André Franck Zambo Anguissa was among Fulham's signings during the summer window.GETTY IMAGES
The EPL transfer window closed Thursday -- three weeks earlier than usual -- "ending weeks of fevered speculation about multimillion pound arrivals and departures from the richest league in football," according to Noble & Burn-Murdoch of the FINANCIAL TIMES. The EPL "voted to cut short its usual transfer window so that clubs would have their squads settled" before the start of the season on Friday. With the World Cup "dampening activity in July," the league's top teams had to "conduct their business quickly." Nonetheless, spending "topped" £1.1B ($1.4B), with almost 200 players "changing clubs," according to Transfermarkt. The "most expensive deal" in the EPL this summer was "not the arrival of a household name." Instead, it was Chelsea's £71.6M ($92M) acquisition of 23-year-old Spanish goalie Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao. The move, which was "prompted by the departure" of Belgian goalie Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid, "broke the world record for a fee paid for a goalkeeper, a record set only three weeks earlier" when Liverpool bought Brazilian goalie Alisson from AS Roma for £56M ($72M). EPL clubs "spent a record" £132.3M ($170M) on goalkeepers this summer. Liverpool "finished the window topping the transfer table, having brought in four new faces" for £164M ($210.6M). However, this year's "most ambitious club is newly promoted Fulham." The west London team -- owned by U.S. billionaire Shahid Khan -- had "already splashed" £65M ($83.5M) "going into deadline day." West Ham and Wolverhamption Wanderers "also spent big." With "high spending Fulham and Wolves elevated" into the EPL this season, and League Championship side Aston Villa ("a big spender last season") adjusting to "more frugal times," spending patterns in England's lower leagues "changed dramatically." This summer, Championship sides have "net receipts from transfers approaching" £130M ($167M), "more than double last year's figure" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 8/9).
STANDING PAT: In London, Alec Shilton reported Tottenham Hotspur "became the first Premier League club since the summer transfer window began to fail to sign a single player," but Manager Mauricio Pochettino said that he was happy for the club to "behave differently." Tottenham had a £25M ($32M) bid "rejected" for Aston Villa winger Jack Grealish, and decided that Villa's £32M ($41M) valuation was "too much to pay" (LONDON TIMES, 8/9).
Everton capped the final day with three signings, including Brazilian Bernerd from Shakhtar Donetsk.getty images
STRONG FINISH: In London, Andy Hunter wrote Everton "produced a remarkable end" to the window with "three significant additions" to Marco Silva’s squad in Yerry Mina, Bernard and André Gomes. Bernard was first to sign "after receiving a work permit" to move to the EPL after five seasons at Shakhtar Donetsk. The Brazil winger signed a four-year contract at Goodison Park. Bernard wanted £200,000 a week earlier in the summer but "ultimately lowered demands that had deterred interest from West Ham, Chelsea and Milan, among others." While Bernard was finalizing his deal at Everton’s Finch Farm training ground "a club delegation led by the director of football, Marcel Brands, concluded deals for Mina and Gomes in Barcelona" (THE GUARDIAN, 8/9).
