The English Premier League saw the most action on the
final day of transfer activity until the end of Europe’s top five leagues’
domestic seasons, with Tottenham Hotspur and Everton the busiest clubs.
Alli’s permanent switch to Goodison Park from Spurs
represents a fresh start for the 25-year-old, who has fallen from grace having
been a key figure for club and country only a few years ago.
The midfielder made only seven Premier League starts
last season under former coach Jose Mourinho and has been unable to win his
first-team spot back on a regular basis under new boss Antonio Conte. Alli last
made an international appearance in June 2019.
“I’m delighted to have signed for Everton, a huge
club with a great fanbase and history,” Alli said. “I’m eager to get
started and can’t wait for my first game in an Everton shirt.”
With Alli headed for Everton, that made room at
Tottenham for two new arrivals in the shape of midfield pairing Dejan
Kulusevski and Rodrigo Bentancur from Juventus.
There was further clearing of the decks from Conte on
Monday, with another player who has flattered to deceive for Spurs – club
record signing Tanguy Ndombele – joining former club Olympique Lyonnais on
loan.
The writing was on the wall for Ndombele when he was
booed off by his own supporters during last month’s FA Cup match against
Morecambe.
It is new beginnings aplenty at Everton, with new boss
Frank Lampard confirmed as the club’s new manager on Monday. He added two fresh
faces to his squad before the deadline passed.
Alli is joined by another midfielder desperate to show
what he can do in Netherlands international Van de Beek.
To say his dream move to Manchester United did not
work out would be an understatement, as Van de Beek’s first season with the
club was spent looking on from the sidelines under previous coach Ole Gunnar
Solskjaer.
The arrival of interim manager Ralf Rangnick has only
made things worse, with the Dutchman yet to start a Premier League match this
term, mustering just 69 minutes all season in the English top flight.
The 24-year-old will hope that under a coach who
scored Premier League goals for fun from midfield as a player, he can learn a
few things in training to turn his fortunes around, returning to United in the
summer a different proposition altogether.
“I had a really positive meeting with the new
coach,” he said. “We have the same ideas about football and he had a
lot of influence on my decision.”
SHOWN THE DOOR
Aubameyang’s impending departure from Arsenal marks
the end of a precipitous fall after four years in North London.
His decision to renew his contract in 2020 delighted
Arsenal fans, having seen the striker score 22 league goals in both the 2018-19
and 2019-20 campaigns.
However, he could only muster 10 league strikes the
following term as Arsenal finished eighth, and things have deteriorated further
for Aubameyang this season.
The 32-year-old striker has not played for Arsenal
since December after manager Mikel Arteta stripped him of the captaincy due to
a “disciplinary breach”.
The free transfer to Barcelona has been agreed late on
Monday, according to widespread reports, as Aubameyang gets set to limp out the
door after scoring just four Premier League goals in 2021-22.
Arsenal were so desperate to get him off their books
they will let him leave for nothing, 18 months before his contract concludes.
Barcelona have done plenty of rebuilding in the
transfer window, with England’s Premier League where they chose to do most of
their shopping. Adama Traore arrived from Wolverhampton Wanderers on loan while
Manchester City sold Ferran Torres to the Catalan club.
The feel-good story of deadline day was the return of
Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen to football, as he signed for Premier
League club Brentford, seven months after he suffered a cardiac arrest during a
European Championship match.
The most expensive signing of the window remained new
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who left Fiorentina for a deal worth up to 80
million euros ($89 million), plus other charges.
