Bayern Munich might have a quiet deadline day – the German transfer window already closed — but the action is hot and heavy around Europe like Bayern’s Champions League rivals in England and Spain are struggling to finalize their rosters for the season. We’re here to bring you some of the more interesting updates from the last day of the summer window.
Oh! (5:45 p.m. EST)
This one is just for the name:
Arsenal trying to seal winger deal (5:35pm EST)
Aston Villa rejected one more offer from Arsenal for Douglas Luiz. Arsenal have not yet left the negotiations – but it looks really complicated with Aston Villa. #AFC
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 1 September 2022
Arsenal FC may only have space for one more signing this window, and it looks like they are targeting the attacking wings with Aston Villais Douglas Luiz. Fabrizio romano one previously reported that the Gunners “will try until the end” with the player himself also interested, but Villa does not want to let him go.
This one looks like it’s going down to the wire.
Depay remains at Barça
Recently linked to Juventusit looks like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s move to Chelsea has settled things for Depay at Barcelona.
Failed doctor to keep Bamba Dieng in Marseille?
Another young attacking talent from Ligue 1, Olympique Marseille’s Bamba Dieng looked ready to jump to Leeds United in front of fellow French club OGC Nice jumped in. However, an eleventh hour difficulty could awkwardly leave him out of all options:
Bamba Dieng failed a medical at OGC Nice after a Leeds deal fell through. It’s the most incredible story of the day. ❌ #Deadline
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 1 September 2022
Espanyol snapped up Martin Braithwaite (5:00pm EST)
Well, that was quick. The unwanted Barcelona forward saw his contract come to an end but secured a swift move within La Liga:
Official, confirmed. Espanyol sign Martin Braithwaite on a free transfer on a three-year contract. #Deadline
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 1 September 2022
Justin Kluivert to Valencia on loan
AS Roma had a deal in place with Premier League side Fulham for the 23-year-old winger, formerly of RB Leipzig – but work permit issues stymied the deal, much to the apparent chagrin of José Mourinho. He will now have a chance to revive his once promising career in La Liga.
Nottingham Forest continue their tear
It is what, a few weeks and several signings ago, that Nottingham Forest were on something like a new addition #17 for the 2022/23 season? Count on three more on Deadline Day for the newly promoted Premier League club:
Done deal. Nottingham Forest sign Loïc Badé on loan with an option to buy from Rennes as a medical has just finished. #Deadline #NFFC
… it’s now time for Batshuayi, he joins from Chelsea.
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 1 September 2022
In addition to Loïc Badé (from Rennes, the club that sold Mathys Tel to Bayern) and Michy Batshuayi, there is also a former Tottenham Hotspur right back Serge Aurier, too for Fabrizio. Forest, of course, have been financially well-managed over the years to achieve this – and have also seen their squad saddled with more than a dozen expenses after they secured promotion. It’s a huge amount of change at once, but it’s a go-big or go-home play to stay in the English top flight.
Julian Draxler officially joins Benfica (4:30pm EST)
Now picking up some older pieces from around the continent – the German national team winger/midfielder is finally officially from Paris.
Barça terminate Braithwaite’s contract
Agreement to terminate Martin Braithwaite’s contract with FC Barcelona
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) 1 September 2022
By FC Barcelonathe club’s website, the club “publicly express their gratitude” for Braithwaite’s “commitment and dedication” to free up funds for the Catalan club to use elsewhere. He is one of a number of Barça departures on the final day to facilitate their latest batch of signings. Braithwaite was signed just over two seasons ago – outside of the transfer window, thanks to some Spanish rules that allowed Barça to poach Leganés (since relegated) to deal with their own injury crisis at the time.
Maxence Lacroix to stay at VfL Wolfsburg
The talented 22-year-old centre-back is expected to be a hot commodity on the market soon, but Niko Kovač’s club have managed to keep him in the Bundesliga for now – fending off a late push from an English Premier League club. Southamptonwho chose Croatian centre-back Duje Ćaleta-Car from Ligue 1’s Olympique Marseille instead:
Chelsea swapped Marcos Alonso for Aubameyang
sky reports that Chelsea F.CFC Barcelona’s deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will include “in the region of £10 million plus [left-back Marcos] Alonso.”
Meanwhile, Barça’s current out-of-favour left-back Jordi Alba is said to feel cheated (Catalunya Radio, via BarcaUniversal) by his club’s attempts to push him away to Between Milan and will instead insist on staying at the club.
And Barca may not be offloading strikers, now that they’ve added Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski:
Look at Memphis Depay. It’s not over yet – there are talks with his camp working on a possible last-minute solution. It could be part of a domino for Barcelona to sign a new player. #FCB
Negotiations are ongoing and running against time. #Deadline pic.twitter.com/RkKczIV8Lk
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 1 September 2022
Does Cristiano Ronaldo stay? (3:20 p.m. EST)
Last we heard from Fabrizio Romano, Ronaldo was all set to stay on Manchester United:
Erik ten Hag on Cristiano Ronaldo staying at Man Utd: “From the beginning we said that we planned with Cristiano, it was clear. We are on the same page with him”. #MUFC
“We are happy with him, he is happy to be here and we want to make the season successful together”. pic.twitter.com/gKGoyaEZ1t
– Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) 31 August 2022
Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe are said to have made a real effort to sign him – according to Turkish outlet Ajansspor:
Fenerbahçe is about to explode the transfer bomb of the century, not the year. Fenerbahce mobilized all their resources to link Cristiano Ronaldo to their colors. According to the information we received, the two sides agreed in principle.
But as far as we can tell, this is either not actually true or didn’t come true.
The 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder was once a heralded talent, but ended up languishing at FC Barcelona and then Juventus. Liverpool were desperate for reinforcements in midfield and missed previous goals found a last minute stoppage.
Barça, Barça, Barça…
Having just pulled off all the maneuvers necessary to sign Joules Koundé and kick the financial can a little further, Barcelona are already looking for more signings. According to Fabrizio Romano, it looks like they have secured Arsenal right defender Hector Bellerínbut failed to sign talented attacking midfielder Nabil Fekir from Real Betis.
Bellerín is pushed out of Arsenal; hopefully he doesn’t meet the same fate at his new choice of club. By David Ornstein:
Arsenal have agreed to let Hector Bellerin join Barcelona. Free transfer – no contract termination. 27 years waiting for permission to travel for medical after agreeing terms with #FCBarcelona. Taking a pay cut and waiving any payments #AFC owes
In terms of exits, Barça are pushing out striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Chelsea F.C) and a one-time Bayern goal and USMNT right back Sergiño Dest (AC Milan):
Aubameyang is reuniting with his former Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel back in London.
Bayern’s window
For all the spending the club has embarked on, it’s a very respectable balance of just over €30m in the red. That’s a lot of investment in the long term for a low cost — typical for the well-organized Bavarians.