Category: Transfer News

Arsenal have finally confirmed the £27million signing of defender Gabriel Magalhaes – as the club unveiled him during a live clip on social media.

The Brazilian has signed a long-term deal and will wear the number six shirt as he becomes Mikel Arteta’s fourth major signing of the summer.

The club had teased fans by announcing that David Luiz and Willian will be joined by a ‘special guest’ in a group chat video, showing a picture of both players alongside a silhouette with a question mark, saying: ‘You don’t want to miss this one!’

They hinted that both players would reveal their fellow Brazilian as a Gunners player with the quote: ‘I’m not sure I can talk about it yet… Let’s call him!’

The clip starts with Luiz congratulating Willian on his move to the Emirates, with the winger replying: ‘I’m so happy we will soon be together. Let’s go full throttle and win trophies.

Luiz then says ‘It’s so good that our little Brazilian family keeps growing’, and adds that he has ‘heard the family will get even bigger’. The pair then mention Magalhaes before deciding to invite him into the call to ask if he has joined.

The defender appears in an Arsenal shirt, saying ‘what’s up boys?’ as he is welcomed by his compatriots. ‘I’m so happy to be here with you guys. Let’s make it count,’ he adds. ‘I cannot wait, let’s win trophies. We’ve already started well!’

Speaking about his new signing, manager Mikel Arteta said Magalhaes had ‘outstanding qualities’ to make the team stronger defensively.

He said: ‘He has many qualities which will make us stronger as a defensive unit and as a team. He has proved with Lille that he is a defender with many outstanding attributes and we are looking forward to watching him grow as an Arsenal player.’

Technical director Edu added: ‘We are delighted to have signed Gabriel. He is a player we have been studying for a while and he was in demand from many clubs, so we are proud to have agreed and completed this transfer with Lille and the player.

‘Gabriel is a player of high quality and Mikel and his coaches are looking forward to integrating him into the club.’

Arsenal emerged as front runners to land Magalhaes after agreeing a deal to sign him earlier this month – beating off competition from the likes of Napoli, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Leicester City are set to make Belgian international wing-back Timothy Castagne their first signing of the summer.

Reports from Castagne’s home nation say an £18m deal, potentially rising to £21.5m, has now been agreed with his club Atalanta, with the 24-year-old signing a five-year contract at the King Power Stadium.

While naturally a right-sided player, Castagne is equally comfortable on the left and he will help City cope with the departure of Ben Chilwell, who left the club last week in a £50m move to Chelsea.

The foxes wanted to get a deal for Castagne done before he joined up with Youri Tielemans, Dennis Praet, and the Belgian national team ahead of their Nations League games over the next week.

Reports from Belgium say the King Power side had looked at Castagne last summer, but have now made their move and will bring him in to strengthen their full-back and wing-back ranks. City have James Justin, Luke Thomas, Ricardo Pereira, and Christian Fuchs in their senior squad, but the latter two are ruled out until at least October with injury.

Operating as cover for both the right and left wing-backs at Atalanta last season, Castagne played 33 games in all competitions – providing two goals and three assists – as the Bergamo club finished third in Serie A and reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

He spent his youth days at Genk, where he was a team-mate of Wilfred Ndidi.

At the start of the summer, he said his dream was to play in the Premier League.

Speaking in May, Castagne said: “I’ll tell the truth, if I could choose my next destination, I’d lean towards England. I like that Premier League style of football, but I don’t have a preferred club. They are all good.”

Leeds United have agreed a deal with Valencia to sign forward Rodrigo Moreno.

The Spain international, 29, had a loan spell with Bolton in 2010-11 and initially joined Valencia on loan from Benfica in 2014.

He went on to score 59 goals in 220 games for the La Liga club, helping them win the Copa del Rey in 2018-19.

“Valencia want to thank Rodrigo Moreno for his commitment and effort over the last six seasons,” the club tweeted

“We wish him all the best in this new stage of his career at Leeds United.”

Rodrigo, who was born in Brazil, has scored eight goals in 22 games for Spain since making his debut in 2014.

Leeds won the Championship by 10 points last season to secure their return to the Premier League after a 16-year absence.

Chelsea have confirmed the signing of youth prospect Zavier Mbuyamba from Barcelona, with the 18-year-old signing a three-year deal.

The central defender was without a club after the end of his contract at the Nou Camp, and will initially join the club’s development squad as part of his development at the club.

Chelsea were said to be interested in the transfer last summer, but were prevented from making a move for the defender due to the transfer ban imposed on the club.

The teenager instead joined Barcelona, where he played for the club’s U19 side, making four appearances in the UEFA Youth League for the Spanish giants.

He started his career in his native Netherlands with MW Maastricht Youth.

Mbuyamba has also made one appearance for the U19 Netherlands team, playing the full 90 minutes of the 3-3 draw with Mexico back in November.

The defender has been referred to as the ‘new Van Dijk’, standing at 6 foot 5in with a composed style similar to that of the Liverpool star.

In a statement on their official website, Chelsea confirmed the signing.

“Chelsea Football Club can also confirm the signing of Xavier Mbuyamba from Barcelona. The 18-year-old signed a professional contract at Cobham earlier this week and will join our development squad ahead of preparations for the new campaign,” they wrote.

“A Dutch Under-19 international, Mbuyamba is a tall right-footed central defender who enjoys playing with the ball at his feet and is equally as strong in the air. He joined his local team MVV Maastrict as an Under-9 and progressed through the age groups before signing at the Nou Camp last summer.

“After being watched closely by the Blues, the Dutchman has made the switch to west London, committing himself to the club until at least 2023.”

New Barcelona boss Ronald Koeman is set to prioritise the signing of Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum this summer, reports say.

The 57-year-old Dutchman was named as Quique Setien’s replacement on a two-year deal on Wednesday. He has left his role as Holland boss and was unveiled at a press conference at the Nou Camp.

Koeman has been drafted in following Setien’s swift exit in the wake of last Friday night’s humiliating 8-2 Champions League drubbing by Bayern Munich.

He is the third man to take charge this calendar year, with Setien having only succeeded Ernesto Valverde in January.

Koeman will inherit a side which finished five points behind LaLiga champions Real Madrid and failed to win a major trophy this season for the first time since 2013-14.

And the former Southampton and Everton boss will be tasked with revamping the squad this summer, while getting the best out of a host of talented footballers already at the club.

But a report from a Dutch publication, AD claims that Koeman sees Wijnaldum ‘as a building block for Barca’s resurrection’ and features ‘very high’ on his ‘wish list’.

The Netherlands international only has a year left on his contract at Anfield despite being integral to the Reds’ march to the Premier League title this campaign.

His contract status ‘makes it affordable’ for Barcelona with sources ‘in the area around’ Wijnaldum telling AD that ‘there are serious whispers that Koeman recently urged the player not to sign in Liverpool’.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Jeff Hendrick is close to joining Newcastle United after leaving Burnley.

The 28-year-old, who has 54 caps for his country, left the Clarets in June and is a free agent.

He was signed by Burnley manager Sean Dyche for a then club record fee of £10.5m in 2016 but was unable to agree a new contract.

Hendrick would represent Newcastle’s first signing since the collapse of the proposed takeover in July.

Manager Steve Bruce has said previously that he hopes to bring in a couple of signings before the transfer window closes on 5 October.

Former Burnley and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart is set to join Tottenham on a free transfer.

The 33-year-old left Burnley when his contract expired on 30 June.

Hart, then England keeper, fell from favour after Pep Guardiola arrived at City in 2016, with loans to Torino and West Ham before a 2018 move to Burnley.

But he lost his place to Tom Heaton midway through the first season of a two-year contract and then spent the 2019-20 on the bench behind Nick Pope.

He is due to have a medical and will compete with Paulo Gazzaniga to be Hugo Lloris’ deputy at Spurs.