European football teams finish squad jigsaw, as transfer deadline shuts.
There was a lot of wheeling dealing in the transfer market as European football clubs seek to re inforce their squads and offload players they don't need by the end of the transfer deadline on tuesday night. Heres some of the transfers that took place on the last day.
Brazilian star Robinho's nightmare two year stay at Manchester City came to an agreeable conclusion for both parties on Tuesday as he signed for Serie A giants AC Milan on a frenetic final day of trading as the transfer deadline comes into force on Wednesday.
Robinho may have gone for a relative song - 18million euros as opposed to the club record $32 million City paid out two years ago - but his recruitment only added to the sense of urgency at the Milan club as they seek to end bitter city rivals Inter's dominance.
Robinho - who signed a four year contract - joins Swedish super striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a recent signing by Milan.The two signings will have the red and black striped half of Milan salivating in a strikeforce that Ibrahimovic, never one for understatement, had commented prior to Robinho's signing as 'the best strikeforce in the world'.
This after Italy international striker Marco Borriello as the already unhappy 28 year old striker agreed to move to AS Roma,at Ibrahimovic's arrival.
AC Milan were the only one of the big European guns to flex their financial muscle on deadline day, and it was left mainly to German and mid-level English clubs to strengthen their squads with transfer deadline closing on the 31st.
Among english clubs, Sunderland welcome to their Stadium of Light a record signing in the form of Ghanaian star striker Asamoah Gyan, who earned a 13million euros move from French side Rennes on the back of outstanding performances for his country at the World Cup finals.
"The Sunderland coach (Steve Bruce) has faith in me because he has been following me for two years now. I am pleased I have the opportunity to come to England," said the 24-year-old."I follow English football and I know Sunderland have incredible fans."I especially know about the derby when they play against Newcastle. That is something incredible. I have witnessed that myself."
Premier League debutants last season, Stoke finished a highly creditable 11th but manager Tony Pulis showed he means to reach higher with four signings, including persuading veteran Senegalese midfielder Salif Diao whose contract expired at the end of last season, to re-join the club on a two-year deal. However, it will be his signings of Champions League winning Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen on loan for a season from Monaco and highly-rated Republic of Ireland Under-21 midfielder Marc Wilson that will have the supporters purring.
On a busy day for Birmingham, manager Alex McLeish signed three players including former Arsenal star Alexander Hleb, on a year's loan from Barcelona, Spartak Moscow defender Martin Jiranek on a one year deal from Spartak Moscow and Chilean winger Jean Beausejour, who was outstanding at the World Cup on a 3 year deal from mexican side Club America.The blues also allowed striker Marcus Bent to move on a 4 month loan to Wolves.
Wigan Athletic had two signings, with manager Roberto Martinez securing Chelsea's 21-year-old Argentinian striker Franco Di Santo on a three-year deal just minutes before the window closed and midfielder Tom Cleverley also 21, joined on loan from Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson decided to give the England Under-21 international some Premier League experience.
Everton confirmed their long-serving Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo is set to join Turkish club Fenerbahce on a season-long loan pending agreement on personal terms and a medical.
Premier league debutantes Blackpool re-signed striker DJ Campbell from Leicester and this time on a permanent basis.The Seasiders also swooped for Wycombe's 19-year-old winger Matt Phillips for an initial fee of £325,000.
German giants such as Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen kept their powder dry but Schalke 04 reacted to their haul of no points from their first two matches by signing three players. They signed Dutch striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, for 14million euros from AC Milan, Spanish attacking midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado - who bade farewell from Atletico Madrid with a goal in their 4-0 win on Monday - and 19-year-old French defender Nicolas Plestan.