2023 Transfer Deadline Day Recap
Premier League Clubs Busy on Deadline Day
Barcelona Seal Loans for Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo
Clubs worldwide spent a record 7.6 billion Euros during the Summer transfer window and that spree continued until Friday’s deadline day for the top European leagues. Multiple Premier League clubs conducted crucial business on deadline day, including Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham. Barcelona also brought in the Portuguese duo of Joao Felix and Joao Cancelo. We’ll take a look back at the flurry of deals on the 2023 Transfer Deadline Day to get bettors up to speed.
Signings Galore in EPL
Chelsea spent an absurd £434.5 million on transfers this Summer. Chelsea transfer news continued to be relevant until the very last day of the window. The Blues signed promising winger Cole Palmer from Manchester City on Friday and made him their 12th signing of the Summer.
He joins high-profile signings like Romeo Lavia, Moises Caicedo, Christopher Nkunku, Axel Disasi and Nicolas Jackson. At the same time, City managed to strike a deal for former Wolves midfielder Matheus Nunes.
Manchester United were one of the busiest clubs on deadline day. They managed to bring in midfielder Sofyan Amrabat on loan from Fiorentina. Amrabat played a key role in Morocco’s run to the semifinal of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They also sealed a loan deal for Tottenham left back Sergio Reguilon in the wake of Luke Shaw’s injury. United also signed backup goalkeeper Altay Bayindir and defender Jonny Evans, who played for United from 2006 to 2015, to a short term deal.
Plenty of bettors were following the Liverpool transfer news on deadline day as they weighed selling Mohamed Salah to Al-Ittihad. The Saudi Pro League club reportedly bid £150 million for Salah but Liverpool were firm in their stance that the winger is not for sale. The Saudi Pro League deadline is not until September 7th, so an improved offer could cause Liverpool to rethink their stance.
Meanwhile, Liverpool signed midfielder Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern Munich to complete their midfield rebuild. Jurgen Klopp also brought in Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister and Wataru Endo this Summer.
While there wasn’t any new Arsenal transfer news in terms of incomings, their North London rivals Tottenham signed forward Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest. Forest immediately reinvested that money by signing Ibrahim Sangare, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Andrew Omobamidele. They also brought in Divock Origi on loan from AC Milan.
Barcelona Busy on Deadline Day
Barcelona’s squad looked quite thin for the first few weeks of the season and they’ve seemed to address their issues. Xavi’s side brought in Joao Cancelo and Joao Felix on loan from Manchester City and Atletico Madrid, respectively. Cancelo is a versatile defender who will be able to cover both fullback positions.
Meanwhile, Felix gives them an x-factor in their attack that they’ve appeared to be missing. He’s also a proven La Liga player and both Felix and Cancelo are Portuguese internationals. While Felix and Cancelo joined last Friday, Ansu Fati and Abde Ezzalzouli departed the club on 2023 Transfer Deadline Day.
Fati scored 10 goals for Barcelona last season, in all competitions, and will have a lot to offer Brighton during his loan spell. Meanwhile, Ezzalzouli was always on the outside looking in at Barcelona and joined Real Betis on a permanent deal.
Other Deals to be Aware of
While not getting as much press as some other deals, PSG’s Randal Kolo Muani signing on 2023 Transfer Deadline Day was a smart one. Kolo Muani was the main man for Eintracht Frankfurt last season and was excellent for France at the World Cup. The 24-year old scored 15 Bundesliga goals last season and will add another dimension to PSG’s forward line.
Plus, PSG managed to sign winger Bradley Barcola from Lyon. Barcola immediately appeared for PSG off the bench in a 4-1 win vs. his old club on Sunday. PSG’s summer dealings also included Marco Asensio, Lucas Hernandez, Ousmane Dembele, Manuel Ugarte, Lee Kang-in, Goncalo Ramos and Milan Skriniar.
In one of the most controversial deals of recent memory, Mason Greenwood joined Spanish side Getafe on loan from Manchester United. Greenwood hasn’t played in any club match since January 2022, when he was accused of rape and sexual assault by his girlfriend, who publicly posted her evidence through graphic images and an infamous audio recording.
The charges against Greenwood were recently formally dropped but Manchester United felt it best to move on from him after serious fan backlash. Getafe have already received a flurry of backlash but all signs point to Greenwood being a key player for the oft-forgotten Madrid-area club.
Elsewhere, Juventus legend Leonardo Bonucci ended his long stay in Turin for a new challenge in Berlin. The Euro 2020-winning defender joined Union Berlin who will shortly be making their first UEFA Champions League appearance.
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