Liverpool signs OxladeChamberlain for $45m
England midfielder Alex OxladeChamberlain left Arsenal after six years to join Premier League rival Live £35 million yesterday, the most high-profile move in English soccer on the last day of Europe’s transfer window.
Tottenham also strengthened its squad ahead of its latest Champions League campaign, bringing in Ivory Coast right back Serge Aurier from Paris-SaintGermain. British media reported the fee for Aurier was about £23 million.
The futures of Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez, Liverpool midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Leicester winger Riyad Mahrez were still to be finalized after months of speculation surrounding three of the Premier League’s top players. Algeria said Mahrez had left the national team to complete a transfer, without naming a club.
The 24-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain allowed his Arsenal contract to enter its final season after rejecting offers of a new deal, and had been linked with a move across London to Chelsea.
Instead, Liverpool stepped in and signed him on a “long-term” deal, with Oxlade-Chamberlain undergoing a medical examination at England’s training base while on international duty. Oxlade-Chamberlain was part of the Arsenal team that was thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool on Sunday, his 132nd game in six seasons with the London club.
At Liverpool, Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to play as a midfielder - he was mostly used at wing back last season - but faces competition for starts with Jordan Henderson, Emre Can, Georginio Wijnaldum, James Milner and potentially Philippe Coutinho.
Nani joins Lazio on season-long loan
Portugal winger Nani has joined Lazio from Valencia on a season-long loan with the right to buy.
No financial details were given by the clubs, but reports in Italy say Lazio will pay Valencia €3.5 million for the initial loan and then €8 million if the move is made permanent. There could be a further €3 million in bonuses.
Nani has spent a year at Valencia following stints at Sporting Lisbon and Fenerbahce after his departure from Manchester United in 2014.
The 30-year-old has played more than 100 times for Portugal, winning the European Championship in 2016.
Origi joins Germany’s Wolfsburg
Liverpool striker Divock Origi has joined German team Wolfsburg on a season-long loan deal.
The Belgium international was set to be the fourth-choice striker at the Premier League club this season, behind Roberto Firmino, Daniel Sturridge and Dominic Solanki.
Origi was signed from Lille in 2014 and spent a season back on loan at the French club before scoring 21 goals in 77 appearances for Liverpool over two years. He was never a regular starter, though.
Also, Watford signed Greece goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis on loan from Udinese and Burnley brought in Bermuda striker Nahki Wells on a permanent deal from newly promoted Huddersfield.
Mbappe joins Neymar at PSG in deal with Monaco
Kylian Mbappe’s much-anticipated move to Paris Saint-Germain finally went through yesterday evening, with Monaco loaning the 18-year-old forward until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent.
No financial details were given by PSG in its statement Thursday, but the permanent deal would be from 2018-22.
Although no transfer fee has been given by either French club, it is widely reported that PSG will pay an astonishing €180 million for Mbappe, who burst onto the scene last season in sensational style.
It means that PSG now has unprecedented status as effectively owning the world's two most expensive players, with Brazil star Neymar bought for a world record €222 million.
Sancho is Dembele’s replacement at Dortmund
Jadon Sancho will take the Borussia Dortmund jersey given up by Ousmane Dembele after the England youth international joined from Manchester City.
The 17-year-old winger will wear the No. 7 jersey at Dortmund following Dembele's move to Barcelona for at least €105 million. Sancho is set to gain the first-team experience at Dortmund which he was lacking at City.
Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc says Sancho is “one of the greatest talents in European football,” adding that “we are convinced that we can help this very young player continue to develop his game and become a real asset for our team.”
Zapata and Strinic join Sampdoria
Sampdoria have officially signed Duvan Zapata and Ivan Strinic from Napoli on permanent moves.
The deal, reported to be in the region of €23 million, was reached despite strong competition from Sassuolo.
Colombian centre-forward Duvan Zapata will be the replacement for Peter Schick who has moved to Roma..
Strinic has been transferred permanently to Sampdoria. The 30year-old Croatia international defender has been at Napoli since January 2015.