excited. The club has done a tremendous job to recruit a player of this stature,” Arteta said.
“I know Gabriel personally very well, and we all know him well from his time in the Premier League and being really successful here.
“This is a position that’s been on our radar for a long time now and we have managed to get a player that we all wanted, so I’m really happy.”
Admitting Arteta’s presence at the Emirates was influential in his decision to join the Gunners, Jesus said: “We spoke a couple of times about the club, the players, the project and the future.
“I believe 100 per cent in Mikel. I had a very good time with him before, he’s a very good guy and a very good coach as well.
“He helped me a lot. We would always stick together after the training sessions and do some finishing or something.
“He’s a very intelligent guy and was an amazing player, so if he knows something he can teach me or the young players.” Arsenal have let senior strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette leave the club for free in the past six months.
Despite handing Eddie Nketiah a new five-year deal, Jesus is expected to lead the line for Arteta’s men as the Gunners aim to end a six-year absence from the Champions League.
The 25-year-old won four Premier League titles among eight major honours during his time with City after joining them in January 2017.
Arsenal have already strengthened Arteta’s squad with the signings of Portuguese midfielder Fabio Vieira, Brazilian teenage forward Marquinhos and American goalkeeper Matt Turner.
PALACE BRING GLOVEMAN BACK TO PREM
Crystal Palace signed England goalkeeper Sam Johnstone on a free transfer on Friday after his departure from West Brom.
Johnstone agreed a four-year contract with the Eagles as he returned to the Premier League after a season in the second tier with West Brom.
The 29-year-old started his career at Manchester United and has played three times for England.
He moved to West Brom for £6.5 million ($7.7 million) in 2018 and made 167 appearances for the Baggies in all competitions.
Johnstone will compete with Vicente Guaita and Jack Butland for the role of first-choice keeper in Patrick Vieira’s side next season.
“I’m really excited to be here at Crystal Palace. It’s a great club with fantastic facilities and brilliant supporters. I can’t wait to get started,” Johnstone said.
SISSOKO LEAVES RELEGATED WATFORD
France midfielder Moussa Sissoko has joined Nantes from Watford, the Ligue 1 club announced on Friday, ending a nine-year stay in English football.
The 32-year-old has signed a two-year contract for a reported £1.8 million (2.08 million euros, $2.17 million).
Sissoko signed for Watford from Tottenham at the start of last season but could not prevent the Hornets from suffering relegation from the Premier League.
He first moved across the Channel in 2013 to join Newcastle after a six-year spell with Toulouse, going on to play for Spurs, with whom he reached the Champions League final in 2019.
Sissoko has made 71 international appearances for France, but has not played since their Euro 2020 last-16 loss to Switzerland last year.
Nantes will play in European competition next season for the first time since 2004 after qualifying for the Europa League group stage by winning the French Cup, their first major trophy for 21 years.
BARCA LAND BIG DOUBLE DEAL
Barcelona on Monday announced the signings of Ivory Coast midfielder Franck Kessie and Denmark defender Andreas Christensen on free transfers.
Kessie joins from Italian champions AC Milan while Christensen arrives from Chelsea. Both have agreed four-year deals with Barcelona.
The 25-year-old Kessie spent the past five seasons in Milan after first arriving in Italy with Atalanta in 2015.
He scored seven times in 39 appearances for Milan last season as the club won the Serie A title for the first time since 2011.
Christensen, 26, made 161 Chelsea appearances over 10 years at Stamford Bridge, winning a number of trophies including the Champions League and Europa League.
He had not played for the Blues since withdrawing himself from selection on the morning of the FA Cup final against Liverpool, which Chelsea lost on penalties.
Kessie will be presented by Barca on Wednesday, with Christensen set to be unveiled on Thursday.
