PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS shattered their record of £3.1 billion (€3.62 billion) in transfer fees in one window on deadline day as ManchesterCity sealed a £125 million (€145.93m) deal for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and signed Iliman Ndiaye.
City spearheaded a frantic final day of spending as they aim to arm Enzo Maresca with a squad capable of winning the Premier League for the first time in three seasons.
Fernandez, who previously thrived under Maresca at Chelsea, was linked with a move to the Etihad for months.
But it took until the final hours before the 11pm deadline for an agreement to be struck with the fee for the Argentine set to match what Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak on the final day of the window last year.
Fernandez will form a completely revamped City midfield alongside England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi, who themselves cost over a combined £200 million (€233.49m).
Senegal forward Ndiaye joined from Everton in a deal worth £65 million (€75.89m) to bolster City’s forward options.
“I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this,” said Ndiaye.
“To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I’m determined to grab it with both hands.”
City also brought in close to £300 million (€350.24m) from the sales of World Cup winner Rodri, Savio, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders and James Trafford.
Chelsea were aiming to replace Fernandez with Monaco’s Lamine Camara, but the deal reportedly fell through at the last minute.
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The Blues also agreed a £40 million (€46.7m) deal to sign 18-year-old Honest Ahanor from Atalanta from 2027, with the Italy defender spending this season on loan at Crystal Palace.
Chelsea saw goalkeeper Robert Sanchez join Como on a one-year loan deal. The 28-year-old was expected to move away from Stamford Bridge after Chelsea signed Argentina No. 1 Emiliano Martínez from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Champions Arsenal, by contrast, had a quiet deadline day after their pursuit of Atlético Madrid’s Julian Alvarez fizzled out.
The Gunners had been rivalling Barcelona for the Argentine’s signature, but the Spanish champions instead turned to Arsenal to fill their need for a forward with the signing of Gabriel Jesus.
“I had a chance 10 years ago and life took me in another direction, but now I can be here and it’s a dream for me,” said Jesus.
Borussia Dortmund announced the deadline-day signing of Arsenal attacker Ethan Nwaneri on a season-long loan.
The 19-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Marseille, comes in as cover for the injured Giannis Konstantelias. According to German media, there is no option to buy included in the deal.
In the Championship, Preston North End confirmed the signing of Republic of Ireland international Johnny Kenny from Celtic, for a fee reported to be in the region of €3.5m. The news was announced on the big screens at Deepdale during the second-half of Preston’s 3-1 to Bristol on Tuesday evening.
Newcastle swoop
Liverpool splashed out on France forward Bradley Barcola on Monday, spending £123 million (€143.6m) to lure him from Paris Saint-Germain.
But the Reds attempts to further add to their squad look to have been frustrated with bids for Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh knocked back, meaning Cody Gakpo is set to stay despite interest from City and Tottenham.
Liverpool did complete the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, but he will be loaned back to Genk for the rest of the season.
Ibrahim Mbaye was another wide player linked with a move to Anfield, but he has instead joined Aston Villa for a reported £47 million (€54.87m).
Mbaye played 31 times in all competitions for PSG last season as the French club won the Champions League and the Ligue 1 title.
The 18-year-old appeared four times for Senegal at the recent World Cup, netting against France to become the youngest African player to score in the men’s tournament.
Villa also bolstered their defence by signing Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis in a £29 million (€33.86m) deal.
Ukrainian forward Mykhailo Mudryk, whose doping suspension recently ended, has been loaned by Chelsea to TottenhamHotspur for the 2026/27 season.
The 25-year-old winger will look to revitalise his career under Roberto De Zerbi, his former coach at Shakhtar Donetsk, who took over as Spurs manager in March.
Spurs also signed 28-year-old centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea, and loaned Pape Matar Sarr on a one-year deal to Juventus with an obligation to buy for a fee of €27.5 million, should Sarr fulfil certain conditions.
City winger JackGrealish has rejoined Everton on loan after his spell with David Moyes’s men last season.
Everton are also on the verge of signing United States forward Folarin Balogun from Monaco for £40 million (€46.7m).
Newcastle landed Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille in a £51 million (€59.54m) swoop.
Newcastle, who are rebuilding following the close-season departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, have also sent German striker Nicolas Woltemade on loan to Juventus.
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Man City splash out on Fernandez, Ndiaye as Premier League clubs set new spending record
LAST UPDATE | 1 Sep
PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS shattered their record of £3.1 billion (€3.62 billion) in transfer fees in one window on deadline day as Manchester City sealed a £125 million (€145.93m) deal for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and signed Iliman Ndiaye.
City spearheaded a frantic final day of spending as they aim to arm Enzo Maresca with a squad capable of winning the Premier League for the first time in three seasons.
Fernandez, who previously thrived under Maresca at Chelsea, was linked with a move to the Etihad for months.
But it took until the final hours before the 11pm deadline for an agreement to be struck with the fee for the Argentine set to match what Liverpool paid for Alexander Isak on the final day of the window last year.
Fernandez will form a completely revamped City midfield alongside England international Elliot Anderson and Moroccan Ayyoub Bouaddi, who themselves cost over a combined £200 million (€233.49m).
Senegal forward Ndiaye joined from Everton in a deal worth £65 million (€75.89m) to bolster City’s forward options.
“I’ve worked my whole life for an opportunity like this,” said Ndiaye.
“To be able to write my own chapter in a story that special is the chance of a lifetime and I’m determined to grab it with both hands.”
City also brought in close to £300 million (€350.24m) from the sales of World Cup winner Rodri, Savio, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders and James Trafford.
Chelsea were aiming to replace Fernandez with Monaco’s Lamine Camara, but the deal reportedly fell through at the last minute.
The Blues also agreed a £40 million (€46.7m) deal to sign 18-year-old Honest Ahanor from Atalanta from 2027, with the Italy defender spending this season on loan at Crystal Palace.
Chelsea saw goalkeeper Robert Sanchez join Como on a one-year loan deal. The 28-year-old was expected to move away from Stamford Bridge after Chelsea signed Argentina No. 1 Emiliano Martínez from Premier League rivals Aston Villa.
Champions Arsenal, by contrast, had a quiet deadline day after their pursuit of Atlético Madrid’s Julian Alvarez fizzled out.
The Gunners had been rivalling Barcelona for the Argentine’s signature, but the Spanish champions instead turned to Arsenal to fill their need for a forward with the signing of Gabriel Jesus.
“I had a chance 10 years ago and life took me in another direction, but now I can be here and it’s a dream for me,” said Jesus.
Borussia Dortmund announced the deadline-day signing of Arsenal attacker Ethan Nwaneri on a season-long loan.
The 19-year-old, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Ligue 1 side Marseille, comes in as cover for the injured Giannis Konstantelias. According to German media, there is no option to buy included in the deal.
In the Championship, Preston North End confirmed the signing of Republic of Ireland international Johnny Kenny from Celtic, for a fee reported to be in the region of €3.5m. The news was announced on the big screens at Deepdale during the second-half of Preston’s 3-1 to Bristol on Tuesday evening.
Newcastle swoop
Liverpool splashed out on France forward Bradley Barcola on Monday, spending £123 million (€143.6m) to lure him from Paris Saint-Germain.
But the Reds attempts to further add to their squad look to have been frustrated with bids for Crystal Palace’s Ismaila Sarr and Brighton’s Yankuba Minteh knocked back, meaning Cody Gakpo is set to stay despite interest from City and Tottenham.
Liverpool did complete the signing of Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, but he will be loaned back to Genk for the rest of the season.
Ibrahim Mbaye was another wide player linked with a move to Anfield, but he has instead joined Aston Villa for a reported £47 million (€54.87m).
Mbaye played 31 times in all competitions for PSG last season as the French club won the Champions League and the Ligue 1 title.
The 18-year-old appeared four times for Senegal at the recent World Cup, netting against France to become the youngest African player to score in the men’s tournament.
Villa also bolstered their defence by signing Southampton centre-back Taylor Harwood-Bellis in a £29 million (€33.86m) deal.
Ukrainian forward Mykhailo Mudryk, whose doping suspension recently ended, has been loaned by Chelsea to Tottenham Hotspur for the 2026/27 season.
The 25-year-old winger will look to revitalise his career under Roberto De Zerbi, his former coach at Shakhtar Donetsk, who took over as Spurs manager in March.
Spurs also signed 28-year-old centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo from Chelsea, and loaned Pape Matar Sarr on a one-year deal to Juventus with an obligation to buy for a fee of €27.5 million, should Sarr fulfil certain conditions.
City winger Jack Grealish has rejoined Everton on loan after his spell with David Moyes’s men last season.
Everton are also on the verge of signing United States forward Folarin Balogun from Monaco for £40 million (€46.7m).
Newcastle landed Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille in a £51 million (€59.54m) swoop.
Newcastle, who are rebuilding following the close-season departures of Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali, have also sent German striker Nicolas Woltemade on loan to Juventus.
– © AFP 2026
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