Confirmed transfers 2012/13

[Pesam]

Is he a centre mid? If so ive seen him play and he was pretty good on the day.

He's only played a handful of games so far and i haven't had a chance to see him play. Having seen who he replaces when he comes on as sub it would appear as if he's a midfielder though.

What a midfield it would make if somebody could line up Max Power with Danny Invincible.

 

[King Binny]

Hiroshi Kiyotake - Nurnberg (€1.2m)

 

[King Binny]

Riccardo Montolivo - AC Milan (free transfer)

Milan have finally confirmed the open secret that Fiorentina and Italy man Riccardo Montolivo will join on a free transfer.

“Next season Montolivo will arrive and he is a very talented player with great technique,” Coach Massimiliano Allegri told Milan Channel.

The tactician made the announcement just before his scheduled press conference.

“In any case, Milan will remain competitive next year and we must continue the work we started last season. We need to begin again with great enthusiasm.”

The midfielder has been widely known to have a deal with the Rossoneri for just under a year, ever since he rejected the offer of a contract renewal with the Tuscans.

His contract expires with Fiorentina on June 30 and he will reinforce the Milan midfield, which has lost Gennaro Gattuso, Clarence Seedorf and Mark Van Bommel.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Great pick up from Milan ... Is Seedorf available on a free? That's the kind of player I'd like to have on the bench ...

 

[doctor_mac]

Seedorf must be due his letter from the Queen.

 

[Hansern]

Gattuso and Seedorf are leaving. Can see Seedorf taking a year or two at Ajax maybe..

 

[King Binny]

Slaven Bilic - Lokomotiv Moscow

The 43-year-old has led his national team since 2006 but will now embark on a new challenge in Moscow, having signed a three-year contract with Lokomotiv. "There were a lot of clubs who were interested in me from different countries," Bilić said before explaining his decision to opt for Lokomotiv. "I met the president [Olga Smorodskaya]; she 'bought' me with her plan, with her energy and her ambition for me to be in charge.

"Her plan is to get big results within three years," Bilić added. "It's a league where you have seven or eight clubs with equal chances of winning the championship. It's a big challenge for me and with my team I can do big things with Lokomotiv." It will be Bilić’s first experience in club management aside from a short spell in charge of HNK Hajduk Split in 2001/02.

 

[King Binny]

Nat Knight-Percival - Peterbrough (free transfer)

'I am really excited to be a Peterborough United player and I can't wait to test myself in the Championship.

'I spoke to Dean Keates (a team-mate at Wrexham) and he told me he had one of the best periods of his career at London Road.

'I can't wait to get started, I am really pleased to be here, it is a massive step up, but I am really looking forward to it,' he said.

 

[King Binny]

Raul Gonzalez - Al Sadd (free transfer)

"Negotiations with Al Sadd started three months ago," he told reporters at a press conference. "I felt the seriousness of the officials, and my wife's good impression of Doha after visiting it a month ago made me accept the offer.

"My wife and I feel that we have taken the right decision. We are happy to make a new adventure, especially after the warm reception here."

 

[Oncy]

God that makes me feel a bit Al Sadd.

 

[the_khl]

Why's Tevez dressed up as an Al Sadd-official? Not staying at Citeh then?

 

[King Binny]

Dick Advocaat - PSV

“I have happy memories of my first stint at PSV”, told 64-year-told Dick Advocaat PSV TV on Friday morning. “And people will hopefully cherish happy memories of my second stint. I vividly remember the great atmosphere at the club, both in the stadium and at De Herdgang training facilities. I’ve always maintained I would once return to PSV I left here fourteen years ago and I’ve meanwhile gained much experience, working in many foreign countries. This is the ideal moment to come back as PSV failed to win the championship title the past few seasons. PSV have the potential to compete and achieve at any level”, said Advocaat.

“It’s my task to win the title, I keep telling myself. Nobody else needs to remind me of that mission. I´m not here to prepare coaches, I’m here to be champion. I know my assistants. They had a successful spell as a player under me at PSV. They must find out what’s important for them. Maybe they will still be at Euro 2012, when PSV return to pre-season training”, Advocaat said, smiling brightly.

“We’ll just have to wait and see. Anyway, I’m looking forward to taking up my new role as head coach at PSV. I’m also looking forward to cooperating with Marcel Brands, the technical director with whom I’ve worked before.” Brands revealed that Advocaat had a good feeling when asked to consider a return to the club he successfully managed from 1995/98. “We established a good working relationship while we were at AZ. Dick Advocaat is a quality coach. We are very happy he has decided to return to the Philips Stadion. His track record speaks for itself. We don’t have to tell him what our ambitions are. He knows only too well and wants to challenge for the league title next year.”

Mark Van Bommel - PSV (free transfer)

“This is deal we have been working on for a very long time,” confirmed technical director Marcel Brands in confirming the news on the Dutch side’s official website.

“We are please to have finally succeeded in signing such an internationally experienced player, with a great history at PSV and who is also the captain of the national team.”

 

[King Binny]

Sascha Lewandowski and team manager Sami Hyypiä

Sascha Lewandowski - Leverkusen (Head coach)
Sami Hyypiä - Leverkusen (Team manager)

Head coach Sascha Lewandowski and team manager Sami Hyypiä will be in charge of the Bayer 04 first team squad next season. The 40-year-old Lewandowski and 38-year-old Hyypiä both signed three-year contracts to 30 June 2015 following their successful work together in the last Bundesliga campaign.

The duo succeeded in getting Bayer 04 back on track in the closing stages of the season, collecting 14 from a possible 18 points in the final six games, which ensured direct qualification for the group stage of the Europa League next term.

Bayer 04 managing director Wolfgang Holzhäuser declared his pleasure at the deal was not solely for that reason: “Sascha Lewandowski and Sami Hyypiä demonstrated in the last six games their ability to lead the team with a mix of expertise, charisma, hard work and composure. This refreshing combination has made us optimistic about moving forward. We want to work with the Lewandowski/Hyypiä duo over the next few years to further secure our position in the top third of the Bundesliga and qualify for European football.”

Sporting director Rudi Völler was also pleased with the new direction of the Werkself: “Sascha Lewandowski has already made a name for himself as an ambitious, forward-looking coach at youth level. He’s produced top level work for Bayer 04 over a number of seasons and has now shown what he’s capable of with the first team. Sami Hyypiä played at the highest level of European football for ten years and he made a great impression in his last two years at Leverkusen. It looks like he was born to manage a team and I’m sure he’ll work well in his new role with Sascha to make progress with Bayer 04.”

The experience at the end of last term made up Sascha Lewandowski’s mind to take the decision to carry on with the first team: “Sami and I took over at a difficult period for the club and we quickly got on very well together. We were also motivated by the commitment, desire and position of the team. All our work together was confident and successful and I’m looking forward to build on that.”

The outstanding team work over recent weeks was a crucial factor for Sami Hyypiä: “Although we didn’t know each other before and we didn’t have much time to put a plan together, the last few weeks have been a success for Sascha, the club and me. Bayer 04’s decision to give us the chance to carry on is a great mark of confidence. We’re convinced we can work with this team and our support staff to keep performing well in domestic and European competitions.”

 

[King Binny]

Nigel Pearson has a liking for United players. Did it at Hull City and now similar influx at Leicester City.

Ritchie De Laet - Leicester (undisclosed fee)
Matty James - Leicester (undisclosed fee)

Leicester City manager Nigel Pearson said: "Ritchie and Matthew are both players we have been monitoring for some time and we are very pleased to be able to bring them both to the Club.

"Both are hungry, young players with winning mentalities, experience of Championship football and a desire to be successful. They will add considerable quality to the squad."

 

[King Binny]

Garath McCleary - Reading (free transfer)

Chairman Sir John Madejski said, "I'm delighted to welcome Garath to the club. Completing this excellent signing so soon after sealing promotion is an example of the seriousness with which we are already taking our Premier League challenge.

"It's amazing to be at a club like Reading," Garath said after completing the move. "Being a local boy as well, it's the stuff that dreams are made of. I can't wait to pull the Reading shirt on and prove what I can do.

"After helping Forest stay up last season, it's a fantastic achievement for me to now come to a Premier League side, a club with such fantastic support. It's great to be here!"

Manager Brian McDermott, said "It's important that we have brought a player of Garath's quality through the door. It's an early signing for us, and it's a great one. We're absolutely delighted to get him.

"He's young, he's got an eye for a goal, he's very, very quick, he's got a real energy about him. He wants to work hard and improve and, in all the players we've got here, that is a key attribute. And he's a nice lad, so he'll fit in well with what we're trying to do at this club."

Director of Football Nick Hammond was delighted to have got the deal done.

"There has been a lot of interest in the player from other Premier League clubs, so we are really pleased to have secured his services and that he has committed his future to Reading," he said.

"It's amazing to be at a club like Reading, being a local boy this is a fantastic opportunity for me," he said.


"When I first heard of the interest from Reading it was brilliant, the manager is great, he likes to play with wingers so for me it was a no brainer. I think it was four and a half years I was at Bromley, and just before that I was at Slough - so this is the stuff that dreams are made of. I can't wait to get this Reading shirt on and prove what I can do."

"It was brilliant, a brilliant achievement, I only started playing in December so to only play half the season and be recognised like that is superb - but to help Forest out was the main thing and to get them safe."

"We've been working on this for a little while now, since we got promotion," Brian McDermott said. "It was really important to me that we got a player of Garath's quality through the door.

"Nick Hammond has been speaking to Nottingham Forest and Steve Cotterill and Garath has arrived here on a Bosman - we're absolutely delighted to get him.

"He was at Slough, an old club of mine, about seven or eight years ago. And I've known about him for a long time now.

"And he's coming of age. He scored four goals in one game in the Championship last season and he's got a real eye for a goal. He's got real pace and an energy about him.

"He's quick, he can cross it, he's got a trick, and he can score goals. He's young, he wants to work hard and improve. In all the players that we've got here, that's a key attribute. They've all got ambition, but they all want to work hard and get better.

"They are all 'team' men - and that ethos won't change, no matter what league we compete in. He's a really nice lad too and he'll fit into what we're doing here. Our ethos will stay the same."

"There has been a hell of a lot of interest in Garath - from the Premier League, the Championship, and Forest wanted to keep him. Luckily, he's decided to come here and we're fortunate that we've managed to get him.

"It's an early signing for us, and a great one! We're very, very pleased."

 

[King Binny]

Marcello Lippi - Guangzhou Evergrande

Following the signing of Lucas Barrios, Guangzhou Evergrande appointed Lippi as Head Coach.

"In accordance with the strategic needs of the club... the following decision was made: to hire Mr. Marcello Lippi as the head coach of Guangzhou Evergrande," the club in China's southern industrial city said in a statement.

"The period of hiring is two years and six months," it added, without giving further details about Lippi's salary.

"I dispatched an assistant to go see the club's matches, which made me even more determined. I am very enthusiastic about coming to China."-Marcello Lippi

Speaking at a press conference broadcast live on Chinese state television, Lippi said he was first contacted by the club in May last year. "I dispatched an assistant to go see the club's matches, which made me even more determined. I am very enthusiastic about coming to China," he said.

 

[King Binny]

Conor Quigley - Liverpool (youth contract)

His father Liam said the family were “over the moon” that Conor would be joining a top club like Liverpool.

“We are just delighted” he said. “We are very proud of him and the hard work starts now.

“He has been travelling over and back for the last year and a half and now he is actually signed,” he added.

“They asked him to move over this year. We have declined that option and he is going to go in the summer of 2013.

“He will move over and live there then,” he explained.

“When the new season starts in August he will go over for two days a week for training and games with the Under-15s and Under-16s.

“We are just over the moon. We are big Liverpool supporters and I actually help run the supporters club in the city so this is brilliant,” he said.

 

[Skullflower]

who was he signed by. the tea lady or something.

 

[King Binny]

Fredy Guarin - Inter (€11m)

 

[King Binny]

Granit Xhaka - Borussia Mönchengladbach (reportedly €8.5 million)

"In our efforts to sign Granit Xhaka we faced competition from a host of top European clubs and we're delighted to have brought him to Borussia," said director of sport Max Eberl. "I'm very happy that the contract is now signed," said Xhaka, who will wear the number 34 shirt. "It wasn't a difficult decision to take. I opted for Borussia from the outset because it's a fantastic club."

 

[King Binny]

Jos Luhukay - Hertha Berlin

Manager Michael Preetz: "We are very happy to have Jos Luhukay as our head coach for the next two years."

Jos Luhukay, who like Hertha won promotion to the Bundesliga at the end of last season with FC Augsburg, only to leave them after keeping them up at the end of the season just ended said: "I am looking forward to the exciting task at Hertha BSC and to Berlin. Which is why I consciously agreed a contract with Michael Preetz for both the Bundesliga and second division."

 

[King Binny]

Jamie Vardy - Leicester City (£1m)

City manager Nigel Pearson said: "There were a number of clubs vying to secure Jamie's signature, so it's very pleasing that we have been able to bring him to Leicester City. He will definitely help to take us forward.

"He has built an excellent reputation for himself through the goals he has scored at non-league level and, having studied his progress closely for some time, I have no doubt he will successfully make the step up to the Championship."

 

[King Binny]

Stephen Henderson - Hammers (undisclosed fee, reportedly £1.2 million)

Stephen Henderson has joined West Ham from Pompey for an undisclosed fee.

The goalkeeper has signed a three-year deal with the Premier League Hammers.

Henderson made 27 appearances for Pompey after signing from Bristol City last summer.

The 24-year-old made his Blues debut in a League Cup defeat against Barnet before establishing himself as first-choice keeper in the Championship, keeping seven clean sheets.

Henderson’s form at Pompey saw him win his first call-up to the senior Republic of Ireland squad.

Pompey’s financial concerns saw Henderson join West Ham on loan in March, although he is still awaiting his debut.

Henderson began his career with Aston Villa and had spells on loan at York, Weymouth, Aldershot and Yeovil while at Bristol City.

Blues boss Michael Appleton said: “I cannot speak highly enough of Stephen. He did a fantastic job for us.

“When he had to go on loan to West Ham it was a huge blow to the football club. But the club was in extremely difficult circumstances and it was the right thing to do.

“I saw him after West Ham’s play-off final and we had a good chat. He was very complimentary about his time here and the people he worked with. He’s got a bright future ahead of him.”

"I'm chuffed to bits to get it wrapped up," Henderson told West Ham TV. "I'm a very happy man today. It's been absolutely brilliant since I joined and it obviously topped it off on Saturday with us getting to the Premier League. The lads have been brilliant with me and have made me feel welcome so I'm very happy.

"To be honest, I think Saturday was probably the poorest I've seen us play in a while! Blackpool had a few great chances to get their noses in the lead but at the end of the day we took our chances and Vaz has popped up at the end.

"It was a fantastic day. The support was a real buzz. It was absolutely brilliant. Considering the trouble I've had with Portsmouth and their relegation battle, I'm very lucky to be here and to be a Premier League goalkeeper, I hope."

 

[King Binny]

Frederic Kanoute - Mes Kerman (free transfer)

“We’ve held discussions with the 35-year-old striker and reached agreement with him to sign him on to a one-year contract,” a Mes official said.

 

[King Binny]

Tom Starke - Bayern Munich (undisclosed fee)

Experienced keeper Tom Starke is to join Bayern from Hoffenheim. The 31-year-old agreed terms with Germany's biggest club on Wednesday 16 May 2012 and has signed a three-year contract, keeping him in Munich until 30 June 2015.

“We're delighted Tom Starke will be joining us for the new season," commented FCB director of sport Christian Nerlinger, “he's an experienced Bundesliga professional who is calmness personified, and who perfectly fills the gap left by Jörg Butt’s retirement. We're looking forward to Tom being here."

“I'm looking forward to the huge challenge at Bayern," commented the 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) goalkeeper, “I think it's fantastic to be competing for trophies one more time in my career, and especially to be part of the Champions League action."

 

[King Binny]

Leonardo Bittencourt - Borussia Dortmund (€3 million)

The Germany Under-19 international, who also has Brazilian nationality, had agreed to a four-year contract.

"We have watched him since his first game in the 2. Bundesliga. He is an outstanding talent, and we feel that he will fit perfectly into our philosophy," BVB sporting director Michael Zorc told Sky Sport News HD.

 

[King Binny]

Matthieu Delpierre - Hoffenheim (free transfer)

Babbel said of the deal, “Mathieu is an outstanding defender who will provide some useful stability at the back for us. He is a seasoned professional with good leadership qualities and that will be a great help to our young squad.”

 

[Oncy]

Tom Starke - Bayern Munich (free transfer)

The whole things daft, I dont know why!!
You have to laugh.

 

[Judge Jules]

Leonardo Bittencourt - Borussia Dortmund (€3 million)

His brother Lucas used to be some player. 😉

 

[RolandG]

Joe Cole and Dani Pacheco return!