Football transfer deadline day: Manchester City move for Fernández, Villa sign Mbaye, and more – live

Key events

“While I think the Balogun fee is pretty high,” writes Kevin Wilson, “I think Everton have generally done some excellent business this Summer and more recently before that and should feel positive about the season.”

It’s hard to comment about fees until the players play, I guess, because if a transfer works – especially if it’s a goalscorer – he or she are worth whatever a club is lucky enough to play for them. I’m excited to see how Balogun does, though – he was incredible at youth level, and now has the confidence and presence to make an impact in the Prem. He’ll need decent service, but George and Grealish might be able to give him that.

This is, of course, a … workaround. Premier League clubs can only loan two players from other Premier League clubs and Palace have already filled their two spots by borrowing Axel Disasi from Chelsea and Evan Guessand from Aston Villa. So this is a deal they’ve done with Atalanta, and it’s joga bonito if ever there was some.

Meanwhile Palace have confirmed the signing of Honest Ahanor on loan from Atalanta after the teenage defender’s move to Chelsea was completed. He will join them next year for £40m after spending the season at Selhurst Park. “To be at one of the best clubs for young players in the Premier League is something which makes me grateful and excited,” he told the Palace website.

“What do you think about Man United’s window, Daniel?” asks Karen Asad. “I think they can definitely use more class at full-backs and in central defence. But all in all it’s not been that bad. Right? Right?! Please say ‘Right’!”

It’s hard to comment authoritatively until the players play – in the summer of 2001, having won three titles in a row, United signed Van Nistelrooy and Véron and were the shortest-priced favourites of the PL era, only to win nothing. But I think they’ve bought fairly well – if Baleba comes off, really well because I’m pretty sure Santos and Tielemans bring good depth, at worst. And i think they’re set up pretty well for Europe, because they’ve pass-first midfielders whose physical limitations will matter much less than in the Prem.

I was quite impressed with Fofana when he played against Manchester United in the Europa semis the season before last. I guess putting myself in his shoes, on the one hand, Sunderland doing what they did last season, with European football to handle, might be a risk but, on the other, Régis Le Bris is well settled, whereas Palace have a new manager who might or might not be the right fit.

Hijack alert!

Crystal Palace have made a late approach to hijack Sunderland’s move for Malick Fofana after the Lyon forward had looked set to join their Premier League rivals.

Palace are believed to have agreed a €37m deal with the French club for Fofana, who is thought to favour a move to south London after speaking to new manager Pierre Sage today. Fofana was also offered to Arsenal but they are understood to have been unwilling to pay his asking price.

More to follow

“Since the midfield has not been the same since Johnny Haynes retired,” writes Richard Hirst, “it’s all moot really.”

The first £100-a-week player. “No player is worth £100 a week,” my grandfather apparently advised my dad.

Reports have suggested that Roma don’t want to sell Chelsea Manu Koné, a player with whom I don’t totally get it. I’m sure there are many who’ve seen more of him who really rate him, but the games I’ve watched, I’ve found him too passive and not as influential as I’d want at the price.

On Sky, they’re discussing whether Adam Wharton would be a decent replacement, but I’m not certain he has the physicality for a 3-4-3, much as I love the vision and punch in his passing – and I’m certain João Pedro would too.

It seems that Enzo Fernandez will be joining Manchester City; how do we feel about that one? I’m torn: on the one had, I appreciate his passing range and desire to go forward whenever he can but, on the other, I find his lack of athleticism a problem and think the fee is way above the ability. Let’s be real, I don’t vibe with him as a character either, but I’m trying to keep that out of the analysis.

“I might be late to the party on this one,” admits Darrien Bold, “but having just spotted Vinny Samways having a spot of lunch near Finch Farm it seems more midfield reinforcements for the Toffees are afoot. Rumours of a cool £2m swoop round these parts...”

I wish I still had a copy of an article from Leeds’ Square Ball fanzine from the mid-90s, making sport of Sideways – as it called him – and the constant look of surprise on his coupon.

I think Tyrique George is a really goods acquisition for Everton, though I’m sure supporters will be unhappy to see Iliman Ndiaye leave. Him being fed by Hayden Hackney sounds pretty tasty to me, and Brennan Johnson also strikes me as a pretty Moyesian player, and though Mailand-Niles won’t set pulses racing, he’s a decent utility man to have in the squad.

Everton have registered interest in Lyon’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles amid uncertainty over getting the deal done for Kenny Tete. A £9m fee had been agreed with Fulham for the right back but with their move for a replacement in serious doubt – Andrei Ratiu of Rayo Vallecano – Everton are now exploring a move for the former Arsenal player. Maitland-Niles, 29, is in the final year of his contract with Lyon.

I do, though, understand why United haven’t bought a centre-back though, on the face of things they could use one. They just have so many already on the payroll and, in Lisandro Martínez, the best playmaker in the world from that position – you need only consult the Ipswich game to see the difference with the midfielders given quick ball.

Next to him, though – provided he can stay fit – it feels essential that Leny Yoro establish himself. Though Harry Maguire has been excellent since Michael Carrick came in, Yoro has the recovery pace to allow them to play higher up the pitch, thus closing the gaps exploited at the weekend.

…the defence needs attention, and if it were reinforced, a title challenge wouldn’t be impossible. Most of the noise is about a left-back, but they need someone for the right as well, and I wonder if INEOS are too focused on bargains, when sometimes you just have to pay for quality. Were, say the financial director to quit, they’d not be scrabbling about for bargains or, in other words, it’s worth the sits reminding themselves that playing successful and entertaining football is the club’s principal business.

Sky are now at Old Trafford, discussing Man United. It’s unbelievable, really: the midfield rebuild looks not bad, though it remains the case that the two best players in it, Kobbie Mainoo and Bruno Fernandes, were already at the club. Carlos Baleba, though, has elite potential, in mine, and should balance it well, while Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos are excellent rotation options, the former especially – I expect Benjamin Sesko to really enjoy his delivery when back.

However…

I actually think O’Hara, who doesn’t think Bruno is all that, has a point. He’s a good player, of course, but that also reflects a low standard: he’s nowhere near the level of the best we’ve seen, your Keanes, Vieiras, Petits, Lampards, Gerrards, Essiens, Scoleseseses, De Bruynes and so on.

Thanks Will and hi all. Jay Boothroyd and Jamie O’Hara are currently arguing on SSN about whether Bruno Guimarães is one of the best midfielders in the world; it’s compelling stuff, I can assure you.

That’s my extended stint done, Daniel Harris will run you through the next bit.

Everton have registered interest in Lyon’s Ashley Maitland-Niles amid uncertainty over getting the deal done for Kenny Tete. A £9m fee had been agreed with Fulham for the right back but with their move for a replacement in serious doubt – Andrei Ratiu of Rayo Vallecano – Everton are now exploring a move for the former Arsenal player. Maitland-Niles, 29, is in the final year of his contract with Lyon.

Villa complete second deal of the day

Aston Villa have sealed the £25m arrival of Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton. The centre-back, who came through Manchester City’s academy, is in effect Ezri Konsa’s replacement. Harwood-Bellis watched on from the stands as Konsa made his Arsenal debut against Villa on Monday. Villa also held talks with Club Brugge’s Joel Ordonez but were spooked by the Ecuador defender’s metatarsal injury. That looks likely to be it for Villa, with Ibrahim Mbaye’s £47m move from Paris Saint-Germain confirmed earlier.

Taylor Harwood-Bellis is now an Aston Villa player. Photograph: Matt Watson/Southampton FC/Getty Images

Starmer available on free transfer.

Monaco reject opening bid for Camara

Chelsea’s €45m bid for Lamine Camara has been turned down by Monaco.

Spurs are set to add Tosin Abarabioyo and Myhailo Mudryk before the deadline while they continue to trim fringe players with Kota Takai the latest out of the door. The Japan centre-half has gone to Sint-Truidense in Belgium on a season-long loan. Spurs have already announced the loan departures of Souza and Mikey Moore to Porto and FC Koln respectively.

The club’s major out-goings to follow today are Kevin Danso to Sunderland on an initial loan followed by a mandatory £25m purchase and Pape Sarr to Juventus on an initial loan with a buy option. That deal is valued at around 30m euros. Spurs are expected to try to find a move for Dane Scarlett, who has only one year to run on his contract while Richarlison’s future will continue to be monitored. He wants to leave. But is there a buyer for him?

Abarabioyo will replace Danso as a central defensive option for Roberto De Zerbi and cost around £7m from Chelsea. The London rivals have not done business since 2009 when Carlo Cudicini was allowed to go from Chelsea to Spurs on a free transfer. It is Mudryk’s proposed move – a loan with an option to buy – that has the real shock factor.

The Ukrainian winger has not played since November 2024 because of a doping ban but he is free to play again after a resolution was reached between the Football Association and the World Anti-Doping Agency. De Zerbi has wanted a new player for the left wing and missed out on Iliman Ndiaye, who is going from Everton to Manchester City in a deal worth up to £65m, and Cody Gakpo, who is staying at Liverpool. De Zerbi worked with Mudryk at Shakhtar Donetsk and believes he can revive his career.

Abarabioyo and Mudryk stand to be the ninth and tenth new signings of the summer for Spurs. The Abarabioyo deal would take their spending to £311.5m.

Arsenal sell Vieira to Hamburg

Arsenal have confirmed the departure of Fabio Vieira to Hamburg on a permanent basis for around £8.7m. The Portuguese midfielder spent last season on loan at the German club. We are still waiting for confirmation of Gabriel Martinelli’s move to Al Hilal and that Barcelona have completed the signing of Gabriel Jesus. But will the champions make a move for another attacker after the news that Malick Fofana - who was offered to Arsenal - is off to Sunderland instead?

Fabio Vieira got to do the pre-season photoshoot at least. Photograph: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC/Getty Images

A bit more from Jamie Jackson on matters Manchester-related.

Left-back Harry Amass is on Wolves’s list - so may make a move as, for now, Burnley’s interest seems to have flatlined. Also might City’s final fee for Enzo Fernandez break the £125m British record fee? This was paid for Alexander Isak by Liverpool to Newcastle.

There is not the same intensity to club rivalries between women’s teams as there is between their men’s counterparts, but as the game grows that is changing. Increasingly, there is animosity from fans if a player leaves for a rival side.

Victoria Pelova’s move from Arsenal to Tottenham firmly bucks the trend, though. Despite arguably having her best years ahead of her, the 27-year-old departed with a lot of well-wishes and love.

Another Chelsea outgoing could be Dario Essugo to Strasbourg on loan. But that would see Chelsea use up their last international loan slot. If that happens it would end any chance of Jamie Gittens going to Roma on loan.

If Chelsea do not want you, there’s always the option of Strasbourg, as Dario Essugo has found out. Photograph: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC/Getty Images

Roland Marshall emails: “With a lot of talk about Joshua Zirkee’s possible move paving the way for an incoming left-back, or the lack of it meaning one is not coming in, could the club do worse than actually invest some confidence in Harry Amass as an understudy to Luke Shaw? And similarly, Chido Obi as an understudy to Sesko (and possibly Zirkzee)? It’s not as if the club don’t have a good record with bringing youth through into the first team (Mainoo and Rashford for current examples in the team and I won’t patronize you with detailing past illustrations of this fact).

“Or now with Ineos partially at the reins, is the academy now seen as a cash cow to make money from sales to other PL or EFL clubs (though with many former United academy players having plied their trade to varying levels of success across the divisions since ‘You can’t win anything with kids’, there is the argument that thus it ever was, though I can’t seem to remember them wanting to make as much filthy lucre from it in the past).”

Manchester City make bid for Chelsea's Fernández

The latest on Enzo Fernández it is the understood Manchester City have made offer worth more than £120m - the valuation Chelsea gave when setting the original 14 August deadline - which obviously passed with no offer. The No 8 is more than keen to move so all depends on Chelsea with regards whether can they get a replacement or just accept the price right ...

Enzo Fernández is top of Manchester City’s list. Photograph: Dylan Hepworth/Every Second Media/Shutterstock

Aston Villa complete Mbaye deal

🚨 Done deal klaxon 🚨

Aston Villa have completed the £47m signing of Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain. It is thought Mbaye, who attended Monday’s defeat at home to Arsenal, has signed a five-year contract with the option of a further 12 months. The 18-year-old Senegal forward has been tracked by Villa since breaking in at PSG, for whom he made his debut aged 16. Liverpool were among the clubs to show interest in the teenager earlier this window. Mbaye’s arrival represents a major coup for Villa and offers Unai Emery something he has wanted all summer: a pacy wide player who can stretch defences. Talking of defenders, the £25m signing of Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton will also be rubber-stamped shortly.

Ibrahim Mbaye moves to Aston Villa from PSG. Photograph: Abaca Press/Alamy

Sunderland agree deal to sign Arsenal target Fofana

Sunderland seem to have won the race to sign Malick Fofana from Lyon. The 21-year-old winger had been on Arsenal’s summer shopping list but he is now flying to the north east to complete his medical.

Fofana is expected to sign a five year deal at the Stadium of Light. The transfer is set to cost an initial £25m, potentially rising to £31m.

Arsenal had wanted to recruit Fofana on loan with an option to buy next summer.

Malick Fofana is on his way to Sunderland. Photograph: Jean Catuffe/Getty Images

Doug Fenner gets in touch to say: “I realise the world, or the universe, revolves around the Premier League, but who on Earth thought it was a good idea to have transfer deadline day on a day where there is almost a full slate of EFL fixtures (or vice versa)?

“L1 and L2 clubs in particular aren’t overburdened with support staff and so are those that are available supposed to be in two places at once, getting points and players at the same time?

“Fans will be scouring the team sheets before kick-off tonight to see which if their favourites are strangely missing from line-ups, perhaps for ever.”

It does feel like a naive decision but at least everyone has had plenty of time to plan.

We are beyond 11am BST, so there are fewer than 12 hours to go of this rollercoaster window. Anything can happen [in the next half hour].

The Art of the Transfer Deal, thanks to the incomparable David Squires.

Illustration: David Squires/The Guardian

Billy Munday

Billy Munday is on La Liga duty today, with plenty of transfer-related notions.

If Raphinha has any misgivings about playing as a makeshift No 9 for Barcelona, he is doing a good job of hiding it. Julián Álvarez would have been proud of the Brazilian’s two neat finishes that inspired the Spanish champions to a 5-2 victory against Rayo Vallecano on Monday night, 24 hours before the transfer deadline. Lamine Yamal scored two wonderful goals of his own in a performance that reassured everyone he is back to his best. Add Anthony Gordon to the mix – impressive again in his link-up play – and you have a fluid, fearsome front three.

Yet after the departures of Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford this summer, there is no doubt Barcelona not only still want a centre-forward but require one – at least one. Hansi Flick was very happy to see Gabriel Jesus, an £8.6m arrival from Arsenal, in the stands. “He’s a top striker,” the coach said. But Atlético Madrid’s Álvarez is the ultimate prize.

I believe Monaco are not keen to sell Camara at all this summer, especially after offloading Aladji Bamba to Newcastle. Folarin Balogun’s move to Everton will also bring in plenty of cash, so if Chelsea really do want Camara, then it will cost them more than €45m, I suspect.

Chelsea make move for Monaco's Camara

Chelsea have made a €45m bid for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara, one of the potential replacements for Enzo Fernandez. The Fernandez to City deal remains “up in the air”, with talks ongoing. Sources say there’s no chance Chelsea get Alex Scott out of Bournemouth today.

Chelsea are also pushing for Manu Kone but Gasperini wants to keep the France midfielder at Roma.

Lamine Camara is highly thought of at Monaco. Photograph: Valéry Hache/AFP/Getty Images

Defender Zach Abbott is set to depart boyhood club Nottingham Forest to join Southampton on an initial loan deal, which could become permanent in the summer.

Zach Abbott came through the academy at Nottingham Forest. Photograph: News Images/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Hull splash out on Ansah

Hull have added another signing in the form of Ilyas Ansah from Union Berlin. The forward has cost the Tigers £21m and signed a five-year deal with the club.

“I’m very excited,” Ansah said. “It’s a dream come true for me to play in the Premier League, and for such a big club – it’s really an honour for me. I have heard a lot about the club, the players and the team, and I’m excited to play with the boys and to get to know them. It was an honour and a dream playing in the Bundesliga. Now, I have another dream to play in the Premier League, and I’m going to work hard for it.”

Tottenham have confirmed the departure of the Brazilian Souza to Porto on loan for the season.

I would advise Burnley to go out and sign a replacement, otherwise their Championship season could be in trouble.

Ipswich to sign Flemming from Burnley

Ipswich are on course to complete the signing of Burnley striker Zian Flemming, who is Suffolk-bound this morning to complete his medical and other formalities.

The arrival of Flemming, who scored 11 top-flight goals for the doomed Clarets last season, ends Gary O’Neil’s search for a senior centre-forward and comes after loan target Tammy Abraham chose to stay at Aston Villa.

As things stand that is the only business that will be done at Portman Road this deadline day and the fee, thought to be around £17m, will push the promoted side’s summer spend towards £200m.

Zian Flemming is leaving Lancashire behind. Photograph: MDI/Shutterstock

Your friend and mine Tom Garry has previewed Manchester City’s WSL season. Why not have a gander?

An update from Hull …

In what will be a very busy day for the Tigers, they are aiming to sign Brooke-Norton Cuffy from Genoa, Tim Iroegbunam from Everton and Robinio Vaz from Roma.

Cody Drameh, meanwhile, is set for Genoa.

Andy Flintoff emails: “Your current picture at the top of the feed (@ 9.55am) obviously shows that Enzo Fernandez was a dab hand at the intra-squad Give Us A Clue competition and would be a big loss if he left Chelsea.”

A man of many talents.

Leeds are closing in on a sixth summer signing with the left-back Melvin Bard set to swap Nice for West Yorkshire in a one-year deal featuring an option to buy next summer.

Meanwhile Wilfried Gnonto’s hopes of starting a new life in Florence with Fiorentina look contingent on Daniel Farke being able to sign a replacement wide attacker by the end of today.

Melvin Bard is on his way to Leeds. Photograph: Matthieu Mirville/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

Is Ismaila Sarr ‘Palace For Life’? Photograph: Lisa Guglielmi/PA

No further incomings are expected at Liverpool following the £123m arrival of Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain on Monday. There could be several outgoings, but none from Andoni Iraola’s first team plans after bids for Cody Gakpo and Trey Nyoni were rejected from Manchester City and Nottingham Forest, respectively. Anfield departures are likely to all be loans too – Harvey Elliott to Valencia, with no obligation to buy, is the main one while the fit-again Jayden Danns has offers from several Championship clubs.

Trey Nyoni is staying at Liverpool Photograph: Matt West/Shutterstock