Confirmed Summer Transfers (2013/14)

[King Binny]

Everton appointments

Graeme Jones - Assistant Manager

Inaki Bergara - Goalkeeping Coach.

Kevin Reeves - Chief Scout

Richard Evans - Head of Performance

Everton can confirm the appointment of four members of Roberto Martinez’s backroom staff.

The Club have named Graeme Jones as assistant manager and Inaki Bergara as goalkeeping coach.

Kevin Reeves also arrives as chief scout, with Richard Evans arriving as head of performance.

All four men previously worked with Martinez at Wigan and Swansea.

The news comes after Steve Round, Chris Woods and Jimmy Lumsden were released from their contracts on Monday to join David Moyes at Manchester United.

Jones, 43, was assistant to the Spaniard at the DW Stadium and the Liberty Stadium, with Bergara also fulfilling his coaching role at those two clubs.

As a player Jones was a prolific lower league centre forward who played with Martinez at Wigan in the 1990s and subsequently worked with him at Swansea.

Spaniard Bergara was on the books of Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao as a player before coaching at the latter and then working under Martinez in South Wales and at Wigan.

Evans was the Swans' physio when Martinez was a player, a role he still held when Everton’s new boss returned as manager. He then followed him to Wigan as head of sports medicine, which also incorporated sports science.

Reeves, 55, has plenty of experience as a coach and scout, having played for Norwich and Manchester City before moving into coaching and then scouting.

He worked with Martinez at Swansea and Wigan where, as chief scout, he was involved in unearthing the likes of James McCarthy, James McArthur and Arouna Kone.

 

[King Binny]

Chris Samba - Anzhi (£12 million)

QPR have sold defender Christopher Samba back to Anzhi Makhachkala for £12m.

The west London club bought the former Blackburn man from the Russian Premier League club in January for £12.5m.

The 29-year-old centre-back signed a four-and-a-half-year deal with the R's and was reportedly earning wages of about £100,000 a week.

Samba made 10 appearances last season, but could not help Rangers avoid relegation from the Premier League.

QPR boss Harry Redknapp revealed the club rejected a "massive offer" for Samba before the Russian transfer window closed in February.

But the Congo-Brazzaville international's high wages caused issues with some supporters, with Samba telling them to "get over it" following their defeat by Fulham in April.

Rangers are looking to cut their wage bill following their relegation to the Championship and strikers Jay Bothroyd and Djibril Cisse have already left Loftus Road this summer.

Lucky to have recouped the transfer fee spent on him. That's more than £35m spent by Anzhi so far.

 

[King Binny]

Dorus de Vries - Nottingham Forest (free transfer)

Nottingham Forest have announced the signing of Dutch goalkeeper Dorus de Vries on a free transfer.

The 32 year old stopper brings an array of experience to The City Ground following his departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

De Vries, who has also played in Scotland and his native Holland, has secured an immediate return to the Championship after Wolves’ relegation last season, signing a two-year deal with The Reds.

Arguably his most impressive season to date came while at Swansea in the 2009-10 campaign – he kept 25 clean sheets, scooping the Golden Glove award in the process, as The Swans narrowly missed out on a Championship playoff berth.

Forest manager Billy Davies was delighted to welcome him into the pack.

He said: “Dorus is a very good signing for us. We have a good, young pool of goalkeepers at the club but he brings with him an abundance of experience which will be of benefit to everyone.

“He played a pivotal role in Swansea’s meteoric rise through the leagues and was unfortunate not to get more games at Wolves.

“To sign a goalkeeper of his calibre on a free transfer is a great piece of business.”

The goalie who was at one point linked with us as a no. 2 or no. 3 backup.

 

[King Binny]

Gavin Ward - Nottingham Forest (Goalkeeping Coach)
Eric Steele - Shrewsbury (Goalkeeping Coach - temporary basis)

Shrewsbury Town are seeking a new goalkeeping coach after Gavin Ward accepted the chance to join Championship club Nottingham Forest.

The experienced Eric Steele, who has just left Manchester United where he was goalkeeping coach under Sir Alex Ferguson, will help coach the Town keepers for a few days next week while Graham Turner considers a long-term replacement for Ward.

"Gavin's been offered a job at Nottingham Forest and has been keen to accept it," said the manager. "I can understand his reasons. It's a big club and it's happened very rapidly, in the last 24 hours.

"He wanted to join them on their way to Portugal for a training camp.

"The goalkeepers got on well with him. Gavin worked well with them, he's a good coach, there's no doubt about that, and we all got on well.

"From talking to our two goalkepers, Chris Weale and Joe Anyon, they're quite laid back. They said I'm sure you'll get somebody else in for us and that will be it.

"I've got somebody in for next week and then we'll have a look on a more permanent basis."

GT added he was delighted that a goalkeeping coach of the quality of Eric Steele had agreed to help out at the Greenhous Meadow in the short term.

"I've got a friend of mine coming in, Eric Steele, who has just left Manchester United," he said. "I've known Eric for a long time and on the odd occasion he's done me favours so I'm sure the goalkeepers will enjoy working with him.

"He was keen to come in and help me out so that will fill in the gap for a couple of days, otherwise the goalkeepers feel a bit neglected.

"It is a specialist position, obviously, and they need specialist training. The days have gone when you just lump them in with all the other players.

"They do need something special and to have somebody of the calibre or Eric coming in for a couple of days, I'm sure, will given them a boost."

 

[King Binny]

Marc-Antoine Fortune - Wigan (free transfer)

Wigan Athletic are delighted to confirm the signing of highly in-demand striker Marc-Antoine Fortune, who after completing a medical with the club put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal at the DW Stadium this morning.

The 32-year-old former West Bromwich Albion forward had been coveted by a number of clubs following his exit from The Hawthorns at the end of the season, but once again it was Owen Coyle who got there first and completed his sixth signing of the summer transfer window.

Owen Coyle said of his latest acquisition: "To bring a player of such calibre to the football club is a great piece of business.

"He's shown his qualities at the very highest level, and when I spoke to Steve Clarke at West Brom he told me how he didn't want to lose him, which goes to show how important he has been at his former club and proof that he has the capabilities to be a Premier League forward, never mind a Championship one.

"So I'm really exciting to bring him in, the first of the strikers to arrive and I'm sure he'll bring a great deal to the team. He's powerful, can play anywhere across the front line and has pace to hurt defences. With the amount of games we have to play this season it's important to have these kind of players at the club."

Fortune signed for West Brom in 2010, having already spent time on loan at the club during the 2008/09 season. In total he made 80 league appearances for the Baggies either side of a year at Parkhead with Celtic, whom he joined from French side Nancy.

The French forward began his career in France with Angouleme in 1998, before joining Lille four years later, going on to spend time with Rouen (loan), Stade Brest, Utrecht, and Nancy before moving to the UK.

 

[King Binny]

Marco van Ginkel - Chelsea (£8 million)

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce Marco van Ginkel today (Friday) completed his transfer from Vitesse Arnhem.

The Dutch international midfielder signed a five-year contract, and said: 'I'm very happy to be here at such a nice club with great players. I am really happy, the stadium is good and the training ground is fantastic.

'I know about all the players and will meet them on Monday. I expect a lot, I've watched matches and it's really nice to be here.'

Chelsea will be the second professional club of Van Ginkel's career, the 20-year-old having come through the youth system at Vitesse Arnhem before making his debut in the Dutch top flight near the end of the 2009/10 season, aged 17.

He played his first full international for the Netherlands in November and represented his country at the European Under-21 Championships in Israel last month.

He was named Dutch Talent of the Year for last season, awarded to the best young player, joining a list which includes former Chelsea players Arjen Robben, Salomon Kalou and Boudewijn Zenden.

Van Ginkel made one start and three substitute appearances for Vitesse in the 2009/10 season, with six starts and a further 11 appearances from the bench in 2010/11. His first game that season was away at Ajax where he scored his first senior goal, adding four more before the end of the campaign.

By 2011/12 the young player was a regular in the side, starting in 36 of his 38 games and finding the net six times, nearly doubling that total to 11 goals last season, scored from 41 appearances.

Vitesse finished in fourth position in the Dutch league behind the traditional big three of Ajax, PSV and Feyenoord, therefore qualifying for the Europa League.

Van Ginkel, who is 6ft 1in tall (1.86m) has built a reputation for good energy, ball control and passing in central midfield, both as an attacking force or in a more defensive role such as he was given in the Under-21 Euros this summer. The Netherlands went out at the semi-final stage, defeated 1-0 by Italy.

In total, Van Ginkel has played 14 Under-21 internationals, scoring three goals, having also represented his country at Under-19 level.

His full international cap was earned when he came on after 59 minutes of a 0-0 draw against Germany in a friendly.

 

[King Binny]

Wigan appointments:

Sandy Stewart - Assistant Manager
Phil Hughes - Goalkeeping Coach.
Andy Mitchell - Head Physiotherapist
James Barrow - Strength and Conditioning Coach

Wigan Athletic are delighted to announce the appointment of four new members of Owen Coyle’s backroom staff.

Sandy Stewart will take the role of Assistant Manager, having worked closely with Coyle at Bolton Wanderers, Burnley and St. Johnstone, whilst former Latics keeper Phil Hughes becomes the new Goalkeeping Coach.

Andy Mitchell has been appointed as Head Physiotherapist with James Barrow joining the Medical Team as Strength and Conditioning Coach.

All four worked closely at former club Bolton Wanderers, whilst Coyle, Stewart, Mitchell and Hughes were also together at Turf Moor with Burnley, and for James the move is a chance to team up with his father Graham Barrow who remains as First Team Coach, whilst Dennis Lawrence remains as Development Squad Coach.

Coyle said: “It was so important that we brought in the right personnel to take up key roles at the club and I’m delighted to bring in people who have proven themselves at the highest level and who I trust completely.

“I know they’ll come here and do everything in their power to bring success to Wigan Athletic, and I can’t ask any more than that.”

Stewart was a former team-mate of Coyle’s at Airdrieonians, before taking charge of the club under the new name of Airdrie United in 2002 and becoming his manager until Coyle became St. Johnstone Manager in 2005. Stewart joined him two years later and the pair went on to team up at Burnley and Bolton.

Phil Hughes returns to the club he last played for twenty-two years ago, having made 99 appearances following his arrival from Bury in 1987, as well as playing at Wembley in the Football League Centenary Tournament in 1988. The former Northern Ireland international continues his coaching career having previously worked at Leeds United, Bury, Burnley and Bolton.

 

[King Binny]

Lewis McGugan - Watford (free transfer)

 

[King Binny]

Bojan Jokic - Villarreal (free transfer)

Villarreal FC has signed the Slovenian international player, Bojan Jokic, with a four year deal. Jokic who was playing for the Italian team AC Chievo Verona, has now joined Villarreal’s ranks through a free transfer.

Jokic (Born in Kranj, Slovenia, on the 17th of May 1986) is a quick footed, hard working, and versatile player, who despite normally playing as left back is just as capable as playing in the centre if necessary. He is a player with extensive international experience with more than 60 games under his belt, including playing in the last world cup in South Africa 2010.

The Slovenian defender began his career in Triglav, playing in his hometown’s club. He then moved to ND Gorica, where the team was proclaimed winners of their league. It was during this time that he caught the attention of FC Sochaux, who signed the 21 year old Jokic. The defender played for the French team for two years splitting his time between the reserves and the first team. At the beginning of the 09-10 season he left Sochaux for Chievo, where he became an important player for the team, playing in more than fifty games for the Italian side.

We hope that Jokic’s list of achievements will continue to grow during his time here with the Yellow Submarines.

 

[King Binny]

Dwight Gayle - Crystal Palace (undisclosed fee, reportedly £4.5 million)

Crystal Palace Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of in-demand striker Dwight Gayle.

The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Eagles, after the club agreed an undisclosed fee with League One side Peterborough United.

Gayle had been linked to a number of Premier League clubs after Peterborough were relegated from the Championship on the final day of last season, following a 3-2 defeat at Selhurst Park. But the pacey frontman has decided his future lies in SE25, after putting pen to paper on the deal.

Walthamstow-born Gayle started his career in the youth set-up at Arsenal, but went on to hit a remarkable 57 goals in one season with Essex Senior League club Stanstead.

He quickly moved on to League Two side Dagenham and Redbridge as a trainee back in July 2011, but only turned professional a year ago after hitting 29 goals during a loan spell at Conference North outfit Bishop’s Stortford.

After returning to Dagenham and netting seven times in 18 appearances, the Posh moved to sign Gayle on loan in November 2012. He made an instant impact in the Championship, scoring his first goal in the 4-1 defeat at Blackpool the following month.

That was one of Gayle’s five goals in six games during a successful loan spell – form that prompted Peterborough to shell out an initial £500,000 for his services in January 2013. Gayle finished the season with 13 goals for Darren Ferguson’s men, including an impressive hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers in March.

He was part of the Posh side that narrowly lost to Palace on the final day of last season and was only denied a goal by a smart Julian Speroni save. Now Gayle is looking forward to lining up alongside the Argentine and the rest of his new teammates in the Premier League.

Speaking exclusively to Palace Player after completing his medical last Friday, Gayle said of the move: “I’m ecstatic really. I just want to get pre-season started now.

“The chance came and I had to grab it because I might not get another chance. To be playing in the Premier League from where I’ve come from is a big achievement really.

“I’m just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can take the opportunity with both hands and do well.”

Gayle added that he is looking forward to working under his new boss, Ian Holloway, saying of the Palace gaffer: “He’s a good manager and for him to point out my talent and my ability is a good feeling. I just hope I can repay him with goals for the club and help them stay in the Premier League.

“He’s built a very attacking side, which is what you need really. You need to score goals to win games to keep you up and to win trophies, which he proved last season.”

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway says he is “absolutely delighted” with the signing of Peterborough United striker Dwight Gayle.

As revealed on cpfc.co.uk this afternoon, the 22-year-old has penned a four-year deal at Selhurst Park, after Palace agreed an undisclosed fee with the League One outfit.

The youngster, who scored 13 goals in 29 games for the Posh last season, becomes the club’s second permanent signing of the summer, following the arrival of Stephen Dobbie.

And Holloway believes Gayle can go on to have a big impact in the Premier League this coming season.

Speaking to club’s website, the gaffer said: “I’m absolutely delighted. I was very annoyed when we didn’t get him last year to be honest. But now it makes a huge statement for us and it proves that I don’t care where I get my people from. I believe it’s about how good you’re going to be, not just how good you are already.

“I think this fella has got Crystal Palace stamped all over him – the way he moves, the way he chases, the way he works. He’s hungry for success and I’m absolutely thrilled that after long conversations we’ve come up with, I think, a proper Palace player.

“He’s got an opportunity now to go and enjoy his football and I think he’ll score goals at Premier League level, I really do. He’s born to score goals.

“Goals from certain people just keep happening, it doesn’t matter which level you start at, they just keep happening. I think the way he plays, from what I’ve studied and games I’ve seen him, the boy moves like a top player. It’s now about helping him deal with the top level against top defenders.

“My chairman went in with a brief – don’t come out of the room without getting him – and I’m thankful, very, very thankful. He’s given us a goalscorer of the future in our team right now, which is priceless.”

 

[King Binny]

Record breakers: How the top transfer was smashed at each Premier League team

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...broken-YOUR-Premier-League-club-20-years.html

Phil Babb (Coventry, £3.6m - September 1994)...
Stan Collymore (Nottingham Forest, £8.5m - July 1995)...
Emile Heskey (Leicester, £11m - March 2000)...
Djibril Cisse (Auxerre, £14m - July 2004)...
Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid, £26.5m - July 2007...
Andy Carroll (Newcastle, £35m - January 2011)

 

[King Binny]

Luca Toni - Hellas Verona

Luca Toni has officially signed a one-year contract with Serie A new boys Hellas Verona.

The veteran striker was a free agent after his 12-month deal with Fiorentina expired.

Verona announced the news this afternoon and it is reported he will earn €0.4m plus performance-related bonuses.

Toni recently turned 36 and has played for numerous clubs, including Modena, Vicenza, Brescia, Palermo, Fiorentina, Bayern Munich, Roma, Juventus, Genoa and Al-Nasr.

Hellas Verona earned promotion into Serie A along with Sassuolo and Livorno.

Luca Toni insists he “still wants to have fun” after signing a one-year contract with Hellas Verona.

The club was promoted into Serie A this summer and will be able to count on the 36-year-old’s experience.

“I signed today and now we’ll wait for next week so I can get to know my teammates and start a new season,” he told the official club website.

“There was a delay in finalising this move because we were expecting a baby. Now things are a little more settled, we decided along with my family to come to Verona.

“Clearly I am very motivated. I’ve had a good career, I’m happy and if I decided to come here it’s because I want to put myself back in the game.

“I could easily have retired or gone on a long vacation, but I am at Verona because I still want to have fun.”

 

[King Binny]

Mike Van Der Hoorn - Ajax (undisclosed fee)

Ajax are set to make their first big signing of the summer, after they agreed a deal to sign FC Utrecht defender Mike van der Hoorn.

The towering 20 year old will sign a four year deal with the Eredivisie champions, subject to a medical, which should be nothing more than a formality.

The defender signs on an undisclosed fee, to become Frank de Boer’s first big signing of the summer, after they added two young strikers to the reserve’s last month.

Van der Hoorn will likely be the successor to Toby Alderweireld, who is widely expected to leave the Amsterdam Arena this summer, as his contract runs into its final year.

Speaking to Voetbal International, Van der Hoorn said, “Its great that everything has come around so fast. I will be on the training ground for the first time on Wednesday, before the medical, and presentation.”

“With Ajax i get a great new challenge.”

Van der Hoorn is a product of the Utrecht youth system, and made his debut for the club in 2011. Last season was his first as a regular in the starting XI, and he impressed, as Utrecht finished 5th, and qualified for the Europa League for the play-offs.

A regular in the squads for the Netherlands U21 side, Van der Hoorn was part of European Championships side that lost in the semi final’s to Italy. With the 20 year old coming in for criticism for making the mistake that led to the Italian’s scoring the only goal of the game.

 

[King Binny]

Bursaspor - Taye Taiwo

Turkish club Bursaspor have announced the acquisition of Nigeria international Taye Taiwo from Italy powerhouse AC Milan.

The 28 - year - old defender will put pen to paper on a three - year contract tomorrow, Saturday, reports the official website of the green and white.

Taiwo joined Marseille in the 2004 - 2005 season. The free-kick specialist recorded over 190 appearances in the French championship, scoring 17 goals.

He signed for AC Milan two years ago, but failed to establish himself within the first team.

The Rossoneri had to loan Taiwo first to Queens Park Rangers, then Ukrainians Dynamo Kiev.

 

[King Binny]

Daniel Carvajal - Real Madrid (€6.5m)

 

[King Binny]

Gai Assulin - Granada (undisclosed fee)

Granada have completed the signing of former Barcelona midfielder Gai Assulin on a three-year deal.

The Israel international stared for Racing Santander last term in Segunda, scoring three goals in 26 matches for the Verdiblancos.

The 22-year-old has endured a difficult career so far – having come through the ranks at the Blaugrana, he was then shipped off to Manchester City but failed to make any first-team appearances for the Premier League club.

A brief loan spell at Brighton and Hove Albion was then followed by a 12 month stay at Racing Santander.

Lucas Alcaraz's team have picked up the promising attacker for an undisclosed fee.

 

[King Binny]

Benito Floro - Canada (National Football Team Coach)

Former Real Madrid coach Benito Floro has been hired as Canada's national football team coach.

He succeeds Stephen Hart, who left in October following the team's humiliating exit from World Cup qualifying. The Canadian men's team is ranked 88th by FIFA.

Floro coached Real Madrid from 1992 to 1994. He most recently coached a club in Morocco and has also managed club teams in Mexico and Japan.

The Canadian Soccer Association said it is ''thrilled'' to have ''such an accomplished soccer mind'' running the team. The 61-year-old Floro will be assisted by son Antonio Floro Esteve.

The team, under interim coach Colin Miller, is currently at the Gold Cup, the championship for North and Central America and the Caribbean.

 

[King Binny]

Bojan Krkic - Ajax (loan)

FC Barcelona and Ajax Amsterdam have reached agreement for the loan of Bojan Krkic to the Dutch club for the 2013/14 season.

The Catalan striker - who will be 23 this August, will play under ex-Barça man Frank de Boer, who led Ajax to the Dutch title last season to guarantee a place in next year’s Champions League.

Ajax will be the third team that Bojan has played for on loan, after spending a season with AS Roma and AC Milan last year.

In Rome, Bojan played under Luis Enrique and scored 7 goals in 37 games, whilst with Massimiliano Allegri at Milan, he had less game time last season.

Bojan learnt his trade at the Masia and made his debut with the first team under Frank Rijkaard in the 2007/08 season. In his four seasons with the first team, Bojan scored 26 league goals in 4,113 minutes - an average of one goal every 158 minutes

 

[King Binny]

Paulinho - Tottenham (£17 million)

We are delighted to announce that we have reached agreement for the transfer of Paulinho from Corinthians after the Brazil international successfully completed his medical.

The box-to-box midfielder has enjoyed great success since joining Corinthians from Brazilian Serie B side Clube Atlético Bragantino in 2010. He has made a total of 86 league appearances, scoring 20 goals while helping the Sao Paulo-based club to the Brazilian Serie A league championship in 2011 as well as the Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup a year later.

His fine performances at club level have also seen him twice named in the Serie A Team of the Year in 2011 and 2012.

The 24-year-old, capped by Brazil 17 times, helped his country to FIFA Confederations Cup success last Sunday with victory against world champions Spain and also scored the equaliser against England in the 2-2 draw at the Maracana last month.

The Brazilian international was given a tour of the Training Centre in the summer sunshine and took some time out to reflect on moving to the Premier League from Brazilian club, Corinthians.

"First, I want to thank Tottenham for believing in me," Paulinho said.

"I am very happy and excited to have joined Spurs. It's a huge pleasure for my career to be at a club as big as Tottenham. I know it will be a huge challenge but I think I can help all my colleagues to succeed and give a lot of happiness to the supporters.

"The Training Centre is amazing and I'm very impressed about the conditions Tottenham offers to the players. I will focus on my job and use the facility as much as possible.

"We used to watch the Premier League in Brazil – including Tottenham – and this club has big players. I just want to help them to succeed here. It's nice to have another Brazilian in the squad and I'm excited to meet with Sandro and all the players."

The 24-year-old's arrival was greeted by glorious sunshine and the Confederations Cup winner was quick to claim the credit for bringing some good weather to England!

"I brought The Lying Rag with me from Brazil and it's very welcome! I'm excited to live here in England and be successful and happy."

 

[King Binny]

Marco Andreolli - Inter Milan (free transfer)

Hugo Campagnaro - Inter Milan (free transfer)

FC Internazionale is delighted to welcome on board Marco Andreolli and Hugo Campagnaro.

The defenders have signed contracts with Inter until 2017 and 2015 respectively.

Marco is returning to the Nerazzurri fold, having joined Inter's youth academy in 2003 and made his Serie A debut for the club at the age of 18. He turned out in the black and blue stripes in the 2004/05 and 2006/07 seasons, making 13 Serie A, Champions League and Coppa Italia appearances and scoring one goal.

Campagnaro, an Argentine of Italian descent, joins Inter after four seasons with Napoli (2009 to 2013). He played 143 games for the Neapolitan outfit, hitting the back of the net four times.

We wish Andreolli and Campagnaro the very best of luck for the new season!

 

[King Binny]

Denis Alibec - Bologna (loan with option to co-own)

FC Internazionale has reached an agreement with Bologna FC for the loan transfer of Denis Alibec. The deal includes an option for Bologna to purchase half of the Romanian striker's registration rights.

 

[King Binny]

Mats Møller Dæhli - Molde (undisclosed fee, reportedly £1.5 million with buy back option)

One of Manchester United's most promising young talents, Mats Daehli, has left the club to join Norwegian Champions Molde.

The 18-year-old midfielder has left Old Trafford for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £1.5million, and he has signed a two-year deal with the club managed by United's legendary striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

It is thought United have inserted a buy-back clause for Daehli, who began his career with Lyn and Stabaek in his native Norway.

Molde manager Solskjaer said: 'We talked two-and-a-half years ago when he had to make a choice to stay or go. I recommended him to sign with United.'

'However, I told him he could always come back to Norway and come to Molde. He's had two great seasons and learned plenty at United.'

'He's here to develop. There's no pressure on him to come in here and turn our season around. We'll take this step by step.'

However, Daehli is keen to make an immediate impact and is excited by the prospect of being involved with the first-team set-up.

He said: ‘I'm very proud and happy. It has been a process, but this is a very good solution for me. I'll start training tomorrow and try to show that I deserve to play.’

Daehli had been with in the United ranks since 2010, and signed professional terms on his 17th birthday last year. At the end of the 2011/12 season he was chosen by United academy coaches as the Jimmy Murphy Player of the Year after a scintillating first season for the under 18 side.

The move will come as a surprise to many within Old Trafford, who had identified Daehli as a player capable of breaking into the first-team in the next few years. Just two weeks ago, former United defender and fellow Norwegian Ronny Johnsen was singing the playmaker’s praises.

He told the club's website: 'It's going to be fun to watch him develop. He is still very young but is a player that Norway needs to come through now. Hopefully, he is going to get there and it will go the right way for him as the future looks bright.

'Of course, he is in the right place and it's very nice for him. He's young but has a proper mentality for the game as well so he is going to somebody who is worth watching.'

Daehli becomes the latest in a string of highly-rated youngsters to have left Manchester United in unexpected circumstances in recent years.
Ravel Morrison, a player of undoubted ability but who suffered from disciplinary problems was allowed to leave for West Ham United in January 2012.

Another midfielder, Paul Pogba, was sold to Juventus last summer after former manager Sir Alex Ferguson did not meet his demands for first-team football. The Frenchman has since gone on to shine for the Turin club in the Serie A and Champions League.

 

[King Binny]

David Goodwillie - Dundee United (6 mth loan)

 

[King Binny]

Flávio Ferreira - Malaga
Fernando Tissone - Malaga

Two of Málaga CF’s new signings were officially presented this Saturday afternoon, Flávio Ferreira and Fernando Tissone. Whilst the Portuguese-born player signed his contract in June, the Argentine midfielder underwent his medical examination today in Clínicas Rincón, before signing his contract and the official presentation at La Rosaleda.

Vice President, Moayad Shatat welcomed the new ‘Malaguista’ players, and wished them the best of luck with their new team. Flavio highlighted his ability to play as a central defender and in midfield: “Although I’ve spent the last two seasons as a central defender, I feel very comfortable in this position.” The Portuguese-born player affirms that Germany is the ideal place for the pre-season training, to get to know the coach and his plans for the start of the League season.

Tissone was up next. The 26 year-old midfielder has signed with Málaga CF for three seasons, having spent the last year with RCD Mallorca. The Argentine is full of excitement: “I’m really looking forward to getting started. The coach will see what I’m capable of on the pitch, then we’ll talk and see what the next course of action will be. I always work as hard as I can both in training and in every match I play,” he adds.

Tissone praises Bern Schuster’s coaching philosophy, and the importance of the Málaga CF fans at La Rosaleda, and looks forward to an important challenge in his career: “The main challenge for me is coming to a big Club like this, with such an important fan base, and as I come from Argentina, I really appreciate the fans’ support. There’s a number ‘12’ supporting us here in every match. I would like to continue to grow both on a professional and personal level, and this new challenge is so important to me. I can’t wait to get started in the pre-season and work as hard as I can,” concludes Tissone.

 

[Whirly]

Fernando Tissone - Malaga

Fernando Tissue is what I saw the first couple times.

 

[Whirly]

Toulalan completes Monaco move


AS Monaco's summer spending spree continued on Saturday when they announced the signing of Jeremy Toulalan from Malaga.

Toulalan, 29, has spent the last two campaigns in Spain with Malaga, helping the club reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League last season. But now he will return to Ligue 1 with Monaco following the ambitious club's promotion back to the top flight.

The midfielder played a total of 55 games in his two seasons at the Rosaleda, scoring three goals.

However a summer of change on the Costa del Sol, which has seen both former manager Manuel Pellegrini and star player Isco leave the club, could have convinced the former Lyon star that it was the right time to move on.

Toulalan will become the latest in a string of signings the super rich, newly promoted French side have made. Monaco have already captured the signatures of James Rodriguez, Joao Moutinho, Ricardo Carvalho and Radamel Falcao.

He has penned a two-year contract with Monaco with the option of a further year on top and will be presented on Monday.

Monaco sporting director Vadim Vasilyev said on his the club's official website: "We are happy with the signature of Jeremy. His skills, his European and international experience, will be an important asset for our team this season.''

The former Nantes player has won 36 caps for France.

 

[King Binny]

Georgi Milanov - CSKA Moscow (€2.7 million)

Reigning Russian champions CSKA Moscow boosted their line-up by signing Bulgarian international midfielder Georgi Milanov from Liteks Lovech on a five-year deal, the club press service reported Friday.

The report said that the Red Army side have paid 2.7 million euros ($3.5 million) for the transfer of the 21-year-old, who won two Bulgarian titles in 2010 and 2011.

Milanov has also won 11 caps and scored one goal for Bulgaria.

Steven Zuber - CSKA Moscow (€3.2 million)

Russia's reigning champions CSKA Moscow bolstered their line-up by signing midfielder Steven Zuber from Swiss high-flyers Grasshopper Zurich on a five-year transfer deal, the club said Friday.

Report said that the Red Army side have paid 3.2 million euros ($4 million) for the 21-year-old Swiss under-21 international.

Last season Zuber won the Swiss Cup with Grasshopper.

 

[King Binny]

Toulalan completes Monaco move

 

[King Binny]

Sokratis Papastathopoulos - Dortmund (€9.5 million)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang - Dortmund (undisclosed fee, reportedly €13 million)

 

[Hansern]

Abidal has signed for Monaco