Confirmed transfers 2012/13

[Fabio]

I'm glad we didn't get the cunt. Looks like a proper tart. He'll get found out and cower in Canal street

 

[Holle]

The fuck is that cardigan jumper shite.

With salmon underneath??


Ryan, this surely can't be the current style, he looks like a Quim!

And I think a general rule should be that if mother nature didn't bless you with enough facial hair then stop growing beards FFS.

 

[Fabio]

And I think a general rule should be that if mother nature didn't bless you with enough facial hair then stop growing beards FFS.

*considers shaving face fluff*

 

[Holle]

*considers shaving face fluff*

Good lad.

 

[King Binny]

Jussi Jaaskelainen - West Ham (free tansfer)

West Ham United are pleased to confirm that vastly-experienced goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has agreed personal terms with the Club.

The former Finland international has played more than 500 games in English football since joining Bolton Wanderers in the summer of 1997.

The 37-year-old, who has been capped 56 times by his country, has agreed personal terms with the Hammers on a one-year contract with an option for a second year and will move to the Boleyn Ground at the expiry of his Trotters deal on 30 June.

Jaaskelainen will be the second goalkeeper to move to the Club this summer following the arrival of Stephen Henderson. With the Hammers preparing for life in the Barclays Premier League, the pair are expected to be the first of a host of exciting new signings.

The goalkeeper played more than 100 games for Mikkelin Palloilijat and Vaasan Palloseura in his native Finland before joining Bolton in 1997 for a fee of just £100,000.

After helping Sam Allardyce's side gain promotion to the Premier League via the Play-Offs in 2001, the 6'3 tall stopper helped to establish Bolton as a top-flight force during the past decade, achieving four consecutive top-eight finishes between 2003/04 and 2006/07.

Jaaskelainen was also instrumental in helping the Lancashire club to finish as 2004 League Cup runners-up and twice reach the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup. While at the Reebok Stadium, the Finn played regularly alongside the likes of Kevin Nolan, Joey O'Brien and Matt Taylor.

In all, Jaaskelainen made 371 Premier League appearances for Bolton and was voted the club's Player of the Year in 2007. The same year, he was also voted Finnish Footballer of the Year.

Jaaskelainen said: "I'm delighted to be joining West Ham United. After spending 15 years in Bolton it's a great new challenge and I'm really looking forward to it. Everything has happened really quickly. When the opportunity was offered to come to West Ham I didn't think twice and I just told my agent to sort it out as quickly as possible.

"I appreciate Bolton giving me permission to speak to West Ham before my contract was up and for the efforts the Chairman made in trying to get me to stay. I would like to thank the fans for all their support over the years and I wish the players and, in particular, Owen Coyle all the best in gaining promotion at the first attempt."

 

[King Binny]

Roberto Di Matteo - Chelsea (Manager)

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce that Roberto Di Matteo has been appointed manager and first-team coach on a permanent basis.

The Italian returned to Stamford Bridge today following his holiday to finalise a two-year contract.

Chief executive Ron Gourlay says: 'Roberto's quality was clear for all to see when he galvanised the squad last season and helped the club make history, and the owner and board are very pleased he will be continuing his good work.

'We all believed he was a young coach with much to offer when we first asked him to take charge of team affairs in March and the manner in which he worked with us, the players and all the staff, and the success that followed, made him the clear choice when it came to selecting the person to take us forward in the seasons to come.

'We will be working closely with Roberto in the weeks ahead, some exciting signings have already been made and Roberto has had input into those.

'Although he has set the bar very high in the short time he has been in charge, we know that Roberto is the right man to lead Chelsea onto further success.'

Di Matteo, who turned 42 last month, was interim first-team coach for the final 11 weeks of last season, leading the club to an historic Champions League and FA Cup double triumph.

He stepped up to the role following the departure of Andre Villas-Boas during the first weekend in March and won the next four matches including a tricky FA Cup replay away to Birmingham City and the memorable second-leg turnaround against Napoli.

He said: 'I'm obviously delighted to have been appointed as manager and first-team coach. We all achieved incredible success last season that made history for this great club. Our aim is to continue building on that and I'm already planning and looking forward to the squad's return for pre-season.'

We lost only three matches after he took charge. And although ultimately Chelsea finished outside the top-four places, our success in Europe, that saw Benfica and Barcelona beaten before the victory against Bayern Munich in their home stadium, meant that not only had Di Matteo guided the club to our first Champions League title, but we had also ensured our place in the competition next season.

The Wembley win over Liverpool in early May continued his already sparkling FA Cup history at Chelsea.

Di Matteo is the fourth Italian to manage Chelsea, continuing his association with the club that began in 1996 when he signed as a player from Lazio, the choice of Ruud Gullit.

An international midfielder, he ended his first season by scoring in the FA Cup Final as major silverware was brought back to Stamford Bridge for the first time in 26 years. He also found the net in a League Cup Final win and another FA Cup Final before injury forced his retirement at the age of 31 having played 175 games and scored 26 goals for the club.

He returned to Chelsea as assistant first-team coach under Villas-Boas at the start of last season having become a manager for the first time at League One MK Dons in 2008. A year later he moved up a division to West Bromwich Albion whom he then took into the Premier League at the first time of asking. He was named the top-flight manager of the month in September 2010 but left The Hawthorns in February 2011.

Gourlay adds: 'We are already looking forward to the 2012-13 season which kicks off when Roberto, his staff and players return for pre-season.'

Hiroki Sakai - Hannover 96 (undisclosed fee)

Hannover 96 have announced the signing of Kashiwa Reysol right back Hiroki Sakai for an undisclosed amount. The Japanese international will join the club on a four-year deal.

Sakai, 22, was named the J. League Best Young Player of the Year in 2011. He signed his first professional contract with The Lying Rag Kings in 2009 as an 18-year-old after spending six years in the club's youth system. Sakai made his first-team debut in 2009, contributing five goals and 13 assists in 61 appearances. He helped the club to their first ever J. League Championship in 2011, just one year after securing promotion from the J. League Division 2.

The defender has received three caps for the Japanese national team and will play for Japan this summer at the Summer Olympics in London before joining the club for preseason training in early August. With many of Hannover's defenders aging, he is a signing for the future and a potential successor to Steve Cherundolo.

 

[King Binny]

LOL. Thanks guys. Is this the summer with the most managerial appointments in top flight?

Liverpool
Aston Villa
Norwich
West Brom
Chelsea ?
Swansea ?

Barcelona
Valencia

Lazio
Roma
Inter
Palermo
Fiorentina?
Siena?

If someone from an EPL club joins Tottenham, that'll be 8 top flight EPL clubs startinbg the season under a new manager.

 

[Oncy]

That Powell lad looks like a fucking wab.
Almost as soon as a player signs for United they up thier cunt level by a factor of about 50,000

Jones
Young
Powell
They all looked like regular lads, as soon as I see em with that shirt they suddenly look like fucking cunts.

 

[mark1975]

That Powell lad looks like a fucking wab.
Almost as soon as a player signs for United they up thier cunt level by a factor of about 50,000

Jones
Young
Powell
They all looked like regular lads, as soon as I see em with that shirt they suddenly look like fucking cunts.

It's the shirt. And the leery, Scottish Grandad hanging over them.

 

[King Binny]

George Williams - Fulham (compensation package agreed)

Fulham have confirmed the signing of teenage striker George Williams from MK Dons.

The 16-year-old, capped by Wales Under-17s, has already broken into the MK Dons first team, becoming the club's youngest ever goalscorer in the FA Cup last season.

Williams will join up with the Cottagers' Academy as a first-year scholar for the 2012/13 campaign after an undisclosed compensation package was agreed.

MK Dons chairman Pete Winkelman said on the club's official website: "We are very disappointed that George has chosen not to take up his scholarship or the offer of a professional contract with MK Dons and has instead decided his future is best served with Fulham.

"Everyone at the club wishes him well in the future."

 

[King Binny]

Vincenzo Montella - Fiorentina (Manager)

Vincenzo Montella: "I feel great joy and enthusiasm. Fiorentina has shown a lot of trust on me. I must thank the Della Valle family and the Sporting Director Daniele Pradè for having me picked. Managing Fiorentina is a massive responsibility. The owners asked me to bring back enthusiasm. We want to get as close as possible to our fans".
Jovetic?
"He's an extraordinary player and I hope I will be able to manage him".
Our main goal?
"Spirit of belonging and reach a position just below teams that have a totally different budget from ours"
Your priority for now?
"I'd like to have a team ready for the pre-season training camp, but it will be difficult for that to happen"
What's important in the coach role?
"You must be yourself and a as a consequence being credible"
Formation?
"I don't believe too much on tactics. I believe in an idea of football"
Are Lodi and Barrientos two potential targets for your market transfer?
"They are interesting players, as many others".
Do you see someone as a point of reference in your team?
"I hope I am going to find more than one"
Cerci?
"A talented player that I must follow closely. Potentially he can do great things. I need to understand his motivations"

 

[LarryHagman]

Steve Bruce is the most physically repellent human being that has ever existed.

 

[RolandG]

Swansea City have filled the void left by Brendan Rodgers by appointing Michael Laudrup as manager on a two-year deal.
The 48-year-old, who has managed Brondby, Getafe, Spartak Moscow and Mallorca, became Swansea's third manager in four years on Friday after completing negotiations with the club.
Following Rodgers' appointment at Liverpool, Blackpool boss Ian Holloway, former France captain Marcel Desailly, Wigan assistant Graeme Jones and Brighton manager Gus Poyet had all been linked with the vacant Swansea post.

Laudrup had previously spoken of his desire to manage in the Premier League and was given the nod with the belief he will retain a similar attractive, passing philosophy to Rodgers.
One of the most talented players of his generation, Laudrup had spells at Juventus, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Ajax and won 104 caps for Denmark during his playing days.
He won five Spanish league titles with Barcelona and Real Madrid before entering management as an assistant coach with Denmark before stints at Brondby and Getafe.
He had an unsuccessful seven-month spell at Spartak Moscow and was linked with Spanish side Atletico Madrid before taking on the job at Mallorca.
Laudrup managed to keep the struggling side in La Liga but left the post at start of last season, citing a difficult working relationship with director of football Lorenzo Serra Ferrer.
Laudrup has been out of work since and will now be charged with the task of solidifying Swansea's 11th-placed finish in their first season in the Premier League.

 

[King Binny]

Swansea City have filled the void left by Brendan Rodgers by appointing Michael Laudrup as manager on a two-year deal.

Chairman Huw Jenkins believes Michael Laudrup will prove the perfect fit for Swansea City.

As the ink dried on a two-year contract that will see the Great Dane lead the Swans into their second Premier League campaign, Huw declared: "We are delighted with the appointment.

"Michael has a clear picture and understanding of what we require at Swansea City to build on all the good work and strides we have made over the last few years as a football club.

"There is no doubt about his standing as one of the game's greatest footballers, but we also see the qualities he has as a manager.

"We see Michael as someone who is fully committed and educated in all aspects of the way we want to take the club forward.

"Our overall aim is to build on our first season in the Premier League, but we also fully understand the need to adapt our approach as we go along to remain competitive season after season. Part of that process is to look at new ideas and increase our knowledge on all aspects of the game to keep advancing.

"Everyone I've spoken to about Michael during the appointment process can't speak highly enough about him, not just as a football man, but as a person.

"I'm confident that Michael will prove a fantastic acquisition that will help keep this football club moving forward.''

Laudrup is due in Swansea towards the end of next week to start preparations for the new Premier League season.

"I've spoken to the chairman and I'm very pleased to sign for Swansea City,'' explained Laudrup, who has recently been working alongside John Toshack as a TV pundit in Spain. "It's going to be a new experience for me and I'm really looking forward to it.

"I've spoken to many people about Swansea and watched a number of their games on DVD - with many more to watch!

"Everyone knows the style of football Swansea play and it suits my way of thinking.''

Laudrup's backroom staff will be confirmed at a later date .

 

[King Binny]

Gennaro Gattuso - FC Sion (free transfer)

Milan idol Gennaro Gattuso has been presented to the media after he signed a two-year contract with FC Sion.

The Swiss side revealed last night that the 34-year-old was on his way to the club after he opted to end his 13-year career with the Diavolo.

“I've come here to Sion to win and to compete with FC Basel for the championship,” the 2006 World Cup winner noted.

“I told Sion that they would get a hard-working and combative midfielder in me, but also that I couldn't offer them the quality of Andrea Pirlo,” he smiled.

“The President of Sion, Christian Constantin, has promised me that we will have a competitive squad and so far it seems like that will be the case.

“My first impression of Sion's President was that he is a hot-tempered man like myself and that's why I liked him immediately.

“I had many offers from Italy, but I couldn’t stand the idea of wearing the shirt of another Italian club other than Milan.”

Gattuso, who missed most of 2011-12 because of an optical nerve problem, was looking to re-join former club Rangers – but couldn’t because of their financial problems.

“I thought it would be the right thing to go to Scotland,” he added. “That’s where my career started and my wife is born there, but that couldn’t happen.”

FC Sion only just survived relegation this term, while it is understood that Gattuso rejected big offers from America, China, Qatar, Turkey and Russia for his signature.

“It wasn’t a question of money,” the former Salernitana man noted. “One of the reasons why I chose FC Sion is because it is close to home.”

 

[King Binny]

Tito Vilanova - Barcelona (Manager)

Francesc 'Tito' Vilanova signed his new contract this Friday morning as first team coach at Fútbol Club Barcelona which runs until 30th June 2014. During his presentation, Tito thanked the Barcelona board for the opportunity: "I'm honoured to have been chosen, I'm up to the task and looking forward to it. Never before has a Barcelona coach been in this situation, taking charge during the club’s most successful era. Usually they offer you the job on the back of a bad run of results, not when a successful coach leaves."

Tito became emotional when, in his first words as Barcelona's coach he spoke about Guardiola. Tito assured that he is "as capable as any other manager to do this job". But "I'll shake off any comparisons with Guardiola," he added.

Having been in the shadow of Guardiola, but also a key part of his day-to-day operations, it is now Tito who takes charge of the team. "We made many decisions on a 50/50 basis, and it wouldn't make any sense to change things now just to make my presence felt. With everything we've been through, there's never been any bad blood with Guardiola," he said.

 

[King Binny]

Ryan Nelsen - QPR (free transfer)

All Whites captain Ryan Nelsen has confirmed he has signed for English premier league club Queen's Park Rangers, is fit to play in the London Olympic Games and expects to be available for New Zealand's World Cup qualifying games.

Nelsen told The Press late last night from London that he had agreed to a one-year deal with the option of another season and had passed his medical at QPR.

The centre back said his signing was due to be announced early today [NZ Time] after QPR had informed Tottenham Hotspur, his former club, who he joined last February on a six-month contract.

Several clubs were chasing Nelsen but the Cantabrian said the chance to reunite with his former Blackburn Rovers manager Mark Hughes at QPR was too good to turn down.

"I owe him pretty much everything,'' Nelsen said."He gave me my chance over here [at Blackburn in 2005].

"That was a big factor. I know Mark and his staff really well, they all really helped me when I was first over here in England, so it's nice to go full circle towards the end of my career.

"Hopefully, I can still help them out.''

QPR finished 17th out of 20 in the premier league last season, narrowly avoiding relegation in their first season back in the top flight.

But Nelsen said the future looked "quite exciting'' for the west London club."They've got a lot of ambition... it seems like it's going to be a good fit.''

Nelsen made eight appearances for fourth-placed Spurs, scoring one goal and helping them reach the FA Cup semi-final after switching from Blackburn, where he played around 200 games.

He was signed as defensive cover by former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who told the media after Nelsen scored against Bolton Wanderers in the cup that he would be offering the Kiwi a new deal for next season.

But Nelsen said Spurs' failure to make the European Champions League after Chelsea won the ECL title to grab the fourth English berth had "changed the makeup for all parties involved''.

But he had nothing but praise for Redknapp, who left Spurs this week, and club chairman Daniel Levy and said he would be proud "to be able to say I played for Tottenham''.

"I love the club. I really enjoyed my time there, it was a fantastic experience, a really good club with some great people.''

 

[RolandG]

Welcome back Binny. Your sterling work was missed.

 

[King Binny]

Lol. Thanks Roland. Frustrating waiting for signings from our club though.

Daniel Diaz - Atletico Madrid (€1 million)

Getafe announced on their official website that they have sold defender Daniel Alberto ‘Cata’ Díaz to Atleti.

Multiple sources in the Spanish press report that the 32-year-old central defender, who has spent the last five seasons with the Azulones, will cost Atlético €1 million and will pen a two-year deal with los Colchoneros.

The Argentine-born footballer holds an Italian passport, so he will not be taking up one of our non-EU spots.

Prior to joining Getafe, the centre-back had played for Rosario Central (Argentina), Cruz Azul (Mexico), Colón (Argentina) and Boca Juniors.

The veteran defender has a reputation of being one mean, tough, badass dude.

 

[Leo]

The layout of this thread is excellent so well done Binny.
You're going to be a busy man in July though!

 

[King Binny]

Cheers Leo, its everyone's thread. 🙂

Mauricio Isla - Juventus
Kwadwo Asamoah - Juventus

Mauricio Isla has effectively sealed his transfer to Juventus by sending a message to Udinese on Twitter.

“Thank you Udine for five wonderful years,” wrote the Chilean winger.

“Thanks to you I am able to play for one of the biggest clubs in Italy. It was a pleasure playing with you.”

Isla is set to complete his transfer along with teammate Kwadwo Asamoah on Monday.

Both players underwent medicals in Turin this week.

 

[RedZeppelin III]

how good are these two ? i don't know much about them . Will juve be a force in the champs league next year ? well if they aren't done for match fixing again.

 

[Fabio]

They're both good. I rate asamoah a lot higher, but isla is certainly a good player as well.

 

[Hansern]

Thats two amazing signings

 

[Modo]

Thats two amazing signings

indeed

 

[King Binny]

Wonder where Isla will play. Lichtsteiner had a good season. Right midfield?

As for Asamoh, they've got Vidal, Marchisio and Pirlo. Might be eased into team rather than make it to the starting XI directly.

On the back of an unbeaten season, signing 2 of the league's 3rd placed team for the rumoured combined fee of 15m is definitely a good deal.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Wonder where Isla will play. Lichtsteiner had a good season. Right midfield?

As for Asamoh, they've got Vidal, Marchisio and Pirlo. Might be eased into team rather than make it to the starting XI directly.

On the back of an unbeaten season, signing 2 of the league's 3rd placed team for the rumoured combined fee of 15m is definitely a good deal.

It's for 50% ... so 30 million, which is still a good deal!

 

[King Binny]

It's for 50% ... so 30 million, which is still a good deal!

Yeah but as with the Sebastian Giovinco (Juve-Parma) and Fabio Borini (Parma-Juve) deals, co-ownership deals can be pretty complex and to an extent unfair. The fee for remaining 50% may be negotiated and agreed upon at the sale of the initial 50% at a different or lower fee. Then there's the ‘blind auction’ route, where both clubs put a figure in a sealed envelope and the highest bid wins the remaining 50% of the player.

 

[Judge Jules]

I envy them Asamoah. We could really have done with him ourselves.

 

[Fabio]

SSN breaking news

Arsenal sign Giroud