Aston Villa completed the signings of Ibrahim Mbaye and Taylor Harwood-Bellis on deadline day, with Unai Emery confident the club’s radical summer overhaul has left Villa in position to replicate their recent success. Villa, who have lost both of their Premier League games this campaign, have qualified for the Champions League in two of the past three seasons and won their first major trophy in 30 years after lifting the Europa League.
The £47m arrival of the 18-year-old winger Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain and £25m deal for Harwood-Bellis from Southampton represented Villa’s ninth and 10th summer signings respectively. Villa had generated more than £300m from the sales of nine players, six of whom started May’s Europa League triumph in Istanbul; Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne and Emiliano Martínez all departed Villa Park in recent weeks, Rogers and Martinez joining Chelsea.
Watkins’ £50m exit to Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, after rejecting Villa’s offer of a new contract, led to Villa signing Nicolas Jackson for an initial £47.5m that could rise to a club-record £65m. Earlier in the window, Villa signed Johan Manzambi for a club-record £52m from Freiburg but the Switzerland midfielder is yet to make his debut as he continues his recovery from a knee injury he sustained at the World Cup.
After Monday’s 1-0 home defeat to Arsenal, Emery struck an upbeat tone. “We are happy how we are closing the transfer window,” said Villa’s manager. “We are not regretting anything and the players who are joining are players that should be enough to rebuild the team with the structure we want. I think we replaced the players as we planned.”
Zion Suzuki, a £30m arrival from Parma, made his Villa debut against Arsenal and Villa’s new No 1 accepts the task of replacing Martínez is a “good challenge”. “It was my priority to play games so that is why I made the decision and I played in Belgium for one year, in Parma for two years,” said the 24-year-old, who joined Villa after a move to PSG collapsed in the final stages. “In the end I am here and playing for Villa. I just wanted to come here for this club. There are so many expectations. It is not easy to play after [Martínez] but I want to help the team and be like him.
“It was very important to play in Serie A for two years and now I am confident. I made good steps and now I am here to play for the club. I want to enjoy this moment and help the team. I am really looking forward to [playing in] the Champions League but before that, I want a first Premier League win to get some momentum.”
Newcastle, meanwhile, concluded a “transformational” transfer window by securing the target that topped their shopping list in May with only hours of the transfer window remaining.
The £51m signing of the Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille on deadline day is regarded as a considerable coup and prompted boardroom celebration at the end of a turbulent summer. The 21-year-old is Newcastle’s eighth signing of a transfer window that has also seen Eddie Howe replaced as manager by Matthias Jaissle and three of the team’s biggest names – Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães – sold for a total approaching £250m.
Ross Wilson, Newcastle’s sporting director, kept in frequent contact with Fernandez-Pardo’s advisers. “Matias is a strong example of how a transfer window can unfold with twists and turns along the way,” said Wilson. “Back in May he was our top target and we always remained engaged with him. Now at the end of the window he becomes our eighth addition to a refreshed Newcastle United and we are excited to welcome him.”
Fernandez-Pardo’s elusive movement and ability to operate as a No 10, a No 9 or wide-left attacker explains why Newcastle were prepared to stay patient for his signature. “A lot of hours went into this one,” acknowledged Wilson. “But we’re clear on our identity and Matias has speed, intensity and work rate in abundance. We believe in his profile a great deal. Our fans will enjoy him and I know he will also enjoy our amazing St James’ Park atmosphere.”
Jaissle seemed equally delighted to have reinforced his frontline with a versatile attacker. “We were all delighted when we knew we could complete this deal,” said the German, who has made three key signings in the £39m Amar Dedic, the £52m Nico González and now Fernandez-Pardo since arriving on Tyneside in early August. “Matias is a highly technical player with explosiveness in his game. He can score and assist, he has courage and the ability to take players on. We’re sure our supporters will enjoy watching him play.”
“I’m really happy to be here and very proud to be at such a big club,” said the Belgian. “I spoke to the head coach and he really showed me how much he wanted me to be here. In terms of my career progression it made complete sense to come; I didn’t hesitate at all. I can’t wait to start my wonderful adventure here.”
Nick Woltemade’s failure to fit into Jaissle’s high intensity gameplans explains why Germany forward, signed for £70m from Stuttgart last August, has joined Juventus on a year-long loan.
Elsewhere, Barcelona have confirmed that Gabriel Jesus has joined from Arsenal on a permanent basis for a fee that is thought to be €10m (£8.6m). The Brazil striker was in attendance for Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Rayo Vallecano on Monday night after a deal was struck over the weekend and he leaves north London as only the 12th player to win the Premier League title with two different clubs, having also done so with Manchester City.
Harvey Elliott has also joined Valencia on loan from Liverpool, while across Merseyside, Beto has sealed a £15.5m move from Everton to Fiorentina.
Kevin Danso has joined Sunderland on a year-long loan from Tottenham that should lead to a formal £25m transfer for the Austria centre-half next summer.
Fulham have completed the signing of Manuel Ángel from Real Madrid, having already signed César Palacios and Gonzalo García from the Spanish giants.
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