Transfer window cash retreat — and Tottenham spend nothing at all
LONDON: The amount spent by Premier League clubs in the transfer window fell for the first time in eight years, to £1.2bn, as the decision to cut short dealing time made itself felt.
Everton, Fulham and Leicester all made big-money signings as the earliest transfer deadline in Premier League history came to life late in the day but Tottenham and Manchester United made no signings.
Spurs thus became the first Premier League club to not make a summer signing since the current transfer window system was adopted in 2003.
The deadline was moved from 31 August to the day before the Premier League season starts after a vote by clubs. The deadline also applied to English Football League clubs – although they can still sign free agents and loan players until August 31.
Premier League and EFL clubs voted – although not unanimously – to close the transfer market earlier this season to avoid disruption to the opening weeks of the season.
However, it was only introduced in England, with Spanish, German, French and Scottish clubs able to sign players until the end of the month.
Italy has a deadline of Friday, 17 August – the day before Serie A starts.
Players could still leave the Premier League – with Chelsea’s Eden Hazard a reported target for Spanish giants Real Madrid, although the Blues would then not be able to sign a replacement.
This time around was one of the quietest final days since the window was introduced in 2003 – with only eight signings confirmed by Premier League clubs before 17:00.
The highest-profile deal at that stage was midfielder Mateo Kovacic joining Chelsea on loan from Real Madrid – with goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois going the other way permanently.
But clubs had another two hours after the deadline to finalise paperwork – during which Everton signed Colombia defender Mina and midfielder Andre Gomes on loan from Barcelona – having signed free agent Bernard earlier in the day.
Fulham announced five players, all after the deadline – Marseille midfielder Andre-Frank Anguissa in a £22.3m deal, Bristol City left-back Joe Bryan for £6m and Sergio Rico, Luciano Vietto and Timothy Fosu-Mensah on loan.
That made them the first promoted team ever to spend over £100m in the summer. And Leicester City confirmed the signing of Freiburg and Turkey defender Caglar Soyuncu, in a deal thought to be worth up to £19m. Earlier on, they had bought defender Filip Benkovic from Dinamo Zagreb for a reported £13m.
Other moves included Danny Ings joining Southampton from Liverpool on a loan which will become permanent next summer, Jordan Ayew moving to Crystal Palace from Swansea for a season and West Ham signing Arsenal striker Lucas Perez and Fiorentina midfielder Carlos Sanchez.
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