Manchester City’s stunning winter transfer window spending surpassed £180 million with their late deadline-day move for Spanish midfielder Nico González from Porto.
City reacted to their first crisis under Pep Guardiola by embarking on their biggest mid-season outlay for transfers in the manager’s time at the Etihad, with their expenditure approximately the same as the rest of the Premier League combined during the window.
Egypt international forward Omar Marmoush (£58.1 million plus £4.1 million add-ons), Brazilian centre-back Vitor Reis (£29.6 million) and Uzbekistan international Abdukodir Khusanov (£33.6 million) also arrived in deals before the move for González. Juma Bah (£5 million) has also arrived from Real Valladolid but was loaned out to Lens.
González, 23, was targeted by City in the final days of the window to bolster Guardiola’s midfield as cover while Rodri is recovering from knee surgery, with the Ballon d’Or winner’s absence felt acutely during the Premier League champions’ slump in form.
While City were cautious about bringing in the right fit for Guardiola’s squad, they moved swiftly over the weekend to negotiate González’s release clause of just over £50 million. They were able to strike a deal where the total cost was structured with a number of add-ons rather than money up front.
He signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad, taking him to 2029, and will wear the No 14 shirt last used by Aymeric Laporte.
González said: “This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career. I am 23 and I want to test myself in England. There’s no better club than Manchester City for me to do that.
“Look at the squad they have here... it’s unbelievable, full of world-class players. There isn’t a footballer in the world who would not want to be part of this setup.”
Guardiola does have an historic link with the player as González’s father, Fran, was the City manager’s Spain team-mate at Euro 2000. Fran also worked at City’s academy when Guardiola first arrived in English football.
González was withdrawn from selection for Porto’s Primeira Liga clash against Rio Ave on deadline day, with the player undergoing a medical in Portugal rather than flying to the UK, before completing the formalities of the deal.
None of Guardiola’s new arrivals, including González, have played in the Premier League before but have added numbers and a fresh look to City’s squad following a winter where they lost nine in 12 games as their season went into freefall.
Rodri has been sorely missed, with Guardiola pointing out that he had the Ballon d’Or winner in Lionel Messi while at Barcelona and without him would not have seen such success.
City also looked at a deal to bring back Douglas Luiz to the Etihad Stadium in that position, although Juventus wanted a loan with an obligation to buy rather than a straight six-month deal.
González came through Barcelona’s academy and has been a regular at Porto in his two seasons at Estádio do Dragão, playing against Manchester United in the Europa League this season and helping defeat Arsenal in the Champions League in his first campaign. Barça had a buyback option on González that they chose not to use, although they have a clause granting them 40 per cent of the fee in his next move.
Guardiola has admitted City have effectively brought forward their summer spending plan to add players to his struggling squad. He wanted targets as long-term players rather than signings to make a quick impact.
“A target can come for six months on loan and help us in that period but it’s completely different when you have to sign players for the next many years,” he said when talking about the window.
City have also shown interest in £50 million-rated Italy full-back Andrea Cambiaso. They could move for the Juventus player in the summer as a long-term replacement for Kyle Walker.
Cambiaso has played on both flanks for Juventus this season and featured in every game of the campaign until suffering an ankle injury in December which he has just returned from. City have watched the 24-year-old and he is among the players they have shortlisted as they rebuild Guardiola’s squad, but the club are willing to wait until the summer before pushing forward with a deal.
Villa busy bolstering squad on deadline day
Elsewhere on deadline day, Aston Villa were among the busiest of teams in the final days of the window and added Paris St-Germain playmaker Marco Asensio to Unai Emery’s squad. The Spaniard was Emery’s primary attacking target and joined on loan the day after Marcus Rashford arrived from Manchester United. Villa also landed Axel Disasi.
“Unai is a coach that I’ve known for a while. He’s had a great career, he’s a top coach, he’s been key in me being able to come here because of his idea of how he wants to play football,” said Asensio. “I love it, it suits me perfectly and he’s a really important person as to why I’m here right now.”
Tottenham sealed the loan deal of Mathys Tel, with the option of a permanent move in the summer, after talking the Bayern Munich forward into a deadline-day U-turn. Spurs also saw a move for Disasi fail when Villa resurrected their interest in the Chelsea defender – the south-west London club also agreeing to let João Félix leave for AC Milan on loan until the summer just five months since his £46 million return to Stamford Bridge.
Lloyd Kelly joined Juventus on loan from Newcastle United and will sign for the Italian side permanently in the summer. The deal at the end of the season will be worth £20 million for a player signed on a Bosman free transfer last summer, representing a healthy profit for the Premier League club and strengthening their profit and sustainability figures.
West Ham United manager Graham Potter was reunited with Evan Ferguson after the Republic of Ireland international completed his loan from Brighton & Hove Albion. The pair worked together at the Amex Stadium and Potter beat competition to bolster his attack with the sought-after No 9.
“I can see and know how big West Ham United is. It was a big opportunity for me to come here. I know the gaffer well and look forward to working under him again,” Ferguson, 20, said. “I want to come in and do my best for the club, score goals, and see where we get to.”
Brighton completed the signing of 19-year-old forward Stefanos Tzimas from Nuremberg for £20.8 million but he will stay with the German club for the rest of the season.
11:37 PM GMT
Gonzalez on his move to City
“This is the perfect opportunity for me at this stage of my career.
“I am 23 and I want to test myself in England. There’s no better club than Manchester City for me to do that.
“Look at the squad they have here. It’s unbelievable, full of world-class players. There isn’t a footballer in the world who would not want to be part of this set-up.
“I know the reputation Pep has and I cannot wait to work with him. In fact, I am honoured he wants me to play in his team.
“I am truly excited. I just want to meet my teammates, and the staff here and then I want to play in front of the City fans!”
11:35 PM GMT
Chilwell to Palace on loan confirmed
As Mike McGrath and Matt Law reported earlier, the Chelsea man will move across London for the rest of the season.
11:17 PM GMT
It’s not as good as Burnley’s Marcus Edwards effort...
...but this is still well worth a watch.
11:16 PM GMT
And here’s Tottenham confirming their signing of Tel
As reported by Matt Law earlier.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich, subject to international clearance and work permit ✍️
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) February 3, 2025
11:11 PM GMT
Here is City’s latest signing
11:03 PM GMT
Gonzalez transfer completed by City
Nico Gonzalez has signed a four-and-a-half-year deal at the Etihad, taking him to 2029. He will wear the No14 shirt last used by Aymeric Laporte. It took £50 million for Porto to let him move.
10:43 PM GMT
Bournemouth sign French teenager
A late one from Bournemouth, who have agreed a deal for the signing of highly rated French teenager Eli Junior Kroupi. The 18-year-old attacker joins from Lorient but will remain at the French club on loan for the rest of this season ahead of a summer switch. Bournemouth owner Bill Foley is a minority shareholder in Lorient.
10:31 PM GMT
Friends reunited at Fulham
Fulham have agreed a deal to re-sign Willian, who is a free agent.
Willian was in the stands at Stamford Bridge to see his old club Chelsea beat West Ham United on Monday night.
But he will be moving a few miles down the road, with his Fulham return now agreed.
10:02 PM GMT
As the transfer window slowly shuts...
...I reckon I can safely say that no club will beat this player announcement, proving that, on the odd occasion, social media isn’t all bad. Take a bow Burnley and their new player Marcus Edwards, signed from Sporting Lisbon.
09:48 PM GMT
Burnley bolster their attack
Burnley have signed Dutch forward Jaydon Banel from Ajax for an undisclosed fee The 20-year-old said: “It feels amazing to be here. It’s a historical club and I see a lot of options here for me to show my qualities.”
09:43 PM GMT
Willian to Fulham?
Earlier Matt Law reported that they are considering a late deal to re-sign Willian, who is a free agent after leaving Olympiacos. Well, the former Fulham favourite is definitely in west London...
09:39 PM GMT
Ipswich have a new shot-stopper
In their bid to avoid returning to the Championship the Portman Road side have turned to Alex Barton shore things up at the back.
We are delighted to confirm the signing of goalkeeper Alex Palmer from West Bromwich Albion on a three-and-a-half-year deal. ✍️
Welcome, Alex!
— IPSWICH TOWN (@IpswichTown) February 3, 2025
09:35 PM GMT
More moves at Villa Park
09:22 PM GMT
Tottenham have an option to buy Tel at end of loan
Tottenham have managed to negotiate an option to buy Mathys Tel at the end of his loan.
Tel is joining Spurs initially until the end of the season and it has now emerged that the north Londoners will have an option to sign him permanently in the summer.
That’s quite a coup for Tottenham, given Tel had initially turned them down.
08:47 PM GMT
Villa’s dealmaking
The latest capture of Axel Disasi means that Aston Villa have added this impressive five-a-side team (rush goalie...) to their squad this transfer window: Donyell Malen, Andres Garcia, Marcus Rashford, Marco Asensio and Disasi. Not bad work.
08:25 PM GMT
Lloyd Kelly is joining the Old Lady
A deal that sees the defender move to Juventus has been completed. The Italian giants have an obligation to buy him from Newcastle in the summer.
08:06 PM GMT
Disasi is off to...
...Aston Villa. The West Midlanders have won the race to sign the Chelsea defender on loan for the rest of the season after finally agreeing a deal.
Tottenham had been in the running to sign the 26-year old, but he only wanted to join Villa.
Following a day of back and forth, the Midlands club finally agreed a deal with Chelsea to take Disasi on loan for a fee in the region of £5 million.
07:52 PM GMT
Old friends to reunite at Fulham?
Fulham are considering a late deal to re-sign Willian, who is a free agent after leaving Olympiacos.
The former Chelsea winger spent two successful years at Fulham before moving to Greece and could now return to London.
07:43 PM GMT
One move that looks set to go right to deadline
Axel Disasi’s future could go right to the wire with Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur still working to try to take the defender on loan for the rest of the season.
With time running out, Disasi still prefers the prospect of a move to Villa but Spurs have not yet given up on their own bid.
Villa already have an agreement with Disasi, while Tottenham have an agreement with Chelsea to pay a £5 million loan fee.
Disasi was left out of Chelsea’s squad for Monday night’s game against West Ham United as negotiations over his future continued.
07:41 PM GMT
While we await any last-minute deals...
...there is some actual football happening and you can follow the London derby between Chelsea and West Ham here.
07:31 PM GMT
Midlands mismatch in terms of transfer strategy
Wolves and Leicester are both battling to avoid relegation and it is interesting to see how their January transfer strategies are so different.
Vitor Pereira has been backed by Wolves owners Fosun who are on course to invest over £45 million on three signings in Emmanuel Agbadou, Marshall Munetsi and Nasser Djiga.
Wolves have also persuaded their best player, Matheus Cunha, to sign a new contract.
Leicester, meanwhile, do not appear likely to be adding to the £2 million capture of Parma defender Woyo Coulibaly.
As we reported earlier, Wolves floated a swap deal involving their defender Craig Dawson and Leicester’s Conor Coady but Leicester surprisingly turned it down.
Leicester have lost eight of their past nine games under Ruud van Nistelrooy yet are clearly operating under severe financial restrictions.
07:13 PM GMT
Marco Asensio to Villa on loan
07:10 PM GMT
Chukwuemeka off to Borussia Dortmund
Carney Chukwuemeka has completed his move to Borussia Dortmund from Chelsea on a loan with an option in the summer. Medical completed today and contracts now signed #CFC https://t.co/br7SHfmTbz
— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) February 3, 2025
06:43 PM GMT
Schlupp to make the schlep to Celtic
Jeffrey Schlupp is set to end an eight-year spell at Crystal Palace with a move to Celtic. The Scottish champions moved for the 32-year-old earlier today and he is having a medical ahead of a move. With the player in the last six months of his contract at Palace, talks have been on whether it is a loan or permanent deal.
06:40 PM GMT
No Morton move to Middlesbrough – as it stands...
Meanwhile, elsewhere on Merseyside, Liverpool have rebuffed Middlesbrough’s move for Tyler Morton. They value him much higher than the package proposed. Boro will have to go significantly beyond £10 million plus add-on to make that deal happen.
06:37 PM GMT
No more developments from Goodison?
On last summer’s deadline day – at around 6.30pm – the message from Everton was that the search for a striker was over and their business was done. Six hours later they signed Armando Broja as they pounced an unexpected opportunity.
As of 6.30pm today, the word from Everton is they are now not expecting to add anyone other than midfielder Carlos Alcaraz.
We know from experience to rule nothing out, but as things stand it looks like it is all about Alcaraz’s paperwork for the rest of the night.
06:20 PM GMT
United won’t strike for more forward options
Manchester United are not expected to recruit a striker or make any other additions before the transfer window closes.
They baulked at the £5 million loan fee Bayern Munich were demanding for Mathys Tel, considering it excessive and an expensive risk for a largely unproven 19-year old.
It means they will have just Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee as well as Amad Diallo and Alejandro Garnacho as their forward options for the remainder of the campaign having loaned out Marcus Rashford and Antony with no replacements.
Jadon Sancho joined Chelsea on loan last summer. Tyrell Malacia is set to join PSV Eindhoven on loan until the end of the season with the Dutch club covering the majority of his wages.
06:01 PM GMT
Morton to Middlesbrough?
Liverpool midfielder Tyler Morton could be joining Middlesbrough for an initial £10 million. Morton has been unable to make a first-team breakthrough but is highly regarded. He could join Ben Doak, another Liverpool man who is currently on loan at ‘Boro.
05:58 PM GMT
Red-tape issues hampering Kelly move to Juve
Lloyd Kelly’s move to Juventus is still ON despite red-tape issues completing the deal. It is understood that issues are technicalities rather than the deal breaking down. Deal agreed with Newcastle for a deal eventually worth £20 million.
05:15 PM GMT
Everton search for striker hits cul-de-sac
No white smoke from Goodison Park yet as they search for another striker. Despite West Bromwich Albion being approached by Everton for versatile forward Tom Fellows, it looks like the 21-year-old will be staying at the Hawthorns.
04:31 PM GMT
Rob Holding heading for the Championship
04:17 PM GMT
Plenty of time for Trippier to complete his move
Kieran Trippier’s move to Galatasaray from Newcastle is still on at this stage - but there is no urgency to get the deal done in the next few hours. The Turkish window does not close until next week, giving the Super Lig leaders time to negotiate a deal for the ex-England full-back. Eddie Howe has only started Trippier in cup matches in 2025, with Tino Livramento ahead of him in the pecking order.
04:08 PM GMT
Tottenham’s Disasi move alive again
Tottenham Hotspur have resurrected their move to sign Axel Disasi on loan for the rest of the season.
Spurs still have an agreement in place with Chelsea to sign Disasi on loan for the rest of the season for a fee of £5 million.
Disasi has been reluctant to join Tottenham, instead favouring a proposed move to Aston Villa, which led to Spurs looking at alternative targets.
But negotiations have restarted and Spurs are now making a new move to convince the player.
04:05 PM GMT
Chelsea close to signing another young talent
Chelsea have agreed a deal to sign St-Étienne midfielder Mathis Amougou ahead of tonight’s transfer deadline.
Amougou is a 19-year-old who has played for France at Under-18 level and is set to join Chelsea in a deal worth around £12 million.
03:49 PM GMT
Joao Felix on his way to AC Milan
Chelsea have agreed a deal for Joao Felix to move on loan to AC Milan for the rest of the season.
It is understood that the Italian club will pay in excess of £5 million to take Felix on loan and will cover his entire salary.
As reported by Telegraph Sport, Felix is not in Chelsea’s squad for tonight’s game against West Ham United and will now undergo a medical.
03:26 PM GMT
Mathys Tel fits the Postecoglou mould
Tottenham’s manager loves speed in wide areas, wingers who can beat their full-back on the outside and deliver low crosses for tap-ins. Tel fits that bill if Spurs use him as a left-winger. There is a school of thought that the France Under-21 international could be developed into a centre-forward but he is without a goal in 256 Bundesliga minutes for Bayern Munich this season.
02:57 PM GMT
What would City be getting in González?
The Spanish midfielder, a product of Barcelona’s academy, will add some stature to City’s midfield as he stands at 6ft 2in. He has five goals and three assists for Porto in the league this season. Statistically, González ranks highly for aerial duels won and successful take-ons, so the potential is there for him to add something different to City’s midfield. They looked lightweight in that department against Arsenal, as they have done in many matches across the season.
02:31 PM GMT
Man City close to sealing £50m González deal
Manchester City are close to an agreement for Porto midfielder Nico González after holding talks to negotiate his £50.2 million release clause in the hours before the transfer deadline.
City have been in the market for a defensive midfielder to cover for Rodri’s long-term knee injury but were determined not to pay González’s full release clause. It is understood a structured deal could work for both parties – with some of the amount weighted in add-ons.
González is poised to become City’s fourth signing in January, with Omar Marmoush, Vitor Reis and Abdukodir Khusanov arriving to strengthen other positions.
The 23-year-old emerged as a potential signing last week and talks have been centred around a deal less than the set-fee in González’s contract.
The Spanish midfielder came through Barcelona’s academy and has been a regular at Porto in his two seasons at Estadio do Dragao, playing against Manchester United in the Europa League this season and helping defeat Arsenal in the Champions League in his first campaign.
Barca had a buyback option on González which they chose not to use, although they have a 40 per cent sell-on clause for his next move.
City have also looked at a deal to bring back Douglas Luiz to the Etihad Stadium, although Juventus have wanted an obligation to buy after a loan, while City only wanted a straight six-month deal.
02:22 PM GMT
Spurs make Tel breakthrough
Tottenham Hotspur have made a major breakthrough by negotiating a deal for Mathys Tel to join the club on loan from Bayern Munich.
The exact structure of the deal still needs to be agreed, but Tel is understood to be on his way to London with the intention of joining Spurs.
Tel had initially rejected a move to Spurs after chairman Daniel Levy flew to Munich to speak to the player and his representatives.
But the north London club did not give up on the signing and have managed to reach a breakthrough in negotiations on deadline day.
Landing Tel would be a major boost to head coach Ange Postecoglou, who has been desperate to bolster Tottenham’s attacking options.
02:19 PM GMT
Felix nearing Milan move
Joao Felix will not be part of Chelsea’s squad for tonight’s game against West Ham United with AC Milan stepping up their bid to sign him on loan.
AC Milan are now in serious negotiations with Chelsea over Felix, who is expected to move to Italy on an initial loan before the transfer window shuts at 11pm.
Inter Milan have also shown an interest in Felix, but it is the Rossoneri who are leading the way and are in detailed talks to close a deal with Chelsea.
Felix’s loan will mean Chelsea have no more international loan spots for their players, so Axel Disasi will only be able to move within the Premier League if he leaves Stamford Bridge.
Disasi has agreed terms with Villa, but the Midlands club have been adamant in negotiations that they will not meet Chelsea’s terms and are now considering alternative targets.
Tottenham have also looked elsewhere in their hunt for another defender, which has encouraged interest from other Premier League clubs to consider making a late swoop.
But it is up to Disasi whether or not he can be convinced to move anywhere apart from Villa.
02:08 PM GMT
Ferguson signs for West Ham
West Ham have completed the loan signing of Evan Ferguson from Brighton until the end of the season, in a move that reunites the striker with former manager Graham Potter.
“He’s a player we obviously know very well, so I’m grateful to the board for bringing him in,” said Potter.
“He’s got plenty of quality attributes as a striker that we believe will benefit the group over the course of the coming months.
“We’re excited to integrate him into the squad and see him in action in the weeks to come.”
The 20-year-old, whose nascent career has been blighted by injuries, has scored 13 goals in 28 Premier League appearances and is a Republic of Ireland international.
01:40 PM GMT
Leicester and Wolves exploring defender swap
There could be a surprise deal happening between two Premier League strugglers in the Midlands.
Wolves and Leicester are exploring a straight-swap deal which would involve Conor Coady and Craig Dawson moving clubs.
Coady, the former Wolves captain, has been in and out of the team this season, while Dawson has barely played at Molineux since the appointment of Vitor Pereira.
Discussions are at a very early stage, and one source has said there are many moving parts, but talks are continuing.
01:17 PM GMT
Sheffield United planning Holding swoop
Sheffield United are also trying to secure a deal for Crystal Palace centre-back Rob Holding, on top of their moves for two foreign forwards.
12:51 PM GMT
Fulham showing Celik interest
Fulham have been looking at possible options at right-back this winter, with Roma’s Zeki Celik of interest. At this stage of the day, though, we are led to believe that this one is quite unlikely to materialise. Fulham do love a deadline day deal, though, so don’t rule it out altogether.
12:40 PM GMT
Sheffield United discussing South American duo
Sheffield United have held talks over deals for Peruvian striker Jefferson Caceres, who plays in South America, and Nigerian winger Christian Nwachukwu, who has been plying his trade in Bulgaria.
12:28 PM GMT
Leicester stuck in holding pattern
Ruud van Nistelrooy has lost eight of his last nine Premier League matches but, barring any big surprises, will not be adding to his squad today.
Van Nistelrooy had been targeting another winger and forward but Leicester’s problems with profit and sustainability regulations (PSR), plus perhaps their league position, mean any deals are extremely unlikely.
There has been some chat over a possible return to Brighton for loanee Facundo Buonanotte, who has been mysteriously frozen out by the new manager.
However, it is understood that Brighton have no recall option and it would require Leicester to send him back, which is unlikely.
Leicester also appear stuck with Crystal Palace loanee Odsonne Edouard unless Palace either recall him or find a buyer in MLS or another league with an overlapping season. Both scenarios are very remote.
12:00 PM GMT
Palace to pay half of Chilwell’s wages
Crystal Palace will pay Ben Chilwell close to half his weekly Chelsea salary for the remainder of the season.
Chilwell is one of Chelsea’s highest earners on around £200,000 a week, which is completely out of Palace’s price range.
In order to allow the defender to play for the second half of the season, Chelsea have agreed a deal where Palace will contribute around half his weekly salary.
It is thought Palace will pay Chilwell in the region of £70,000-a-week, but that does not take into consideration various add-ons such as image rights.
The 28-year-old still has two years remaining on his Chelsea contract and has not had to take a wage cut to move to Palace for the rest of the season.
Having been frozen out by head coach Enzo Maresca, Chilwell has played only 45 minutes of football so far this season – against Barrow in the Carabao Cup.
11:44 AM GMT
Gomes staying at Lille
England midfielder Angel Gomes will stay at Lille for the rest of the campaign before moving as a free agent in the summer.
The 24-year-old, who came through Manchester United’s academy system, has a host of Premier League clubs including Tottenham and West Ham wanting him at the end of his contract with his French club.
While his market value has reduced in the final six months of his Lille contract, it is understood that he will remain in Ligue 1 before making a decision on his future – rather than make a transfer-deadline day move.
Gomes has a very interesting back story. To find out all about the midfielder who was given his England chance by Lee Carsley, read here.
11:32 AM GMT
Palace reject Spurs approach for Guehi
Crystal Palace have rejected an approach from Tottenham Hotspur for Marc Guehi and the England centre-back is set to stay at Selhurst Park for the rest of the season.
Spurs have been in the market for defensive reinforcements and have already signed Kevin Danso from Lens after making a last-gasp move from under the noses of Wolves.
It is understood they were willing to offer a package up to £70million for Guehi, who has one full season left on his contract at Palace. But a potential deal on those terms was rejected.
Guehi, who established himself as a regular centre-back for England under Gareth Southgate, will be expected to have increased interest in landing him in the summer. His former club Chelsea are among the teams looking at him – but it is expected that other clubs will enter the race.
11:21 AM GMT
Rashford targeting Champions League glory
Marcus Rashford is setting his sights on Champions League glory with Aston Villa as he bids to “create history”.
Rashford has signed a short-term deal until the end of the season after ending his nightmare at Manchester United and admits his ambitions are high under Unai Emery.
With Villa operating in the rebranded Champions League for the first time since 1983, Rashford is determined to help Emery make a huge statement in European competition this season.
“We want to get as far as we can and if we don’t aim to win it then we’re never going to win it,” he said. “That will be my main objective and keep pushing in the league to get as high as possible.
“I’m sure it will be a great experience for me playing for Villa in the Champions League and it’s always a great moment but the aim remains the same to try and do our best to win it.”
Rashford has not played a competitive game since a Europa League tie for United in early December but is on a mission to hit the ground running at Villa.
The England international is eligible to play in the FA Cup and could make his debut against Tottenham on February 9.
“I know I can hurt teams and when I’m playing at my best I can decide football games,” he said. “That will be my only ambition and only goal to help the team win more games and more points and hopefully create history.
“I’ve had to choose somewhere where I feel my style of football is suited to, and can help them and help me rediscover and improve as a player.
“It’s only short-term I’m here, so I want to make the most of my time here, and the only way to do that is by using my attributes and my skill-set to help the team.”
Rashford said the lure of working with Emery, the Villa manager, was a major incentive behind his move to the Midlands.
Emery has established a fine reputation for improving players and pushed for the signing of the 27 year old in this transfer window.
“I think he’s a top manager and what he’s done with the club since he’s come to Villa is unbelievable,” Rashford said. “It’s the constant ambition that’s attractive, and it’s why you want to join such a club. You want to keep improving year on year, and that’s what the team has been doing and are doing this year.”
10:58 AM GMT
WATCH: Edwards announcement video
Delighted at landing their new marquee signing Burnley have excelled themselves with their announcement video:
10:50 AM GMT
Crunch time for Arsenal
Twenty-two days have now passed since Gabriel Jesus ruptured his ACL and Arsenal are yet to add the forward that they – and Mikel Arteta especially – crave. Time is now running out, with only hours remaining until the deadline.
Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel has been of interest to seemingly every big Premier League club this window and seems the most gettable of the strikers on the market. Will Arsenal make a concrete move for the French teenager? They have to decide now.
Arsenal supporters will be hoping that the club has kept something else up their sleeve and that interim sporting director Jason Ayto can get a deal over the line. We know they like Ollie Watkins at Aston Villa, as they made an approach for him last week, but in truth it is hard to see how that might be doable in this window, following Villa’s sale of Jhon Duran.
10:46 AM GMT
Forest in talks with NZ defender
Nottingham Forest have held talks over a deal for New Zealand defender Tyler Bindon to join from Reading.
The agreement would involve the centre-back being loaned back to the Madejski Stadium for the rest of the season.
10:35 AM GMT
Brighton still keen on Sunderland starlet
Brighton’s deal for Tommy Watson remains alive. They had bids turned down by Sunderland in the last few days but they are not giving up on the 18-year-old, who has broken into the first team under Regis Le Bris and is part of the club’s promotion bid from the Championship.
Meanwhile, Brighton winger Benicio Baker-Boaitey has joined Millwall on a permanent transfer, while Northern Ireland defender Ruairi McConville has also left Albion and signed a permanent deal with Norwich.
10:30 AM GMT
Bayern trying to pave the way for Tel exit?
Bayern Munich are in talks with Arouca to sell the Japan Under-20 midfielder Taichi Fukui permanently and in turn free up a potential international loan spot for Mathys Tel. Bayern have currently filled their allowable quota of international loanees but selling Fukui permanently to Portuguese side Arouca, where he has been on loan this season, would give them some more room for manoeuvre over Tel.
They had been looking to sell the France Under-21 forward permanently but talks with Spurs broke down after the player expressed a reluctance to move to Tottenham. United have so far baulked at the size of the loan fee Bayern are asking for Tel – there are suggestions it could be as high as £5m for the second half of the season.
Amorim said on Sunday United were keen to avoid the mistakes of the past and don’t want to commit themselves to something risky. Bayern would ideally like any loan to come with an obligation to buy the 19-year-old in the summer, too. Spurs and United aside, Marseille have also been looking at Tel.
10:21 AM GMT
Brighton bring in Greek striker
Brighton have completed another signing, although this one is for the summer rather than now. Greece under-21 international Stefanos Tzimas will join the club at the end of this season from German second-tier side FC Nurnberg. The 19-year-old striker has scored 10 goals in 16 league appearances this season and has cost around £20 million.
10:06 AM GMT
Edwards signing a coup for Burnley
Burnley have signed Marcus Edwards from Sporting Lisbon on loan until the end of the season. “The main thing now is to get promoted back to the Premier League,” said Edwards, who started out at Tottenham Hotspur and has spent the last four-and-a-half seasons in Portugal.
Edwards’ signing is a significant coup for Scott Parker and the Lancashire club who fought off pretty stiff competition to land the former Spurs player.
“It feels amazing. Burnley is like a Premier League club. I’m really happy to be here,” Edwards said.
“I know Scott from my time at Spurs. I know what he’s like. He’s ambitious, he’s driven. We had a good relationship back then so when I knew he wanted me to come that was enough for me.”
“From knowing what he’s like and how he is and the fact that Burnley is such a big club in general. It made sense.
“The main thing now is to get promoted back to the Premier League. I’m coming here to try and get myself into the team. I hope we can make it over the line this season and I hope Burnley fans will enjoy watching me play too.”
10:02 AM GMT
Nedeljkovic joins RB Leipzig on loan from Villa
Aston Villa have confirmed that defender Kosta Nedeljkovic has swapped the Premier League for the Bundesliga by moving to RB Leipzig on loan.
The full-back, who signed for Villa just over 12 months ago and has made 10 appearances this season, will remain in Germany until the end of the season.
Also leaving Villa Pak is Sil Swinkels. The 21-year-old Dutch defender has made a six-month loan move to Bristol Rovers.
09:57 AM GMT
Move unlikely for McAtee
It’s considered unlikely at this stage that James McAtee will be leaving Manchester City. It’s not beyond the realms of possibility that something develops late but as things stand the England Under-21 international looks to be staying at the Etihad Stadium until the end of the season.
09:52 AM GMT
Forest’s O’Brien set for Swansea switch
Nottingham Forest have established a previous reputation for late drama on deadline day but today is expected to be blissfully quiet.
Forest’s main target this month has been Brentford forward Yoane Wissa with a bid of £18m rejected in January.
Brentford have maintained their stance that Wissa is not for sale and Forest are understood to have accepted that a deal is impossible at this stage.
There will only be a few outgoings from the City Ground with midfielder Lewis O’Brien poised to join Swansea on loan.
James Ward-Prowse’s loan from West Ham has been mutually cancelled after the recent returns of Danilo and Ibrahim Sangare from injury.
09:49 AM GMT
Disasi to Spurs off the table
Tottenham Hotspur do not expect to sign Axel Disasi today after the defender made it clear he did not want to move across London from Chelsea.
Tottenham had agreed a deal to pay £5million to take Disasi on loan from Chelsea but the Frenchman expressed a preference to move to Aston Villa.
Villa bid more than Spurs for Disasi, but Chelsea are reluctant to let him go to a club they consider to be a rival for Champions League football.
Chelsea are braced for a new approach from Villa today, but Spurs do not expect to add him to Kevin Danso’s signature.
09:44 AM GMT
Nothing to Tel so far
With Manchester United, Arsenal and Spurs among the Premier League clubs desperately seeking a striker there has been much transfer talk surrounding Bayern Munich’s wantaway forward Mathys Tel.
United appear to have had unsuccessful talks with the 19-year-old, who reportedly turned down a move to Spurs last week. Whether Arsenal make a move remains to be seen.
09:32 AM GMT
Leeds set sights on Archer
Leeds United have serious interest in Cameron Archer and it will be down to whether Southampton allow the former Aston Villa centre-forward to leave St Mary’s. The south-coast side also have Adam Armstrong attracting interest from Championship clubs but a move back to the North East today – to either Middlesbrough or Sunderland – does not look likely. Could that open the door for one of the most sought-after Championship targets to make their move? Promotion-chasing Burnley and Sunderland have also looked at Archer but Leeds are in the box seat if he is allowed to move.
09:25 AM GMT
Wolves close in on Reims midfielder
Wolves are among the busier Premier League teams on the final day of the window and are close to a deal for Reims midfielder Marshall Munetsi. The 28-year-old Zimbabwe international has been a regular in Ligue 1 for five seasons and will bolster Vitor Pereira’s central areas.
They are also in talks over a deal for Red Star Belgrade centre-back Nasser Djiga.
09:15 AM GMT
Five transfer moments of the January window
The January transfer window is a peculiar time of year – especially considering it is now February. It does strange things to people and throws up all manner of weird and wonderful moments. Here are five you may have missed.
09:08 AM GMT
Boro swoop for Leicester and Villa duo
Middlesbrough have responded to the departure of top goalscorer, Latte Lathe, by signing former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho and Aston Villa winger Samuel Iling-Junio on loan.
Iheanacho is joining on a season-long loan deal from Spanish side Sevilla, while Iling-Junior is arriving on loan from Aston Villa, having spent the first half of the season in Italy with Bologna.
Lathe has left Teesside for MLS side Atlanta United for a whopping £22m but that has left Michael Carrick’s side desperately short of fire power as they try to reignite their play-off hopes in the Championship.
09:06 AM GMT
Sunderland looking to land Liverpool winger
Sunderland are hoping to complete a loan move for Liverpool forward Jayden Danns before tonight’s deadline but have rejected two bids from Brighton for teenage winger Tommy Watson.
The Black Cats are determined to hold on to their latest young star and Watson is expected to remain on Wearside even if Brighton make a third bid today.
Their need for a forward, though, is a pressing one and manager Regis le Bris will be having a breakthrough can be made today even though they have a game against Middlesbrough this evening.
09:02 AM GMT
Marseille move off for Chelsea defender
Teenage defender Aaron Anselmino’s loan move to Marseille is currently not going ahead. At the moment the 19-year-old Argentine looks likely to spend the rest of the season at Stamford Bridge.
08:51 AM GMT
Liverpool winger moves to Portsmouth
Liverpool have agreed a deal for Kaide Gordon to move to Portsmouth on loan until the end of the season. The 20-year-old winger was recalled from his Norwich City loan earlier in the window and will be at Fratton Park for six months.
08:49 AM GMT
Ipswich swoop for Chelsea defender
Ipswich are close to securing the services of full-back Somto Boniface from Chelsea. The highly-rated England Under-18 left-back will be part of the first-team squad this season at Portman Road. An agreement is in place for the 18-year-old, pending a medical.
08:44 AM GMT
Everton closing on Alcaraz deal
Everton have made it a tradition to work on deals until the final minute of the deadline. In fact, they’re usually one of those clubs furiously trying to prove they had all the documentation in place for a signing a few hours after the window has officially closed. David Moyes wants and expects to be busy. Argentine midfielder Carlos Alcaraz – who is now going by the name Charly (presumably so as not to be confused with the double-Wimbledon champion) – should be an Everton player at some point today. Then it’s all about a striker. I suspect every agent with an unwanted forward on their portfolio will be on the phone to Moyes giving it the big sell.
08:36 AM GMT
Villa and Spurs do battle over Disasi
Chelsea are braced for a last-gasp approach from Aston Villa for central defender Axel Disasi, who has so far resisted a loan move to Tottenham Hotspur.
Tottenham have agreed a £5 million deal with Chelsea to take Disasi on loan for the rest of the season.
Villa’s loan bid for Disasi is understood to have been higher, but Chelsea turned it down because they believe Villa to be a greater rival for Champions League qualification.
Disasi is understood to have agreed terms with Villa and has so far resisted giving the green light to Spurs which has put his future in limbo.
Villa are expected to try again for Disasi today and it remains to be seen whether a deal can be done or whether he will eventually accept a move to Spurs.
Should he not move today then Disasi faces the threat of not being involved in Enzo Maresca’s matchday squad for the rest of the season after Trevoh Chalobah returned from Crystal Palace.
Another Chelsea player who could leave today is Joao Felix. AC Milan are leading the way to take the Portuguese forward on loan, but the Blues have received offers from three Champions League clubs.
Villa and Tottenham also expressed an interest in Felix, but Chelsea would prefer not to send him to a Premier League rival when they have European interest.
In terms of incomings, Chelsea are working on trying to sign a midfielder with Manchester City teenager Nico O’Reilly and French 19-year-old Mathis Amougou two players who are on their radar.
Chelsea have spent this window doing due diligence on wingers and strikers and have made progress ahead of the summer window if nothing materialises on the final day of the window.
08:30 AM GMT
All quiet on the transfer front at Liverpool
The transfer window was smashed open at Anfield when Real Madrid tried to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold in early January, but it has creaked towards closure ever since those advances were firmly rebuffed. Liverpool are likely to agree to a couple of loan deals for their young back-up players today but drama may be in short supply. Striker Jayden Danns is among those in demand and is being pursued by championship clubs.
Arne Slot has declared himself happy with his squad, and the main focus throughout the past four weeks has been on coaching, training, tactics, scoring goals, clean sheets and being top of the Premier League rather than spending loads of money. Not sure that will ever catch on…
08:27 AM GMT
All outs but no ins at Newcastle
If you had told Newcastle United supporters in December that the club would raise around £30m from player sales this month, they would have assumed there would be at least one new arrival to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad.
It is therefore causing some consternation that the Magpies appear to have no plans to be active on deadline day, even though the squad is weaker now than it was at the end of last year.
Newcastle have not signed a player to improve their first team since the summer of 2023, yet are still hoping Howe can qualify for Europe this season, as well as reach a second Carabao Cup final in three years. They face Arsenal in the second leg of their semi final, leading 2-0 from the first, on Wednesday night.
Newcastle have sold Miguel Almiron to Atlanta United for around £9m with add ons that could eventually be worth £11m. They have also allowed centre back Lloyd Kelly to depart for Juventus in a deal that will eventually be worth £20m to the North East club.
The sales have greatly improved Newcastle’s profit and sustainability regulations (PSR) situation and, crucially, they could be active in June when the PSR deadline will almost certainly force other clubs to sell to comply, but it is not going to help Howe in the here and now.
The one transfer to keep an eye on today involves Kieran Trippier. The former England international is of interest to Turkish club Galatasaray, but sources have told Telegraph Sport that they have not received a serious bid for the full back and Howe is adamant he does not want to lose another player.
08:19 AM GMT
Another one in at Villa
Aston Villa are set to confirm the signing of Paris St-Germain forward Marco Asensio, after the capture of Marcus Rashford.
Asensio was undergoing a medical on Sunday night at Villa’s training ground ahead of a loan move for the remainder of the season.
The Spain international will join Rashford as the latest high-profile attacking option for Unai Emery.
Villa are still in dialogue with Chelsea over a potential deal for Axel Disasi but are understood to be relaxed on defensive additions.
They are happy to wait until the summer if their top targets are not available at this stage.
08:17 AM GMT
Rashford’s messy divorce
So far the most high-profile move of the transfer window is undoubtedly Marcus Rashford’s switch to Villa Park.
Quite when the 27-year-old’s relationship with Ruben Amorim turned sour is anyone’s guess but things certainly deteriorated pretty swiftly between the former academy graduate and United’s new man at the helm.
Here Telegraph Sport charts the end of the road for Rashford at the club he once called home.
08:02 AM GMT
Brighton pip rivals to South Korea star Yun
Brighton are set to win the race for South Korea wonderkid Do-young Yun on a pre-contract and bring one of Asia’s most exciting talents to the Premier League.
Yun, 18, has broken into the Daejeon Hana Citizen senior team last May and became the K League club’s youngest scorer, attracting scouts from Europe to watch him.
While he was tracked by Premier League clubs, any move was only possible after he turned 18 in October, which was a similar situation to Yang Min-hyeok who has joined Tottenham Hotspur this month.
It is understood he has agreed the terms of a pre-contract at Brighton to arrive in England later in the year.
The new ‘Salah’
Yun has less than one year of senior football under his belt but has been compared to the likes of Mohamed Salah in terms of dribbling. He cites Lionel Messi as his childhood hero, along with Son Heung-min, who is set to complete a decade in the Premier League with Spurs.
He was still studying at Chungnam Mechanical Technical High School when he played for Daejeon Hana Citizen’s feeder teams and appeared for the senior team while still registered as an amateur.
For South Korea, he was in the squad for the Under-17 World Cup two years ago and is expected to earn a senior call-up after his stunning first year in the K League, Asia’s oldest professional league.
Yun would become one of the youngest players to go directly from the K League to the Premier League, along with Yang at Spurs. Other Koreans who made an impact in England include Son, Park Ji-sung, Hwang Hee-chan, Seol Ki-hyeon, and Ki Sung-yeung who played elsewhere in Europe beforehand.
One other Premier League club were bidding for Yun’s signature during the window, with Brighton winning the race with their record of developing young talent.
07:57 AM GMT
Ward-Prowse returns to West Ham
Graham Potter has effectively made a new signing by recalling James Ward-Prowse from his loan at Nottingham Forest. He gives the West Ham manager extra legs in midfield which has been an area he has wanted to strengthen. Ward-Prowse, 30, has only started cup games for Forest in the last couple of months, with Danilo, Ibrahim Sangare and Elliot Anderson providing competition in Nuno Esprito Santo’s team.
07:39 AM GMT
Dorgu becomes Amorim’s first signing
One move that has been completed is Manchester United’s signing of Denmark left-back Patrick Dorgu from Lecce for a projected £29.2 million. Ruben Amorim is desperate for players capable of operating in his specific tactical system and wing-backs are crucial to determining the success of his Old Trafford tenure. Dorgu was paraded at the Theatre of Dreams yesterday, before United’s 2-0 defeat by Crystal Palace, along with defender Ayden Heaven, the 18-year-old Arsenal academy graduate who has been spirited away from Hale End in much the same way as promising Danish striker Chido-Obi Martin several months ago.
07:27 AM GMT
Ferguson closing on West Ham switch
Another player doing the Premier League hokey-cokey is Brighton striker Evan Ferguson. The Republic of Ireland international’s career has stalled since he burst on to the scene in a blaze of goals as a strapping teenager in 2022/23. A combination of injuries and competition for places has thwarted the striker’s progress and so, as reported by Telegraph Sport, the 20-year-old has high-tailed it to West Ham to reunite with Graham Potter under whose guidance he first made a splash on the south-coast. Ferguson has passed a medical and that deal is purportedly almost over the line.
Also involving Brighton, defender Valentin Barco, who spent the first six months of the season at Sevilla, has made another six-month loan switch, this time landing at RC Strasbourg until the end of the season.
07:12 AM GMT
Chilwell set for Palace move
Also late last night news broke regarding Chelsea left-back Ben Chilwell. The former England international, who won the Champions League with Chelsea only three-and-a-half years ago but has had the misfortune to be consigned to Chelsea’s ‘bomb squad’ this season, looks poised to join Crystal Palace, also on a six-month loan, as injuries have left the Eagles’ left-back options looking paper-thin. Mike McGrath reveals the details.
07:04 AM GMT
Rashford moves to Aston Villa
There has already been some transfer activity over the weekend with the headline news on Sunday night being Marcus Rashford ending his 20-year association with Manchester United by putting pen to paper on an agreement to move on loan to Aston Villa until the end of the season. Villa have assented to covering at least 75 per cent of Rashford’s wages – which are understood to be £325,000 a week – and possibly up to 90 per cent depending on his and the team’s performance. This is a move that could work for all parties. And who better than Unai Emery to reboot Rashford 2.0? Read more here.
07:00 AM GMT
Today’s the (transfer deadline) day
Good morning transfer fans. At long last, the waiting and the wondering is over. No more counting down the sleeps before the big day. Finally, it is here. Today’s the day you get to find out whether your wishes have come true and if your club has managed to sign Victor Gyokeres, Victor Osimhen or... Victor Moses. That’s right it’s transfer deadline day and we’ve got it all covered on our transfer deadline day live blog – with all the latest moves brought to you by our reporters around the country.
The transfer window shuts at 11pm this evening – by which time clubs will have had to submit deal sheets that buy them an extra hour or two to complete the necessary paperwork. For the uninitiated, the deal sheets allow clubs to confirm to the Premier League that an agreement for a transfer has been reached and gives them additional time to submit the remaining documentation.
