Monday was always going to be a busy one around Europe, as the transfer window shut until January. Premier League clubs, in particular, decided to strengthen their ranks. Here are some of the biggest moves from those English clubs:
Thomas Partey (Atletico Madrid to Arsenal, £45million)
The club from the north London activated the £45million release clause in Partey’s contract to sign the tough-tackling central midfielder. The Ghanaian star could add that bite to the Gunners midfield that has sorely been missed in recent seasons. The 27-year-old is more than just a destroyer in the centre of the park and will be badly missed at Atletico. Partey looks to be a superb signing for Mikel Arteta’s team.
Edinson Cavani (Free agent to Manchester United)
We talked about in one of our articles on Sunday about the possibility of this deal happening. The 33-year-old has signed a one-year deal with the Red Devils after leaving French giants PSG as a free agent when his contract expired in the summer. The Uruguayan star will add experience to a relatively youthful forward line. The former Napoli forward has scored 200 goals in 301 appearances for PSG. Whether he still has what it takes to cut it at the top level of the game only time will tell.
Alex Telles (Porto to Manchester United, £15.4million)
The 27-year-old has signed a four-year deal with Manchester United. The attacking full-back is likely to be thrown straight into the Red Devils defence after the international break due to some calamitous displays from United’s back four. However, Telles is not just a defender, as he is adept at getting forward too.
Telles can also play on the left-side of midfield and has already scored four times and produced two assists in his first nine clubs games in all competitions. The former Galatasaray star is also a set-piece specialist. Whether he will get to take many set-pieces at Old Trafford is questionable.
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Theo Walcott (Everton to Southampton, season-long loan)
The 31-year-old returns to the club he left 14 years ago to join Arsenal. It must feel like something of a homecoming for the former England international who came through the ranks of the Saints academy. Walcott has made 85 appearances for Everton since joining the Merseysider’s in January 2018. However, he has barely featured this season. His contract with the Toffees will end next summer, by which time he will be a free agent.
Chris Smalling (Manchester United to Roma, £15million plus £3million in potential add-ons)
This deal has been a long time in the making, as the two clubs have been in negotiations over this move all summer. Smalling spent last season on-loan at the Giallorossi and enjoyed a productive campaign. The 30-year-old had fallen out of favour with United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and has not featured in any of the Red Devils squads this season.
Who will prove to be the most successful signing of deadline day 2020/21?
