The summer transfer window closes today, with clubs in Europe scrambling to get deals finalized before the deadline. Follow along throughout the day as we dissect the biggest signings and rumors in the soccer world.
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Potential deals today
Less than 10 hours remain in the summer window, and there’s still much to monitor. The Premier League has the latest deadline at 6 p.m. ET, while Europe’s other top leagues will close for business slightly earlier in the day.
Teams in England’s top flight have already spent nearly £3 billion on new players this summer, and the all-time record of £3.14 billion – established just last year – should be eclipsed with a flurry of late acquisitions.
Here are the marquee moves we’re tracking that could be completed today:
Will Man City land Enzo?
New Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has been trying to reunite with ex-pupil and namesake Enzo Fernandez for much of the summer, and those efforts have only intensified since Rodri departed for Barcelona.
Man City have already revamped their midfield by spending over £200 million combined on rising stars Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Fernandez would complete the puzzle at the Etihad Stadium after several other sales.
The Argentine has his detractors, but that’s largely down to his antics at international level – see this summer’s World Cup, for example.
His on-pitch value has been impossible to argue since he made a then-record £106.8-million transfer from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023. A potential deal today could see him break the Premier League benchmark again – it’s now £125 million – and catapult Manchester City’s midfield to another level.
Fernandez has been left out of Chelsea’s squad for the last two matches amid transfer speculation, and the Blues haven’t missed a beat. It’s in everybody’s best interest that this deal gets over the line today, and Chelsea are already chasing potential replacements in Manu Kone and Lamine Camara.
The Alvarez saga
Julian Alvarez desperately wanted to join Barcelona this summer, but Atletico Madrid, unmoved, refused to negotiate with the Catalan club, accusing their rivals of using manipulative tactics to sway the Argentine forward.
Alvarez, who’s looked totally despondent early in the season, finally returned to training with Atletico after a bitter standoff, so it’s possible he’s now accepted that his dream switch won’t come to fruition this summer.
He could still move elsewhere, though.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have been chasing Alvarez for over a year as they seek the final attacking piece to complete their already outstanding squad. The 26-year-old has reportedly been reluctant to approve a transfer to the Premier League champions, but convictions can change quickly on deadline day as the clock ticks down.
Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus are on the verge of leaving Arsenal today for Al-Hilal and Barcelona, respectively, while Ethan Nwaneri is close to joining Borussia Dortmund. The Gunners aren’t clearing out squad space and shedding wages for no reason. Someone is coming to bolster the attack.
It’s also worth noting that Viktor Gyokeres hasn’t played a single minute to start the new season. Is Arteta trying to send a clear message that he wants an upgrade up front?
Rebuilding careers
As always, deadline day offers many players a chance to escape unfavorable situations and get their once-promising careers back on track. And many, unwilling to sit tight for another five months until their next opportunity to move arrives in the January window, jump at the chance.
Canadian striker Jonathan David has totally lost his confidence at Juventus, and is on the way to Atletico Madrid to try and rediscover it. Towering striker Nick Woltemade was considered one of Germany’s prized prospects when he joined Newcastle for big money last year, but after a challenging transition to English football, he’s now on the verge of a loan move to Juve, where his skill set should be a better fit for Luciano Spalletti than David’s.
Elsewhere, Jack Grealish appears set to rejoin Everton, where he’ll get playing time that wasn’t going to be afforded to him at Manchester City, and Valencia are chasing Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott.
Here are the biggest signings of the summer across European soccer so far: