Transfer Deadline Day: Your Premier League Club Did Things

The Spanish International midfielder has signed a four-year deal, and will wear the number 16 shirt at the Etihad Stadium after a deal was agreed with minutes to spare before the transfer window ended.

Liverpool had been strongly-tipped to take Benayoun back on loan earlier on deadline day, but after a host of clubs were linked, including QPR, West Ham have finally agreed to sign the player on a year’s loan. Benayoun, who has 88 caps for Israel, will be available to play for West Ham the weekend following the international break, having missed the noon deadline which would’ve made him available to play this weekend.

The 29-year-old, who spent six seasons with the Blues, suffered a series of knee injuries that derailed his career and dramatically reduced his effectiveness, and it’s far from clear whether he can still perform at the top level. But it’s fascinating that Real Madrid, who have three world-class central midfielders, are willing to take a chance on the Ghanaian while Chelsea, who have zero, are not.

It’s a bit of a strange one from both sides, but you have the sneaking suspicion that the Londoners could regret shipping him off just to save a few million pounds in wages. It’s not the end most would have expected for the Bison at Chelsea -- before the injuries he was widely considered the Blues’ top player and one of the most influential midfielders in the world. Now he’s a backup backup man at the Santiago Bernabeu.

”But the manager also convinced me this was the perfect move. Aston Villa are a very historic football club and my colleagues on international duty have said good things about the football here in England.

”I am looking forward to getting my career started in the Premier League. I am a striker and I can play with my back to the goal. I can also play behind the striker and I am good in the air.

Going the other way is... combative... midfielder Joe Barton, whose antics in the final game of last season have seen him rather unwelcome in English football. That’s technically a loan deal, but you’d probably expect Barton to stay in Ligue 1 after the end of the year.

The USA forward was signed for a fee believed to be around £6m after arriving late at Spurs Lodge to complete a medical and agree a contract with Tottenham boss Daniel Levy. Having missed the noon deadline, Dempsey will not be available for Tottenham’s weekend fixture, but should be available when he returns after the following international break.

Now, however, the player is at Tottenham to have a medical and agree a contract before the window closes in an hour and a half. It is not yet known whether Fulham and Tottenham have agreed a fee for the player.

Dempsey was voted player of the year at Fulham last season after he became the first American to score 50 goals in the Premier League, but refused to sign a new contract last month.

The goalkeeper has joined the North Londoners on a 4-year deal after flying over for a medical at Spurs Lodge earlier in the day, after the two clubs agreed a fee believed to be around £9m plus add-ons. The news did not go down well among the other Lyon players. Midfielder Clement Grenier tweeted: “We’re certainly going to miss him. He’s a good man and one of the best goalkeepers in the world. For him, Tottenham may be a stepping stone to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.”

The French International is Spurs’ only signing so far on deadline day, with other moves for players such as Joao Moutinho looking increasingly unlikely as time ticks away.

It had been suggested the Reds had a bid accepted for the Fulham forward earlier on in the day, but it seems that no progress has been made and the deal has now been scrapped.

Everton have completed the signing of FC Copenhagen’s left-back Bryan Oviedo on a four-year deal, the club have confirmed.

“I know a lot about Everton. I watch Everton games and Premier League games on the TV and it is a very good league.”

The Ghanaian international was a notable omission the Blues’ squad this evening to face Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup, and Di Matteo confirmed that he was left out due to discussion over a loan move.

Michael Essien signed for Chelsea for £24m in 2005, but has found himself in and out of the Blues’ first team in recent years, partly owing to a string of injuries. He played just 14 games in the Premier League last season.

With less than four hours to go, we’ll have to wait and see what happens but there’s no doubt that American soccer fans are hanging on every update. Their concern is understandable with Dempsey having not seen first team action yet this season and World Cup qualifiers looming for the US Men’s National Team.

The Saints made the announcement on their official club website, stating that the deal was agreed over a week ago, and “only the finger details of the transfer prevented his signing from being completed.” The Uruguayan has signed a four-year deal with the South coast club.

Saints boss Nigel Adkins stated: “Great credit to everyone because we have a young, exciting talent joining us who is one of the best around.

Edu moves to Stoke from Rangers, where the club’s bankruptcy sealed his exit. He agreed to take a severe wage cut during last season in exchange for a small buyout clause being attached to his contract. Stoke met that buyout and now he has his visa.

Exactly how this affects the U.S. team is still up in the air. Cameron and Edu might be competing for one regular starting spot, meaning one of them might not be playing regularly. That isn’t what Jurgen Klinsmann wants to see, but two more players in the Premier League isn’t too shabby.

Arsenal have long given up on Bendtner and didn’t even seriously consider bringing him back after selling van Persie. The 24-year-old has spent much of the summer trying to find a new home and while it took until the final day of the transfer window, he’s found one in Turin.

Bendtner spent last season on loan with Sunderland, where he scored eight goals. So to confirm, the defending Sere A champions and one of the biggest clubs in the world signed a Sunderland reject. Cool.

Essien, who is 29 years old, signed for Chelsea for £24m in August 2005, but is no longer seen as a key member of the Blues’ squad after a series of injuries - he made just 19 appearances in all competitions last season, with 14 of those coming in the Premier League.

The French international goalkeeper is currently in London having a medical, and the fee will include a further €5m in variables and additions. Lloris and Spurs will now have to complete a personal agreement before the transfer can be completed.

Tottenham have been trying to get hold of their man for a while, having been linked with the goalkeeper since the start of the transfer window, but Spurs chairman Daniel Levy is currently trying to thrash out a deal before the window closes at midnight.

The 31-year-old striker saw his career somewhat stall at Old Trafford. Despite some marvelous matches and good strings of matches, he never quite fit in with the Red Devils and they always seemed eager to find better than them. Now he is out and to a club where he should be the star, which might rekindle his always-flickering fire.

Rafael van der Vaart is the newest member of Hamburg after passing a medical that finalizes his move from Tottenham Hotspur to the Bundesliga club. HSV already have a photo with him holding a Hamburg shirt.

That roughly translates to: “It is official, welcome Rafael van der Vaart”. Yes, we speak bad German too.

This is a bit of an unusual move for Manchester City, but then again, most defensive signings aren’t really very sexy. Maicon is a fairly well-known name, having been an integral part of the nerazzurri lineup for the past six seasons. Most importantly, he has Champions League experience.

On the other hand, Maicon, like many on Inter, is aging. Now 31, the Brazilian just hasn’t looked quite right over the past year -- sad for a player who once was nominated for the Ballon d’Or. But it may just be all the recent changes at Inter, the managerial shifts, the decline in power to the point where they need to qualify not for Champions League play but for Europa.

Of course, this is not just about football. There is the appeal of winning a trophy, but more than anything, you can bet City waved more money at him that Swansea could afford.

Chelsea are happy to loan Sturridge out. They have a full compliment of wingers and while he could provide depth at center forward, he is unproven there so it is not as if the Blues need him. If another club comes in and can provide a godo situation for him, Chelsea will let him go.