Top 10 Deadline Day Transfers Ahead of 2019/20 Premier League Season 

The Premier League transfer window for the upcoming 2019/20 season has come to a close with clubs making headline moves on deadline day.

The transfer deadline was at 17:00 BST on Friday for English clubs to register new players for the 2019/20 edition of the English top-flight.

Last season’s runners-up Liverpool kick-off the much-anticipated Premier League season against newly-promoted Norwich City on August 9, Friday. 

Here, we take a look at the top 10 transfers involing Premier League clubs on transfer deadline day.

Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan

One of the longest running transfer sagas of this summer finally came to an end on deadline day as Manchester United forward Romelu Lukaku got his much-awaited move to Serie A heavyweights Inter Milan for a reported £74m.

The 26-year old was Antonio Conte’s top transfer priority with the Italian manager publicly calling out the Belgian striker on numerous occasions. Lukaku was signed for an eyebrow-raising £75m fee by United two years ago, however, he could not produce consistent performances after a promising first two months at Old Trafford.

“Inter were the only club I wanted,” said Romelu Lukaku on arriving at the San Siro. “I’m here to bring the Nerazzurri back to the top.”

Joao Cancelo to Manchester City

Manchester City rounded off another impressive transfer window as they brought in Juventus right-back Joao Cancelo in a player plus cash deal worth £65m with Danilo going the other way.

The Portuguese, who is labelled as one of the best attacking right-backs in the modern game, has caught everyone’s eye playing on the right-hand side for Juventus. Pep Guardiola already has Kyle Walker in his ranks and therefore Cancelo’s signing indicates the Catalan manager’s intent to attain European glory this season.

Many have questioned Maurizio Sarri’s decision to swap a potentially world-class 25-year old with a much older right back in Danilo. Reports suggested that the former Chelsea boss did not have the Joao Cancelo in his plans for this season. Danilo, on the other hand, has reunited with former Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo at Juventus and looks to provide tough competition to Mattia De Sciglio at right-back. 

Giovanni Lo Celso to Tottenham Hotspur (Loan)

Tottenham Hotspur had a wild end to the summer transfer window as the Champions League finalists were on the verge of completing sensational loan moves for Juventus forward Paulo Dybala and Barcelona midfielder Philipe Coutinho. 

The two deals, however, did not get through but Spurs still managed to bring in two of their long-term transfer targets: Real Betis’ Giovanni Lo Celso and Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon.

The 23-year-old Argentine midfielder impressed in La Liga last season with Tottenham acquring him on an initial season-long loan deal with an option to make it permanent at the end of next season. Lo Celso’s arrival has produced great excitement among Tottenham Hotspur fans, who are greatly looking forward for what could be a statement season for the North Londoners.

 The Champions League finalists from last season broke their transfer record to sign highly-rated Lyon midfielder Tanguy Ndombele for a reported £65m.

Mauricio Pochettino has also managed to keep hold of star-player Christian Eriksen who was linked with a move to Manchester United. The Argentine manager will be pleased with his club’s business this summer as they look to challenge the likes of Liverpool and Manchester City this season. 

David Luiz to Arsenal

One of the most surprising moves of deadline day was Chelsea defender David Luiz’s £8m switch to arch-rivals Arsenal. The 32-year-old centre-back played for the Blues for six years over two spells at Stamford Bridge.

However, Arsenal, who recently let go of club captain Laurent Koscielny to Bordeaux, snapped up the Brazilian to solidify their defence. The Gunners had Sokratis and error-prone Shkodran Mustafi as the two senior centre-backs with Rob Holding still nursing a knee injury.

David Luiz’s vast Premier League experience will surely benefit Unai Emery and his side as he is not only a leader in the dressing room but is also one of the best ball-playing centre-backs on his day.

Alex Iwobi to Everton

Everton were one of the most active clubs on deadline day as they prepare for an exciting new season at Goodison Park. The Toffees already brought in talented names like Moise Kean from Juventus, Fabian Delph from Manchester City and Jean-Phillipe Gbamin from Mainz whilst also making Andres Gomes’ loan move from Barcelona permanent.

However, the signing of Arsenal winger Alex Iwobi for a reported £40m on the brink of the transfer deadline was vital for Everton after the club’s move for Crystal Palace’s Wilfried Zaha collapsed earlier today. Marco Silva desperately wanted the Ivorian forward this summer, however, 23-year old Iwobi is a decent alternative to Zaha and could be menacing alongside Kean and Richarlison.

Ismaila Sarr to Watford

Watford have finally completed the signing of Rennes winger Ismaila Sarr for a club-record fee in the region of £30m on a five-year contract.

The Hornets have hunted the 21-year-old wide player all summer as manager Javi Gracia listed him as the club’s top transfer target. Watford valued the Senegalese youngster at £25m, however, Rennes were holding out for an extra £5m which the Premier League ultimately complied with.

Ryan Sessegnon to Tottenham Hotspur

Fulham’s highly-rated winger Ryan Sessegnon also completed his move to Tottenham Hotspur for £25m on a six-year contract. 

The 19-year old has been linked with Spurs since the beginning of the transfer window after his promising performances with the relegated Cottagers last season.

Sessegnon’s versatility is his greatest asset as the youngster can be deployed as an out-and-out left-winger in place for Son Heung-min, provide much-needed backup to Danny Rose and Ben Davies at left-back and also at the left wing-back position if manager Mauricio Pochettino plays a three-man defense. 

Kieran Tierney to Arsenal

Arsenal have also snapped up highly-rated Celtic left-back Kieran Tierney for a reported £25m. The Scottish defender rounded off Gunners’ impressive transfer activity this summer. Unai Emery has also brought in Nicolas Pepe, Dani Ceballos and most recently David Luiz ahead of a vital season at the Emirates Stadium. 

Kieran Tierney, however, will not be able to partner Luiz in the Arsenal back-line for the next few weeks as he is currently recovering from a double hernia operation he had during the summer. The youngster could then provide competition to Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal for the left-back position in Unai Emery’s side.  

Djibril Sidibe to Everton (Loan)

An under-the-radar signing of the transfer deadline day was Monaco full-back Djibril Sidibe’s season-long loan move to Everton. The 27-year-old caught many eyes in the French club’s 2016/17 season when they lifted the Ligue 1 and reached the Champions League semi-finals.

Djibril Sidibe was also a part France’s FIFA World Cup winning squad in Russia. The right-back, however, could not replicate his 2017/18 heroics last season as Monaco slumped to an embarrassing 17th place in the French top-flight, marginally escaping relegation.

Andy Carroll to Newcastle

30-year-old Andy Caroll has returned to St. James’ Park after eight and a half years on an initial one-year deal. The former England striker sealed a £35m move to Liverpool from Newcastle back in 2011 but has since then had an injury-ridden career. 

Carroll spent six years at West Ham United but could not make a significant impact with the Hammers because of his recurring fitness concerns. However, the “local hero” has made a comeback to his boyhood club and will look to put behind his injuries and find his goalscoring form for the Magpies.

Danny Drinkwater to Burnley (Loan)

Perhaps labelled as one of Chelsea’s most wasteful signings of the decade, midfielder Danny Drinkwater has joined Sean Dyche’s Burnley on a season-long loan. The 29-year old, who was instrumental in Leicester City’s historic 2015/16 title-winning campaign, was reduced to benchwarmer at Stamford Bridge. 

Drinkwater was nowhere near Chelsea’s first-team squad under Maurizio Sarri last season. His £35m price-tag has often been ridiculed by fans but a loan move to Burnley may help him get back on his feet after what has been a torrid two years in London.