Newcastle pays $27M to land MLS star
LONDON— Miguel Almiron, one of the star players in Major League Soccer, became the most expensive signing in Newcastle’s 127-year history on Thursday when he moved to the Premier League club from Atlanta United for a reported $27 million (U.S.) on transfer deadline day.
Since buying Newcastle in 2007, much-criticized owner Mike Ashley has refused to sanction a transfer costing in excess of the 16 million pounds the club paid Real Madrid for England striker Michael Owen in 2005.
The fee is a record for an MLS player and represents good business for Atlanta, which had to move Almiron on after signing South American player of year Pity Martinez. MLS only allows three designated players to have a salary above the cap, and the signing of Pity gave them four — the others being Josef Martinez and Ezequiel Barco. In other moves Thursday: Barcelona signed Brazilian fullback Emerson from Atletico Mineiro for $14 million (U.S.). Emerson agreed to a five-year contract with the Catalan club.
The 20-year-old played at a number of different youth levels for Brazil, and is currently at the South American under-20 championship in Chile. He has been likened to former Barcelona defender Dani Alves.
Peter Crouch is back in the Premier League at the age of 38. The tall striker made Burnley the seventh top-flight club of his career after joining from second-tier Stoke on a deal until the end of the season. Crouch has scored 108 goals in the Premier League. “My attributes haven’t waned,” Crouch said. “I never really had blistering pace, so I haven’t lost that.”
Arsenal signed Spain international Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season, reuniting the versatile midfielder with manager Unai Emery. The pair worked together at Sevilla in the 2014-15 season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers completed the permanent signing of Jonny Otto from Atletico Madrid, with the left back having been on loan at the promoted team this season. Wolves has reportedly paid a club-record18 million pounds ($24 million) for Otto.