Milan Baros - Slovan Liberc (undisclosed fee)
Alex Telles - Porto (reportedly €6.5 million)
[article]Alex Telles, aged
23,
left fullback, is the new reinforcement of FC Porto, and
signed a contract valid for the next five seasons, with a release fee of 40 million euros. The Brazilian defender, signed
from the Turkish team Galatasaray, will be at the service of Nuno Espírito Santo for this afternoon’s training session, and already expressed his happiness about wearing the blue and white jersey, with which he hopes to win titles and become a part of the history of the club.
“For me, this is a dream come true; I’ve been following FC Porto since I was a kid, in Brazil. I am extremely pleased to be here and I want do my best, so that, every day, I can show why I was signed”, the defender stated, talking to
www.fcporto.pt and Porto Canal.
Before joining the blue and white squad, the player visited Estádio do Dragão, passing by the gallery next to the locker-rooms, full of images of great victories and legends of the club, which allowed him to know a “little more about the greatness of the club”.
“I am eager for titles, to build a beautiful story. Just now I was talking to my family and telling them I don’t want to just fly by the club, I want to leave a legacy here, a history, and, who knows, to add my picture there, after I become champion, which is my goal.”
Alex Telles, who believes to be demanding on himself,
describes himself as a fullback with an appetite for the attack, who makes plenty of “assists and crosses, and has an eye for set pieces”, feels he evolved tremendously on the defence in the last three years, when he
came to European football, to join Galatasaray and then Inter Milan, where he played last season. “I’m young, I know I have a lot to evolve, but I never give up, and I will do all I can to help FC Porto”, the defender added.
After the walk through the Stadium, the player that was
considered the best fullback of Brasileirão, the Brazilian main league, in 2013 then went to the Centro de Treinos e Formação Desportiva Porto Gaia, to join the new teammates and take part in this afternoon’s training session. “I can’t wait to train with them, and tell them I’m here to do my best and help them in what they need”, Alex stated.
Alex Telles signed a contract with the blue and whites in a day full of meaning: 13, the number he has tattooed on his left arm. “It’s the day of Our Lady of Fátima, a very special day for me and my family, my parent’s wedding day, the day I signed contracts… So we’re starting with the right foot, and I hope to build a beautiful story from now on”.[/article]
Tony Sanabria - Real Betis (reportedly €7 million + 50% sell on fee)
[article]
Paraguayan striker Antonio Sanabria Arnaldo became the
seventh new signing for Real Betis this season under the command of Uruguayan coach Gustavo Poyet.
Sanabria will join on Wednesday the Betis preseason camp in Malaga once he passes the required medical examination and signs his contract with the Spanish club.
The striker moved from Italian side Roma and was on loan at Sporting Gijon last season, where he scored 11 goals.
Sanabria is the seventh signing for Betis this summer following the Algerian Aissa Mandi, Denmark’s Riza Durmisi, French Jonas Martin, Chile’s Felipe Gutierrez, the Belgian Charly Musonda and Argentine Matias Nahuel.[/article]
Ivan Piris - Monterrey (undisclosed fee)
Tomas Kalas - Fulham (loan)
[article]The Club is delighted to announce the signing of Tomas Kalas on a season long loan deal
from Chelsea.
A
centre-back who
can also operate on the right, Kalas
spent the previous 18 months on loan with Middlesbrough, playing 47 times as they reached the Championship Play-Off Final in 2014/15, before winning promotion as runners-up behind Burnley last season.
The 23-year-old began his career at his hometown club Sigma Olomouc, joining Chelsea for a reported £5.2m in the summer of 2010.
After
two seasons on loan at Dutch outfit Vitesse Arnhem,
during which time he was named Czech Republic Young Player of the Year, he made his debut for his parent club in a 2-0 League Cup win at Arsenal in October 2013.
His Premier League debut and first start for Chelsea came at Anfield later that season, with Kalas impressing at the heart of defence as the Blues won 2-0.
Ahead of the 2014/15 season he moved on loan to FC Cologne in Germany, but he joined Boro in a similar deal midway through the campaign.
Having
represented the Czech Republic at every youth level from Under-17 to Under-21, Kalas also
has a number of caps for the senior side, making his debut in November 2012 against local rivals Slovakia.[/article]
Hordur Magnusson - Bristol City (undisclosed fee)
[article]City have secured the signing of
Juventus and Icelandic international defender Hordur Magnusson for an undisclosed fee.
The
23-year-old, who
can operate in central defence or at left-back, has passed a medical and put pen to paper on a
three-year contract.
He becomes
Lee Johnson’s fourth signing of the summer and will link up with the squad in La Manga next week.
Head coach Johnson told bcfc.co.uk:
“We’ve been looking to bring him in since the end of last season, but with (loan club) Cesena reaching the play-offs and then his commitments with Iceland in Euro 2016, it has taken time to get him across to Bristol.
“I’ve shown him around Failand, Ashton Gate and the city with his family. He also met with (majority shareholder) Steve Lansdown.
“It’s a deal I’m really excited about because he has attributes to play as high as he wants, although I’m sure it will take him time to adjust to the English game.
“He’s very mobile, quick and smooth on the ball. He’s 6ft 3in and has a great left foot, and at the age of 23 has plenty of time to mature as a player.”
Chief operating officer Mark Ashton said: “Along with Lee, I’m delighted we have been able to secure the services of Hordur.
“It’s been a real team effort from a number of people at the club to get this deal done and I look forward to welcoming him to Ashton Gate.”
Born in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik, Magnusson
began life in the youth setup of Knattspyrnufelagio Fram. He was then
signed by Juventus for their Academy in 2011.
After two seasons with their Under-19s, the defender was promoted to the first team squad in 2013.
That summer he
joined Serie B side Spezia Calcio in a co-ownership agreement and made 20 appearances for the club in their play-off push.
For the past two seasons he has been on loan at Cesena, gaining both Serie A and Serie B experience.
Magnusson
has five caps for Iceland, having also played at Under-17, Under-19 and Under-21 for the Nordic nation.
His greatest moment came when he was called up for Iceland’s Euro 2016 squad, as his country embarked on their first-ever major tournament appearance.
Although the defender failed to make an appearance in France, the experience of being part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals – knocking out England along the way – will forever be etched in his memory.
Magnusson now begins a new chapter of his career in England with City, having signed a three-year deal.[/article]
Steed Malbranque - SM Caen (free transfer)
[article]Steed Malbranque will lend his deep experience to Caen's Ligue 1 campaign next season after
leaving French rivals Lyon for a move north, the Norman club said on Friday.
The Belgium-born 36-year-old can play across the midfield and spent a decade in the English Premier League with Fulham, Tottenham and Sunderland before a return to France in 2011.
"He's a very experienced boy capable of playing in three positions in midfield," Caen's sporting director Alain Caveglia said on the club's website after penning a one-year deal with the free agent.
Caen finished seventh in the French top flight last season.[/article]
Romeo Castelen - Suwon Samsung Bluewings (free transfer)
[article]
Former Western Sydney Wanderers striker Romeo Castelen has signed for powerhouse K-League club Suwon Bluewings, it was announced overnight.
The former Dutch international spent two seasons at Wanderland, scoring some spectacular goals and reinvigorating his career. The
former Feyenoord forward, 33, was released at the end of last season.[/article]
Jean-Philippe Gbamin - Mainz (reportedly £4.25 million)
[article]1. FSV Mainz 05 have completed the transfer of
France U21 international Jean-Philippe Gbamin. The
20-year-old defender has moved
from RC Lens and
signed a five year deal that will run until 2021 with the Bundesliga side on Wednesday. The clubs have agreed to not disclose the details of the transfer.
Jean-Philippe Gbamin is a
product of RC Lens’ youth academy. He signed his first professional contract in 2013 and established himself as a regular in the starting XI for the team.
The 1.86 metre tall Frenchman with Ivorian roots made 33 Ligue 1 and 58 Ligue 2 appearances for RC Lens. He has been a part of France’s youth teams from U18 level and is currently a part of the U21 squad.
“Jean-Philippe Gbamin is a young player with amazing ability who has already established himself at senior level for three years.
Despite his young age he is amazingly mature out on the pitch. He is the kind of player that Mainz typically look to sign. The long-term contract highlights that we are convinced of his potential,” said sporting director Rouven Schröder.
Head coach Martin Schmidt commented on the signing:
“Jean-Philippe Gbamin is a physical defensive midfielder, whose strengths will help our team to continue to develop. His abilities mean that he can play in any defensive position, especially as he was trained as a centre-back.”
Jean-Philippe Gbamin said: “I am happy to be here in Mainz. Mainz 05 is a club that works for me and is the right step for me at this point in my development. I can’t wait to pull on the Mainz 05 colours and support the team.” [/article]
