Confirmed Transfers (2016/17)

[rurikbird]

Oleksandr Zinchenko - Man City (undisclosed fee)

[article]Manchester City have signed Oleksandr Zinchenko from the Russian club Ufa. The 19-year-old former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder played in all three of Ukraine’s matches at Euro 2016.

Zinchenko’s arrival at the Etihad Stadium follows those of Ilkay Gundogan, Nolito and Aaron Mooy this summer.

A tweet from the Premier League club read: “Manchester City are pleased to announce the transfer of Ukrainian midfielder Oleksandr Zinchenko from FC Ufa.”

Ufa say a “long-term cooperation” agreement between the two clubs is part of the deal.

The move follows the introduction of the new Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, to supporters on Sunday.[/article]

Wow, totally didn't expect it. He is a talented player and was one of the few Ukraine players to come out of the Euros with any credit, but I'm surprised that Guardiola likes him so much that he is going to sign him.

 

[King Binny]

Jose Manuel Jurado - Espanyol (undisclosed fee)

[article]Watford have confirmed the departure of midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado to Espanyol.

The Spaniard, 30, signed for the Hornets from Spartak Moscow in July 2015.

Jurado made 30 appearances for Watford, but is no longer in the first-team plans of incoming manager Walter Mazzarri.

A statement on the Watford website read: "The Hornets can confirm that Jose Manuel Jurado has today completed a permanent transfer to Espanyol..... All at Watford FC wish Jose well for the future.''

Watford have brought in several new signings as they prepare for life after Quique Sanchez Flores, who kept the Hertfordshire club up in his first season and also reached the semifinals of the FA Cup.

Belgium international Christian Kabasele, Jerome Sinclair from Liverpool and forward Isaac Success have all come into Vicarage Road, while striker Troy Deeney has ended speculation about his future by signing a new five-year contract.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Vincenzo Montella - AC Milan (Head Coach)

[article]Vincenzo Montella is our new coach. Vincenzo has signed a two-year contract which begins on July 1.

It is the belief of the club that the style of play of the new Rossoneri coach will be the basis of an important, fruitful and positive collaboration.

Heartfelt thanks to Cristian Brocchi for the enthusiasm, preparation and intensity with which he approached his career as Milan coach with the Allievi, the Primavera and the first team.[/article]
OptaPaolo ‏@OptaPaolo 18h18 hours ago
1.54 -Only Ancelotti joined Milan with a better pts/game ratio than #Montella (1.54) in Serie A since 2001. Destiny.

Marco Giampaolo - Sampdoria (Head Coach)

[article]Sampdoria have officially signed Marco Giampaolo as their new Coach, after a complicated market drama.

The 48-year-old was being touted to take up Milan's bench, but that job went to Vincenzo Montella, the former Blucerchiati Coach.

Montella's position in turn is going to be filled by Giampaolo, as confirmed by the club from Genoa in an official statement.

“UC Sampdoria communicate that they assigned to Marco Giampaolo the title of Coach responsible for the senior squad,” reads the statement.

“The Coach signed a two-year contract and will be presented to the media at 13:00 [12:00 UK time] on Wednesday, July 6, at the Press room of the sporting centre 'Gloriano Mugnaini' at Bogliasco.”[/article]

Simone Padoin - Cagliari (€600k)

[article]Juventus have officially sold Simone Padoin to Cagliari for an extremely low transfer fee.

The 32-year-old joined the Bianconeri five years ago with excellent timing, having notched five Scudetti in the same number of years. But he only managed 14 games across all competitions last season, and his cycle was coming to an end.

“Juventus Football Club communicate that they have perfected the agreement with the club Cagliari Calcio for the definitive sale of the sporting services of the player Simone Padoin, for a price of €600,000 to be paid over three years,” reads a statement on Juventus' official club.

“This operation does not generate any significant economic effects for Juventus.”[/article]

Bartlomiej Dragowski - Fiorentina (reportedly €2.5 million)

[article]Fiorentina have officially signed Bartlomiej Dragowski, the 18-year-old prodigy goalkeeper from Jagiellonia Bialystok.

The Pole is the starter for his club and his U21 national side, but he is more likely to be groomed for future duties once he joins the Viola.

Dragowski's medicals were completed this morning, and an official statement on the club's site now confirms the move.

“ACF Fiorentina communicate that they have purchased the sporting services of the footballer Bartlomiej Dragowski from Jagiellonia Bialystok,” reads the statement.

“Dragowski, born on August 19, 1997 in Bialystok (Poland), signed a contract that will bind him to the Gigliati club until June 30, 2021.

“In spite of being extremely young, the player boasts 69 appearances in professional tournaments, split between the Polish league, the Polish Cup and the Europa League.

“Over his career Dragowski has worn the colours of all the youth squads of his national team.”[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Denis Suarez - Barcelona (€3.25 million)

[article]FC Barcelona have decided to exercise the buy back clause for the player Denis Suárez, currently at Villarreal CF, which will see the player join the Club for the next four seasons with an option for a fifth depending on the number of appearances in the fourth season.

FC Barcelona have deposited 3,250,000 euros for the right to buy back the player.

The buy out clause for the players has been set at 50 million Euros.

Denis Suárez will undergo a medical on Tuesday and at 2.00pm CET he will be outside the Club offices for a short photo session.

The signing of the contract and the official presentation of the footballer as a new FC Barcelona player is programmed for Wednesday:
At 11.00am, signing of the contract in the first tier of the stand at Camp Nou.
At 11.30am, presentation in the Ricard Maxenchs press room.
At 1.00pm, photo session on the field at Camp Nou. The general public can access the stadium for the photo session between 12.30pm and 1.30pm
His career so far

Denis Suárez will wear the Barça shirt once more, just as he did during the 2013/14 season for Barça B. The 22 year old is a talented midfielder who comes to FC Barcelona to strengthen the squad in the middle of the park and is the first signing of the season 2016/17 for the Club.

Suárez returns after spells at Sevilla and Villarreal. For Barça B he scored 7 goals and recorded 11 assists in his 36 matches. That brought him to the attention of the Andalusians and his spell there allowed the man from Galicia to develop as a player, also adding the Europa League title to his list of honours.

The following season Suárez signed for Villarreal with the Club maintaining the buy out that they have now exercised. At Villarreal he played 48 times, 36 as a starter, scoring five goals and recording 11 assists.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Sandy Stewart - Blackburn Rovers (Assistant Manager)

[article]Rovers are delighted to announce the appointment of Sandy Stewart as the club’s new assistant manager.

The move sees Stewart reunited with Rovers boss Owen Coyle, who he has worked alongside at St. Johnstone, Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Wigan Athletic and Houston Dynamo.

Stewart spent his entire playing career in Scotland and is best known for his 17-year association with Airdrie, where he played over 300 league games and spent four years as manager.

During a brief spell as caretaker manager of St. Johnstone, Stewart secured silverware in his one and only game in charge – winning the 2007-08 Scottish Challenge Cup – before following Coyle to Turf Moor, where they won promotion to the Premier League.

Having spent the past 18 months in the MLS, the 50-year-old is delighted to be back in East Lancashire and working alongside his long-term ally.

“I’m obviously delighted to be here,” said the Scot. “When you’re out of football, you don’t know how long it’s going to be before you’re back in.

“I’ve been quite fortunate in that way through the years, I’ve always had an opportunity somewhere, so I’m delighted to be here at such a fantastic club as Blackburn Rovers.

“Myself and Owen have worked well together for a number of years. We’ve been at several clubs, the relationship we’ve had has been fantastic since we were team-mates at Airdrie and I’m delighted to be working with him again.

“The facilities here are first class and when I walked through the door I got that buzz again. I can’t wait to get involved with the players and hopefully we can build something. We’ll ask everybody to work really hard – players and staff alike – and hopefully that brings success.”

Manager Owen Coyle added: “Sandy’s SFA staff coach in Scotland, which is where everybody goes to do all their coaching badges and licenses, which tells you the level and the quality he has.

"He’s been with me a long time. We were players together in 1990 and we’ve had success where we’ve been. He knows the game inside out. He’s great with players and he brings a host of qualities and attributes that will serve Blackburn Rovers well.

"The great thing for me is he is very much his own man and it's important that you have staff in place like that. Sometimes he might see something different, which I like.

"Rob Kelly is here as well and he's an outstanding coach with a good eye, so I think we've got a very good staff and Sandy will hugely complement what we have."[/article]

Mark Beevers - Bolton Wanderes (free transfer)

[article]Bolton Wanderers have completed the signing of Mark Beevers on a free transfer.

A stalwart of the Millwall backline in recent seasons, the defender puts pen-to-paper on a two-year deal at Macron Stadium.

Born in Barnsley, the 26-year-old started his career with Sheffield Wednesday and was a member of the Owls side that won promotion to the Sky Bet Championship during the 2011/12 campaign, having suffered relegation to the third tier two seasons earlier.

Following loan spells with MK Dons and Millwall, the former England Under-19s international joined the Lions permanently in January 2013.

On the scoresheet in last season’s Sky Bet League One Play-Off Final, Beevers was unable to help the London outfit secure an immediate return to the second tier as they fell to a 3-1 defeat against Barnsley at Wembley.

He will now link up with Wanderers as they travel to Sweden for their pre-season training camp.[/article]

Jon De Souza - Colchester United (Academy Manager)

[article]Colchester United are pleased to welcome Jon De Souza as the club's new Academy Manager.

Jon brings with him a wealth of experience of youth and U21s football, having previously been at Luton Town and Brentford before joining the U's.

He was Academy Manager for the U9 through U16s with Luton before becoming Youth Team manager and then oversaw the U18s and U21s teams at the Bees up until the end of last season.

He started his new role with the U's on Friday and can't wait to get his teeth into his job at Florence Park.

Jon told the official website: "I'm really impressed with the facilities and structure of the club.

"I think anyone involved in youth development wants to get players into the first team, because that is the most satisfying part of the role.

"Colchester are looking to do that and that really attracted me to the position and I am keen to see players here progress into the first team.

"I think the infrastructure here is as good as I've worked in.

"The chairman has really invested in that side of things and I believe the club can progress back up through the leagues and that we can also find the young players that will help the club develop in the future."

Jon will be busy watching a packed pre-season fixture programme for all age groups and he has already enjoyed meeting the various coaches that are looking after the U's stars of the future.

He added: "The club has got a great feel about it and everyone has been really helpful and approachable.

"I want to get to know the staff better on a one to one basis, and then I will see how I can help what is already a very successful youth department."[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Leroy Fer - Swansea (reportedly £4.75 million)

[article]Swansea City have completed their first business of the summer after signing Holland international Leroy Fer from Queens Park Rangers for an undisclosed fee.

The midfielder, who has signed a three-year contract, returns to the Liberty Stadium on a permanent deal following a successful loan spell with the Swans last season.

Fer originally joined the Swans on February 1 and made 11 appearances as Francesco Guidolin’s side finished 12th in the Premier League.

After making his Swans debut against Tottenham Hotspur, Fer’s first start came in the 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. He also started in the victories over Aston Villa, Chelsea and West Ham.

The 26-year-old ends a two-year spell at QPR, for whom he scored eight goals in 50 appearances following a switch from fellow English club Norwich City.

Fer began his career in the academy at Feyenoord, going on to make over 100 appearances for the club after being handed his debut at the age of 17.

During his time at De Kuip Stadium, he featured in the Uefa Cup and helped the club win the Dutch Cup in 2008.

After drawing plaudits for his box-to-box displays and technical ability, Fer moved to FC Twente in August 2011 where he would work under Steve McClaren before he made the move to England to join Norwich City in August 2013.

On the international front, he won the first of his 11 Holland caps in 2010 and was part of the squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, scoring against Chile in the group stage. [/article]

 

[King Binny]

James Tomkins - Crystal Palace (£10 million)

[article]Crystal Palace have completed the signing of James Tomkins from West Ham United on a five year contract for a fee of £10 million.

The 27-year-old centre-back becomes the Eagles’ third summer signing after Andros Townsend and Steve Mandanda arrived last week, and having made the switch from east to south London he will link up with his new teammates just days ahead of their tour to the USA and Canada which starts on Sunday.

Moments after putting pen to paper on his Eagles contract, he said: "I am really excited to be joining Crystal Palace, a massive club and a manager in Alan Pardew that I know well and will always be thankful for how he helped me develop in my younger days at Upton Park".

Chairman Steve Parish also commented, saying: "I'm really pleased James has agreed to join us, he's someone Alan has always wanted to sign from his own days at West Ham. I'm sure he is destined to become a huge part of our team as we look to build on the progress the club has made over the last six years.

"It's been a really positive transfer window so far, everyone has worked really hard to make these deals happen and I think we are much stronger because of them."[/article]

Hadi Sacko - Leeds United (loan with option to buy)

[article]We are delighted to announce the signing of Sporting Lisbon winger Hadi Sacko on a season-long loan with a view to a permanent deal. Sacko, who can occupy a number of attacking roles, becomes our third new addition of the summer following last week’s arrivals of Marcus Antonsson and Kyle Bartley.

The 22-year-old Frenchman has already linked up with the United squad in Ireland for their pre-season training camp and could feature in next week’s friendlies with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers. Sacko, who is capped by his country at Under-20s level, spent the second half of the last campaign on loan in France with Ligue 2 side Sochaux, scoring twice from 14 appearances.

He originally moved to Portugal in 2014 from Bordeaux - where his professional career began, and has made over 50 appearances for Sporting’s ‘B’ team. [/article]

 

[King Binny]

Nani - Valencia (reportedly €8.5 million)

[article]Valencia Club de Fútbol have reached an agreement with Portuguese international Luis Carlos Almeida -‘Nani’- for the player to join the club for the next three seasons.

Born on November 17th, 1986, in Praia, Cape Verde, Nani has played as a professional for Sporting Clube Portugal de Lisboa (2005-2007, 2014-15), Manchester United (2007-2014) and Fenerbahçe (2015-2016).

He began his senior career at Sporting Clube de Portugal, later playing for Manchester United from 2007 to 2014. While in Manchester he won four Premier League titles (2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013), the League Cup (2009), the UEFA Champions League (2008) and the FIFA Club World Cup (2008), amongst other honours.

Returning to Sporting on loan for the 2014/15 season, Nani won his second Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup). The 29 year-old spent the 2015/16 campaign at Fenerbahce, making 46 official appearances and scoring 12 goals.

He is currently in France with the Portuguese national team, who will play in the Euro 2016 semifinals against Wales this Wednesday. He has represented his country on 101 occasions, scoring 20 goals –two of which have come in the ongoing tournament.

Nani will be officially presented as a Valencia CF player in the coming days.[/article]

OptaCanVerified account ‏@OptaCan 3m3 minutes ago
1- Nani led all Super Lig players in key passes (71) in 2015-16; and only Jose Sosa (12) had more assists than him (8). Bat. @valenciacf

 

[King Binny]

Carlos Zambrano - Rubin Kazan (reportedly €3 million)

From Eintracht Frankfurt.

Maxime Lestienne - Rubin Kazan

From PSV. 4 yr contract.

Rifat Zhemaletdinov - Rubin Kazan

19 yr old striker from Lokomotiv Moscow. 4 yr contract.

 

[King Binny]

Sime Vrsaljko - Atletico Madrid (reportedly €16 million)

[article]Sime Vrsaljko is now a player of the Atlético de Madrid. The Croatian International has signed a contract until 2021, after the club reached an agreement with Sassuolo.

The defender was very happy when he spoke his first words as an Atlético. "Playing in Atlético is a big challenge for me, I'm very happy," he said.

The 24 year-old footballer, who has played the EURO in France with his national team, is currently on holiday and will join the team in July.

For Jose Luis Pérez Caminero, Sporting Manager, the incorporation of the winger is great news. "Vrsaljko is a player with a huge projection, although he has already demonstrated his quality in a championship as competitive as the Italian Serie A. It perfectly fulfils our idea of incorporating players who increase the competition within the group and our team’s level. He is very versatile, since he can play in both sides, which offers us interesting alternatives," he said.

Vrsaljko makes the leap to LaLiga after playing three seasons in the Serie A. After a year with Genoa, he has played the last two seasons with Sassuolo. His career in professional football started in Lokomotiva in 2009 before returning to Dynamo Zagreb, the club where he played in the ranks, to win four leagues (2010, 2011, 2012, and 2013) and two Cups (2011 and 2012).[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Jordan McGhee - Middlesbrough (loan with option to buy)

[article]BORO have signed defender Jordan McGhee on a season-long loan from Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian.

The 19-year-old, a regular in the Scotland U21 side, has made 58 first team appearances at Tynecastle.

Born in East Kilbride on the other side of the country, McGhee has been with Hearts since 2007 when he joined their youth system making his debut as a 16-year-old.

He is initially expected to train with Boro’s U21s as he tries to work his way through to Premier League level.

Boro hold an option to convert the deal to a permanent one.

McGhee has made 16 appearances for the Scottish U21s, the most recent two as captain and has scored four career goals, all of which have come in Hearts victories – against Aberdeen, Queen of the South, Falkirk, and Arbroath.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Lee Tomlin - Bristol City (reportedly £2 million)

[article]City have sealed the return of last season's loan star Lee Tomlin, who has signed for an undisclosed fee from Premier League side AFC Bournemouth.

The 27-year-old attacker has passed a medical at the Failand training ground and put pen to paper on a three-year contract, tying him to the club until the summer of 2019.

Tomlin scored six times in 18 appearances at the tail end of the 2015/16 campaign, playing a key role in helping steer City away from the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone.

Head coach Lee Johnson told Bristol City Player HD: "We're delighted to welcome Lee back to Ashton Gate. Credit has to go to the Board for their efforts in getting this deal done.

"I believe we've signed the most talented player at Championship level in terms of ability. He was fantastic for us last season and I believe his best football is ahead of him.

"He does things every day in training that make you smile - you think how on earth has he done that?

"Hopefully it's a statement of intent. It shows the kind of football we want to play.

"I'm sure everyone will be pleased with it and, who knows, it might just bring a few more supporters through the turnstiles into the new-look Ashton Gate, increasing our already superb fanbase."

Tomlin began his career with Rushden & Diamonds, making 197 appearances and scoring 38 times.

Peterborough United took him into League One in August 2010 and he played a key role in their promotion to the Championship in his maiden campaign with the club.

A total of 43 goals in 156 games for the Posh saw Middlesbrough come calling in 2013/14, initially on loan before the switch became permanent.

Bournemouth snapped up Tomlin in the summer of 2015 following their promotion to the Premier League, giving the forward his first chance in the top flight.

But chances were few and far between at the Vitality Stadium, allowing City the opportunity to loan in the maverick attacker.

It proved a match made in heaven as Tomlin lit up Ashton Gate with some sparkling displays, including a memorable goal in the 6-0 drubbing of Bolton Wanderers.

Tomlin now begins a new chapter in his career with a three-year deal signed and sealed in BS3.[/article]

 

[Oncy]

Great thread and great work as always Binny.
Your work every year has completely stopped me looking at any other football sites

 

[King Binny]

Matt Philips - West Brom (reportedly £5.5 million)

[article]ALBION have confirmed the Club's first new signing of the summer transfer window with the arrival of Matt Phillips from Queen's Park Rangers.

The 25-year-old Scottish international has agreed a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee with the details tied up in time for Phillips to join his new team mates for the pre-season fitness camp in Austria.

Head Coach Tony Pulis said: "We're really pleased to have Matty on board. This is a great chance for him to show everyone he belongs in the top-flight of English football."

Technical Director Nick Hammond said: "I think it's fair to say Matt has been on the radar for a period of time and we're very pleased to have finally got his signature.

"He's a great acquisition because he adds to the versatility within the group. He gives us both wide positions and is also able to play as a central striker.

"We're absolutely delighted to welcome Matt to the club."[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Mike van der Hoorn - Swansea (undisclosed fee, reportedly €2.5 million)

[article]Swansea City have made their second signing in as many days after completing a deal for Ajax defender Mike van der Hoorn for an undisclosed fee.

The 23-year-old, who arrives the day after Leroy Fer joined the club, has penned a three-year contract at the Liberty following a successful medical.

His arrival bolsters head coach Francesco Guidolin’s centre-back options, which already include captain Ashley Williams, Federico Fernandez and Jordi Amat, while Kyle Bartley has joined Leeds United on loan for the remainder of the season.

Having started his career off with Utrecht, for whom he was named Player of the Year in 2013, van der Hoorn was snapped up by Ajax shortly after.

It proved a successful switch as he lifted the Eredivisie title in his first season before finishing runners up in the two following campaigns.

He made 43 appearances – scoring three goals - in three years for the Amsterdam club, while he has netted ten times in 90 appearances since making his professional debut in 2011.

On the international front, van der Hoorn was called up by Holland in 2013 though he is yet to win his first cap.

He has, however, represented his country at youth level with van der Hoorn part of the side that reached the Uefa European Under-21 Championship semi-final three years ago.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Mohamed Elyounoussi - FC Basel (reportedly €3.2 million)

Norwegian forward from Molde FC.

Anthony Ujah - Liaoning FC (reportedly €10.5 million)

[article]Nigerian striker Anthony Ujah is set to join Chinese first division club Liaoning FC from Werder Bremen.

The German Bundesliga side said on its website that the clubs have agreed a fee for the 25-year-old, who is expected to have a medical imminently.

Ujah joined Bremen from Cologne in May 2015 and scored 14 goals in 35 games.

The forward, who has six Nigeria caps, courted controversy at Cologne when he pulled the horns of the club's goat mascot after scoring a goal.[/article]

Fabricio Coloccini - San Lorenzo (free transfer)

[article]Fabricio Coloccini will return home to Argentina to join San Lorenzo after eight years with Newcastle United, with the north-east club announcing their captain’s contract had been terminated by mutual consent.

The move back to his home country has been long rumoured, with a move to the Primera División club mooted as far back as November 2013 when Coloccini said: “I would like to return as soon as possible.”

Coloccini joined Newcastle from Deportivo La Coruña in 2008, shortly before making his debut against Manchester United in a 1-1 draw in a season-opener at Old Trafford.

He made 275 appearances for the club and became club captain for the 2011-12 season.

The managing director, Lee Charnley, said: “It is rare in football these days that a player gives such length of service to one club and I would like to thank Colo for his contribution to Newcastle United since he joined us before the start of the 2008-09 season.

“In the eight years he has been with us, Colo has become a firm friend and colleague to many players and staff, past and present, who I know will miss him. We wish him all the very best for his future career.”[/article]

Andrija Zivkovic - Benfica (free transfer)

19 yr old winger from Partizan Belgrade. 5 yr contract.

 

[King Binny]

Aaron Mooy - Huddersfield (loan)

[article]Huddersfield Town has today completed the signing of Australian international midfielder Aaron Mooy on a season-long loan from Manchester City, pending international clearance.

The 25 year-old, who joined the Premier League club from Australian A-League side Melbourne City last week, has joined on loan for the entire 2016/17 Sky Bet Championship campaign.

Sydney-born Aaron, who stands at 5’ 11” tall, is an attack-minded central midfield player.

He has scored five goals in 16 caps for the Australian national side and arrives having set a new A-League record of 20 assists in the 2015/16 campaign.

Mooy, who also holds a Dutch passport through his mother’s heritage, will wear the number 10 shirt during his time at Huddersfield Town.

Huddersfield Town Head Coach David Wagner welcomed Aaron to the Club:

“Aaron is a very interesting, exciting player who our fans may know as he played well against England before the start of Euro 2016.

“He is an offensive central midfield player who fills the position left by Emyr Huws’ departure at the end of the season,

“It is also a bonus that Aaron has a background in England, having grown up here whilst at Bolton Wanderers. He was very young at that point and, now he has better experience, he wants to show his quality in English football.

“The opportunity to loan Aaron came around very quickly once his move to Manchester City and I am happy we could move quickly to do this. We have completed some very interesting permanent transfers, but sometimes the loan market also offers exciting quality like Aaron.”

Aaron started his career in New South Wales, but moved to England in 2006 to join the Bolton Wanderers Academy. As a Bolton player he featured in the Under-20 World Cup for Australia in 2009 before rejecting a new contract with the Trotters a year later in favour of regular First Team football.

Mooy subsequently joined Scottish Premiership club St. Mirren that October and went on to score twice in 29 appearances before leaving in the summer of 2012.

At that point, Aaron moved back to his native Australia to join new A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers. He helped his new side win the league in the Club’s debut campaign, with Sydney reaching the Championship Grand Final in both of Aaron’s seasons.

It was as a Sydney player that Aaron made his full Australia debut in December 2012, scoring during his first cap; a free-kick against Guam.

Having scored five times in 54 appearances for Western Sydney Wanderers, Aaron moved to rivals Melbourne City in May 2014 and went on to produce his best football at club level.

He was named the Club’s ‘Player of the Year’ and finished top scorer in his first season, combined with eight assists.

Things got even better last season, when he recorded a league record 20 assists and maintained the Club’s ‘Player of the Year’ title.

In total he netted an impressive 24 goals in 58 appearances for Melbourne before joining Manchester City in the summer, taking his career total to 31 goals in 141 domestic appearances.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Lennie Lawrence - Cardiff City (Assistant Coach)
Ryland Morgans - Cardiff City (Performance Director)

[article]Cardiff City Football Club is pleased to announce that the new first-team coaching structure has now been finalised.

As such, we are delighted to welcome Lennie Lawrence back to Cardiff City as Assistant Coach to Paul Trollope. James Rowberry will share the Assistant Coach title having impressed in his role as First Team Coach at the club since October 2014.

Lennie was Cardiff City manager between 2002 and 2005, famously guiding us to the Division 2 (now League One) Play-Off Final victory over Queens Park Rangers in 2003. With his vast experience in the game, knowledge of the Club and having previously worked with Paul Trollope, it is felt that having Lennie back in the Welsh Capital will be of huge benefit to the coaching setup and playing staff.

Scott Young will henceforth take up the dual role of Academy Defence Coach and Club Ambassador. The Club would like to thank Scott for his role within the first-team coaching setup during the past eighteen months and is delighted that he will continue offering his experience to our younger players as part of the Club’s overarching structure.

In addition to the appointment of Lennie, Cardiff City FC is pleased to confirm the appointment of Dr Ryland Morgans as Performance Director.

Ryland will bring with him a wealth of experience from the Champions League and Europa League having previously worked for Liverpool FC. He also worked at Fulham FC in the Premier League, whilst has enjoyed a number of promotions with various EFL clubs. Ryland is currently Head of Performance for the senior Wales national side, having previously worked under Gary Speed and now Chris Coleman, alongside Cardiff City Head Coach, Paul Trollope.

Ryland gained his BA (Hons), MSc and PhD from Cardiff Metropolitan University in science and football and has also held the UEFA Pro Coaching Licence since 2010. Ryland will oversee all first-team performance, fitness and medical matters, working closely with Head of Fitness & Conditioning, Lee Southernwood and the Club’s experienced medical and fitness staff.

Furthermore, Martyn Margetson has agreed a new contract to stay at the football club whilst continuing his role as Goalkeeping Coach with the Welsh national side.

Speaking about the appointments of Ryland and Lennie, Executive Director & CEO Ken Choo said: "We are delighted to bring people with the experience Dr Ryland and Lennie have to the Club and hope that they can play an important role in helping us achieve our ambition of promotion back to the Premier League.

“We have put together a strong back-room coaching team this summer which we believe will help maximise the potential within our playing staff."

Head Coach Paul Trollope added: “I am delighted to finalise my back room staff ahead of the forthcoming season.

“We've worked very hard over the past month to secure their services and I feel it's a highly experienced, driven and ambitious staff with complementary expertise and attributes to move the club forward both on and off the pitch.”[/article]

Frédéric Gounongbe - Cardiff City (free transfer)

[article]Cardiff City can confirm that forward Frédéric Gounongbe has joined the Club from Belgian side KVC Westerlo, following the expiration of his contract.

Benin-international Frédéric joins the Bluebirds following two years at De Kemphanen, having scored twenty-two goals in the Jupiler Pro League. He has agreed a two-year deal in the Welsh Capital City.

The twenty-eight year old centre-forward becomes Cardiff City’s second signing of the summer, joining Lex Immers at Cardiff City Stadium ahead of the coming campaign. Frédéric will wear the number nine jersey for 2016/17 campaign.

Speaking exclusively to Cardiff City Player HD, Frédéric said: “Obviously I’m delighted to be joining a club like Cardiff City and look forward to playing in our fantastic stadium.

“Coming to the UK and playing my football here is a big challenge and I’m excited about performing in front of the Bluebirds fans. Having the club’s famous number nine shirt is a big responsibility for me, but I can’t wait to start pre-season and giving my best for the club.”

Executive Director & CEO Ken Choo added: “We would like to welcome Frédéric to Cardiff City Football Club. We delighted to be able to bring Frédéric into the fold, who will add to our already accomplished squad.

“So far we have made two additions to our first team, Frédéric and Lex, who will play a big part in our upcoming Sky Bet Championship campaign. Frédéric will wear the coveted number nine (9) jersey, and complement Lex, who has changed to his traditional number ten (10) shirt for the new season.” [/article]

Kenneth Zohore - Cardiff City (undisclosed fee)

[article]Cardiff City Football Club is pleased to confirm that Kenneth Zohore has, subject to international clearance, signed a permanent deal with the Bluebirds following his short loan spell with us last season.

The Danish U21 striker, who signs from KV Kortrijk, has agreed a three year contract for an undisclosed fee, running until June 2019.

Kenneth made his debut against MK Dons back in February, going on to score against Brentford and Bolton Wanderers in two of our final four 2015/16 Sky Bet Championship fixtures.

The twenty-two year-old becomes City’s third signing of the summer, joining Lex Immers and Frédéric Gounongbe at Cardiff City Stadium.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Moi Gomez - Sporting Gijon (free transfer)

Burgui - Sporting Gijon (loan)

Michael Santos - Malaga (undisclosed fee)

[article]The Uruguayan striker Michael Santos is incorporated into the Malaguista squad until the 2019/20 season and will be presented on Wednesday at 11.30 in La Rosaleda’s press room. After that, at 12.30, the player will attend the MCF Camp at the Malagueño, Football Federation.

Michael Nicolás Santos Rosadilla was born on 13th March 1993 (23 years old) in Montevideo, the Uruguay capital. The striker, who’s 1’74m tall and who weighs 68 kilos, developed his career at River Plate between 2010 and 2016. His best scoring years in Uruguay’s First Division – Opening and Closing Tournaments – was in 2014/15, when he notched up 28 goals in 29 games played. Last season, 2015/16, he managed another dozen within the domestic championship, plus another four in seven matches in the prestigious Libertadores Cup.

Pre-selected for Uruguay for the recent Centennial Cup America, which was won by Chile in the USA, Santos has twice been an international for his home squad. He debuted against Costa Rica on 9 September 2015 (a 1-0 win for the Costa Ricans) and played in the final minutes of the Ecuador-Uruguay qualifying match (2-1) for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, played in Quito on 12 November last year.

Amongst his achievements is that he’s the titleholder of Canada’s Pan American Games (2015) with the Uruguayan Under 22s, playing in five matches (one goal) and scooping he trophy alongside his teammate Fede Ricca.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Roman Neustadter - Fenerbahce (free transfer)

[article]In the space of three days, Fenerbahce have announced the exit of key player, Luis Nani and the arrival of two outfield players to the club.

The latest of the Turkish club’s recruits is Schalke and Russian international, Roman Neustädter. The defender has been linked with a move away from the Bundesliga club since the opening of the transfer window, and it was confirmed this morning by the English edition of Fenerbahce’s twitter that the deal was finally complete.

Neustädter all but confirmed his move away from Gelsenkirchen two days ago, tweeting a photo with the caption ‘next stop: new club’. The 28-year-old Russian international returned home early from the European Championships in France as Russia were eliminated in the group stage.

Neustadter was very much at the heart of Schalke’s defence last season, despite sometimes being recognised as a defensive midfielder, he featured in the centre of defence for 33 of the Royal Blues’ games in all competitions last season.

He made 30 appearances in Schalke’s fifth place finish in the Bundesliga. The defensive minded player can, as stated, be used as both a part of the back four, and a crucial part of a midfield. He picked up just four yellow cards in the Bundesliga last season, an admirable level of discipline for a defender over a season.

Alongside the signing of Neustädter, Fenerbahce announced the arrival of former PSG full-back, Gregory van der Weil. It is evident where sari kanarya are focusing their transfer activities, strengthening the aging area of their defence.

This leaves Schalke without the services of their two main centre backs of last season, as Joel Matip departed for Liverpool before the end of last season.

Matip and Neustädter had a combined number of 64 appearances between them in the Bundesliga last season, and the Royal Blues will be eager to recruit and fill the gaps that the two stars have left at the club.[/article]

Henrikh Mkhitaryan - Man Utd (reportedly £26 million)

[article]Manchester United is delighted to announce that Henrikh Mkhitaryan has completed his transfer from Borussia Dortmund. Henrikh joins on a four-year contract with the option to extend for a further year.

Mkhitaryan, 27, made 140 appearances and scored 41 goals for Borussia Dortmund after joining them in 2013. Last season he scored 23 goals and registered an impressive 32 assists across all competitions. Henrikh was voted Bundesliga Player of the Season for 2015/16 in a poll of his fellow professionals, and he was named in the Team of the Season following votes by the players’ union in Germany, VDV.

The midfielder is Armenia’s all-time top scorer, with 19 goals in 59 appearances since his international debut in January 2007. Henrikh captains his national team and has received the Armenian Footballer of the Year award on five occasions.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan said: "I am very proud to join Manchester United, this move is a dream come true for me. I am excited to play for a club with such an illustrious history and hope to be part of it for a long time. I thank the trust the club and Jose Mourinho have put in me. Finally, I believe playing for such a great club honours my father’s memory, and the inspiration and drive he gave to me when I was young."

José Mourinho said: "Henrikh is a very talented footballer who has been in such prolific form for both his club and his country. He is a real team player with great skill, vision and also has a good eye for goal. I am delighted he has chosen to sign for United. I believe he will make an impact on the team very quickly as his style of play is suited to the Premier League. We are all looking forward to working with him."[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Kevin Diks - Fiorentina (reportedly €3 million)

[article]Vitesse Arnhem right-back Kevin Diks has joined Italian Serie A side Fiorentina on a five-year contract.

The Italian side presented their new signing at a press conference after Diks passed his medical examination and penned a contract with the club. The transfer fee is thought to be around €3 million euros.

Diks is a product of the football academy in Vitesse and has played for the club since 2005, coming through the youth set up. He made his debut for the first team away against PEC Zwolle in 2015, eventually losing the match 2-1, but cemented his place over the course of the season. After a number of impressive displays Diks signed a new contract until 2018, but Vitesse have now decided to cash in.

Vitesse Technical Director, Mo Allach, spoke about the transfer on the official website, saying “This is a transfer that works out well for everyone. We are happy with the deal and for Kevin it is a wonderful step. Also it is a good signal that we ourselves can sell educated youth players for an attractive amount to a big club abroad. That makes us proud.”

Kevin also gave his reaction to the transfer thanking Vitesse and their fans for the time he spent at the club. He told the official website “It all went very fast. From the summer of 2014, one highlight followed the other. I remember my first match at the Gelredome. It was the practice match against Chelsea FC, when I played for the first time with my last name on my back. My debut in the away match against PEC Zwolle, my first goal, and so on. I’ll always hold a soft spot for Vitesse and supporters. It was a difficult decision. I want to thank the supporters from Vitesse and all employees and volunteers. I’ll never forget what they did for me. ”

The nineteen-year-old right-back made sixty-three appearances for the Vitesse first team scoring two goals and contributing four assists. Fiorentina qualified for Europa League after finishing a disappointing fifth in Serie A last season.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Wout Weghorst - AZ Alkmaar (reportedly €1.5 million)

[article]AZ Alkmaar have begun planning for life without Vincent Janssen with the signing of Wout Weghorst from Heracles Almelo.

Weghorst will join AZ on a four-year contract, with an option for an additional year, after both clubs reached an agreement on a transfer fee thought to be in the region of €1.5 million euros. AZ have coveted Weghorst for some time, scouting him on several occasions. However, talks had been difficult with Heracles reluctant to sell the striker, but this week an agreement was finally reached to allow the player to move to the AFAS Stadion.

The arrival of Weghorst almost certainly means that Vincent Janssen, the Eredivisie top scorer last season, will depart for England following firm interest from London clubs Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. Although a deal hasn’t yet been reached for Janssen it is widely expected to be completed in the coming weeks with Weghorst signed to be his successor.

The Heracles striker, who joined from FC Emmen in July 2014, has scored twenty-four goals in seventy-four appearances, netting twelve goals in thirty-three appearances last season.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Éver Banega - Inter Milan (free transfer)

[article]F.C. Internazionale is delighted to confirm that Ever Banega will wear the Nerazzurri shirt for the next three seasons.

The Argentina midfielder has racked up 299 league and cup appearances over the course of his career in Argentina and Spain, bagging 22 goals in the process.

Banega has acquired a wealth of international experience, both in South America with Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys and in Europe with Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla. He has won the last two Europa Leagues and lifted the Copa Libertadores in 2007.

A charismatic, ball-playing midfielder, Ever has earned 47 Argentina caps and scored four goals for the national side.

He won the U20 World Cup in 2007 and an Olympic gold medal in 2008.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Mikael Ndjoli, Mark Travers - Bournemouth (free transfers)

[article]AFC Bournemouth have completed the signings of highly-rated young duo Mark Travers and Mikael Ndjoli for the club’s under-21s squad.

18-year-old Ndjoli has penned an initial one-year deal from Millwall, where the striker impressed with 20 goals in 24 games across the Lions’ youth ranks.

Goalkeeper Travers, 17, who has played for the Republic of Ireland under-18s, has also signed a one-year deal after impressing the club during a trial period.

The pair have joined up with Stephen Purches under-21s squad and the manager was delighted to secure both players who he has labelled as ‘exciting prospects.’

"Mikael came in for a game we organised in the summer,” Purches explained.

"A lot of people were watching that game and he really grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, he impressed us straight away.

"His stats from last year at Millwall prove he can score goals, they told us he was really unfortunate not to get a professional contract. They’re producing plenty of good young players at Millwall for their first-team, he was very unfortunate.

"But in our pre-season so far he’s really grabbed the opportunity, he’s looked very sharp and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do – he’s an exciting talent.

"As for Mark, we were recommended him for his form over in Ireland and he came in here and made a real impression.

"It wasn’t just myself who was impressed, but everybody from the first team staff. He’s a lovely lad and he’s got a lot of attributes for someone so young.

"Hopefully we can give him a chance to grow here in the long-term amongst a group of really hungry and talented goalkeepers, who will push each other all the way through."[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Alberto Gilardino - Empoli (free transfer)

[article]Empoli have announced the signing of Alberto Gilardino from Palermo.

Former AC Milan and Fiorentina striker Gilardino, 34, has signed a two-year contract with the Serie A club.

A statement on Empoli's official website read: "Empoli announces that it has acquired outright the player Alberto Gilardino. The attacker has signed a contract until 30 June 2018."

Gilardino had joined Palermo from Guangzhou Evergrande last year and scored 10 goals to help the club avoid relegation.

He had posted a message on his Twitter profile in recent days indicating that he was not happy to be leaving Palermo.

He wrote: "My dear Palermo fans, I've come to write these few lines because my adventure with your colours has come to an end, although this was most certainly not my decision.

"I wanted to thank you, because in spite of the initial scepticism due to matters of the past, you knew how to look beyond and come to know me, as I did with you.

"You supported and encouraged me for the whole duration of the season and I always felt your love. I've been very struck by the affection you've showed me on social media and in the words of your banners, and I'm ever so grateful for that."[/article]

Rob Green - Leeds Utd (free transfer)

[article]We are delighted to announce the signing of goalkeeper Robert Green on a one-year deal.

The former England international was a free agent following his departure from Championship rivals Queens Park Rangers earlier this summer.

Green, a vastly-experienced ‘keeper with over 600 career appearances to his name, becomes our fourth new addition of the summer following the arrivals of Marcus Antonsson, Kyle Bartley and Hadi Sacko.

The 36-year-old will now link up with his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp in Ireland ahead of next week’s friendlies with Shelbourne and Shamrock Rovers.

“It’s exciting to be here,” Green told leedsunited.com . “This is one of those opportunities where the first phone call asking if you want to come and play for Leeds is a very quick one. It was a ‘yes’ straightaway.

“I’m thrilled to be here. I’ve spoken to the manager and I know what he’s got in store and what he’s planning.

“What he said really resonated with me and re-affirmed my feelings towards this opportunity.

“After long wait over the summer, the last few days have happened very quickly and now I’m ready to go. I can’t wait to get going.

“I’ll join the squad as one of the older members of the group and the role I’ll have to play with my experience really appeals to me.

“I’m here for however the manager needs me. He’s got a young team of players, who, he says with the right guidance, will really flourish."

Green, born in Chertsey, progressed through the youth system at Norwich City and made his senior debut for the club in 1999.

Two years later he established himself as the Canaries’ first-choice ‘keeper and went on to make 241 appearances during eight seasons with the Carrow Road outfit, earning international honours with England along the way.

Green also won Premier League promotion with Norwich before making the switch to West Ham United in 2006. 241 appearances and further international honours followed during his six-year stint with the Hammers, before Green joined Premier League newcomers QPR in 2012.

During his four years at Loftus Road, Green experienced both promotion and relegation to and from the Premier League and amassed 128 appearances for the club prior to his release in May.[/article]

Matt Grimes - Leeds Utd (loan)

[article]We are delighted to announce the signing of Swansea City midfielder Matt Grimes on a season-long loan.

Grimes, an England Under-21s international, follows team-mate Kyle Bartley in making the switch to Elland Road this summer and becomes our fifth new addition of the current transfer window.

The 20-year-old, who spent time on loan in the Championship with Blackburn Rovers last season, will now join United’s pre-season training camp in Ireland after putting pen to paper on Wednesday evening.

“It’s a great feeling,” Grimes told leedsunited.com. “This was a no-brainer for me – it's such a big club and we’re looking to have a really strong season.

“I’m really excited to come here and play football – that’s the aim for me this season. Coming here gives me a really good chance to do that at a high level.

“Garry Monk and Pep Clotet were really good to me when I was at Swansea. They helped me a lot and nurtured me when I was a young player coming through, so it will be great to work with them again.

“I’m really looking forward to getting going. I can’t wait to get to Ireland, start training and get some games under my belt – which is what pre-season is all about.”

Grimes was originally taken to Swansea by new United boss Garry Monk in January 2015 after catching the eye with hometown club Exeter City.

The midfielder was crowned the Grecians’ Player of the Year following his debut season at St James Park and, despite completing his move to the Liberty Stadium midway through the following campaign, Grimes' displays earned him a place in the 2014/15 League Two PFA Team of the Year.

His first international honours also came during his year-and-a-half in the Exeter first-team, earning the first of his 13 England Under-20s caps.

Grimes made his Swansea debut in the Premier League as a late substitute in April 2015’s 3-1 victory over Hull City and went on to score his first senior goal for the club in last season's League Cup win at home to York City.

Earlier this year he joined Championship rivals Blackburn Rovers for the remainder of the campaign and went on to make 12 league appearances for the Ewood Park side.[/article]

Kemar Roofe - Leeds Utd (undisclosed fee, reportedly )

[article]We are delighted to announce the signing of forward Kemar Roofe on a four-year deal from Oxford United for an undisclosed fee.

The highly-rated 23-year-old, who won the League Two Player of the Year award last season, becomes our sixth new addition of the summer following the arrivals of Marcus Antonsson, Kyle Bartley, Hadi Sacko, Robert Green and Matt Grimes. Roofe finalised his switch at Elland Road on Thursday morning and will now head to Ireland to join his new team-mates at their pre-season training camp.

“It’s an amazing feeling,” Roofe told leedsunited.com. “I don’t think I’ll actually realise how big the club is until the first game of the season, but I’m amazed by what I’ve seen so far. “As soon as I found out, I was really pleased to be a part of a club like this. The club has a great history and a bright future as well. “You can tell there’s something exciting happening here with the signings we’re making – they’re all good signings. “I can’t wait to start getting to know the squad and playing football again.”

Asked about his style of play, Roofe added: “I like to be entertaining – I like to play football how I would like to watch football. The fans want to be entertained, see creative play and goals. “I think I can play in several positions and I wouldn’t like to nail myself down to one place. I like to have the ball in the attacking third and try to create something. “I’ve worked hard on my finishing and scoring goals is something I enjoy. I was fortunate to do that a lot last season.”

The Walsall-born attacker, who can also operate on the wing, played a key role as Oxford achieved promotion to League One last term and were Football League Trophy Runners-up at Wembley. Roofe netted 26 goals from 49 matches in all appearances during the last campaign and secured himself a place in the League Two Team of the Year at April’s annual Football League Awards.

He initially joined Oxford on loan in 2015 after progressing through the ranks at Premier League side West Brom. During his time at the Hawthorns, Roofe also had a loan stint at Icelandic club Vikingur Reykjavik before returning to England for spells at Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town and Colchester United. He shot to prominence upon his switch to the Kassam Stadium, though, and the U’s moved to make the deal permanent last summer after hitting six goals from 16 matches. Roofe enjoyed the finest season of his career to date during 2015/16 and caught the eye during the opening weeks of the campaign with a 40-yard strike in Oxford’s League Cup victory over Championship side Brentford. He went on to net an impressive FA Cup brace against Premier League outfit Swansea City earlier this year and bagged his first hat-trick in a League Two win against Dagenham and Redbridge back in March.[/article]

Ladislav Krejci - Bologna (undisclosed fee, reportedly €4 million)

[article]Czech Republic midfielder Ladislav Krejci has agreed to move form Sparta Prague to Bologna in the Serie A.

Both clubs confirmed the transfer on Thursday. Details were not given.

Bologna says Krejci was signed "on a permanent basis." It says it considers Krejci "one of the most interesting talents born in the 1990s to come out of Eastern Europe."

The 24-year-old Krejci leaves Sparta after seven seasons and 131 matches in the top Czech league, scoring 25 times.

Krejci has played 26 internationals for the Czech Republic, and scored four goals. He was a starter in all three group-stage matches at the European Championship in France.[/article]

Jeremie Boga - Granada (loan)

[artilcle]Granada have completed the signing of Chelsea youngster Jeremie Boga on a one-year loan deal, the Spanish club have announced.

Boga, 19, moves to Granada after spending last season in his native France on loan at Rennes, where he scored four goals in 29 appearances in all competitions, of which just eight were starts.

"I am very excited to start working with Granada and to play in the Spanish league," Boga told Granada's official website on his arrival. "I hope to help the team as much as possible and to continue growing as a player and enjoy the new project of Granada."

The Frenchman joined Chelsea's academy from ASPTT Marseille in 2008, winning the UEFA Youth League, FA Youth Cup and U21 Premier League before moving to Rennes on loan last summer, and is contracted at Stamford Bridge until June 2019.

His temporary move to Granada sees Boga follow in the footsteps of fellow Chelsea attacking midfielder Charly Musonda, who will also play in La Liga next season for Real Betis.[/article]

Diego Jota - Atletico Madrid (reportedly €7.2 million)

[article]Diogo José Teixeira Silva, Diogo Jota, is now an Atlético player. The club has reached an agreement with Paços de Ferreira for the signing of the 19-year-old U21 international Portuguese player for the next five seasons.

The winger comes to Atlético de Madrid after finishing a great season in the Portuguese League in which he scored 12 goals and was named best young-player of the competition. The winger was very satisfied with his arrival: "Being part of a club as big as this one makes me feel proud."

For his part, José Luis Pérez Caminero, Sporting Director of the club, praised the conditions of the new red and white player. "He is a young player, very fast and vertical, carries the ball very well and has a great outrun. Diogo has a great projection and stands out for his one-on-one and his versatility, because he can play in several positions," he noted.

The footballer will begin to train with the first team on Thursday, 7th July, in Majadahonda.[/article]

 

[King Binny]

Victor Valdes - Middlesbrough (free transfer)

[article]Middlesbrough have completed the signing of World Cup winning goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Boro beat off stiff competition to the land the Barcelona legend after an 18-month spell with Manchester United came to an end earlier this summer.

The 34-year-old brings a wealth of experience, having made over 500 appearances for Barcelona during a trophy-laden career that has included a World Cup winners medal in 2010, a Euro 2012 winners medal, three Champions League successes, and six La Liga titles.

The capture of Valdes is seen as a real coup for the club, and Head Coach Aitor Karanka said: "You can't imagine how delighted I am because it's not usual to bring players like him to recently promoted teams.

"I'm really pleased because he is really committed. All the the conversations we've had he knows why he is here and he is coming to add to what we have.

"He knows how strong this group is. It's a privilege for us to be able to bring a player like this to the club."

Valdes, who has signed a two-year contract with the club, becomes the fifth signing of the summer, following Viktor Fischer, Bernardo Espinosa, Marten de Roon, and young central defender Jordan McGhee into the club. [/article]

 

[King Binny]

Matias Kranevitter - Sevilla (loan)

[article]Atletico Madrid midfielder Matias Kranevitter is set to spend next season on loan with Sevilla after the Liga clubs announced a deal.

Sevilla have reached an agreement with Atletico Madrid for the loan signing of Argentine midfielder Matias Kranevitter, subject to a medical.

Kranevitter made the switch to La Liga from River Plate in August 2015 before immediately returning to the club on loan.

He switched to Atleti in January and made eight La Liga appearances as they finished third in the league and also reached the Champions League final, where they were beaten on penalties by rivals Real Madrid.

The 23-year-old is now set to continue his development with Sevilla for the 2016-17 campaign, with both clubs confirming an agreement had been reached.

Kranevitter, who was part of the Argentina squad that reached the Copa America final, will undergo a medical on his return to Spain before signing his contract. [/article]

 

[King Binny]

Sandro Ramirez - Malaga (free transfer)

[article]Sandro Ramirez is now a member of Málaga CF. The 20-year-old striker, a native of the Canary Islands, is leaving FC Barcelona to begin a new stage in his career that will allow him to continue playing in the top flight of Spanish football.

Ramírez, commonly known as Sandro, came up through the youth ranks of FC Barcelona after coming from his native Las Palmas. He became a full-fledged member of the first team last season.

In total, Sandro made 32 appearances for manager Luis Enrique and scored seven goals.

First team Technical Secretary Robert Fernandez had recently announced that the Club would help him leave in order to give him an opportunity to progress. FC Barcelona has expressed its sincerest thanks to the player for his professionalism and dedication while at the Club.

Sandro starred at La Masia thanks to his speed, versatility, and goal scoring instinct, attributes that helped him rise to the first team in the 2014/15 season. He made a big splash when debuted on 31 August 2014 against Villarreal at El Madrigal, scoring the winning goal in a 1–0 FC Barcelona triumph.

Sandro had initially come to Barça from Las Palmas in 2009 to play for the Under-16 B team, and from there he rose steadily up to the first team.

The 2015/16 season was his first as a mainstay on the first team. Sandro made 20 appearances and scored three goals, all in the Copa del Rey.

His playing time dwindled as the season went on and, in the team's stretch drive, he went down with an injury that kept him from contributing.

Now, however, Sandro will have a fresh beginning.[/article]

Christoph Daum - Romania (Head Coach)

Romania have appointed German coach Christoph Daum after being eliminated from the European Championship without winning a game.

Daum replaces former Romania legend Anghel Iordanescu, who stepped down from his third stint as coach after his team's exit from Euro 2016.

Romania finished last in a group that included France, Switzerland and Albania.

The 62-year-old Daum won the Bundesliga with Stuttgart in 1992, the Austrian league with Austria Vienna in 2003 and the Turkish league times -- with Besiktas in 1995 and Fenerbahce in 2004 and 2005.

He has not managed since leaving Bursaspor in 2014. Romania will be his first international job.

Daum was widely expected to be appointed Germany coach after the team's disappointing Euro 2000, until he subsequently admitted to cocaine use in the past.

 

[rurikbird]

Christoph Daum looks like Dracula. Perfect fit for Romania.

 

[King Binny]

Brad Jones - Feyenoord (free transfer)

[article]Former Socceroos goalkeeper Brad Jones has joined Dutch powerhouse Feyenoord on a one-year deal pending a medical.

The 34-year-old free agent had been linked with an A-League move but has opted to remain in the Netherlands after a successful six-month stint with NEC Nijmegen.

Feyenoord technical director Martin van Geel said Jones was in contention to play regularly, after number one Kenneth Vermeer suffered a year-ending Achilles injury earlier this week.

“After Kenneth Vermeer’s serious injury we had to act fast, also because Warner Hahn is out of action for some time too,” van Geel said.

“We only have two more fit keepers in Pär Hansson and Justin Bijlow, not enough in our view to start a season with lots of league, cup and Europa League matches.

“That’s why we immediately started looking for an experienced goalie and we found one in Brad.”

Jones is expected to sign the contract on Friday following a medical in the morning.

The Perth-born shot-stopper had been training with former club Liverpool in recent weeks.

He impressed in 17 appearances for NEC last term, after joining the midtable Eredivisie outfit in January.

“Brad Jones brings a lot of know-how with him,” van Geel said.

“Thanks to the half year at N.E.C. he knows the Eredivisie and he also has international experience, due to his Liverpool period among other things.

“Brad really wants to come to Feyenoord and we are delighted he is coming to strengthen us within such a short space of time.”[/article]