Pro Sports

Transfer flurry in EPL for every team apart from Tottenham

Posted August 09, 2018 7:00 am

By ROB HARRIS

Chelsea's new goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga is unveiled during the press conference at Stamford Bridge, London, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018. Chelsea has signed Athletic Bilbao goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga for a record fee after selling Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid. Chelsea announced the signing on Wednesday after paying Kepa's 80-million-euro ($92.6 million) buyout clause - the biggest fee ever for a goalkeeper. (John Stillwell/PA via AP) The Associated Press

LONDON (AP) - Fulham signaled its determination to stay in the Premier League by becoming the first promoted team to spend over 100 million pounds ($128 million) in the summer transfer window.

In an abbreviated trading period when English top-flight clubs collectively spent more than 1.2 billion pounds, there was one anomaly by the close of business on Thursday. For the first time since the summer transfer window was introduced 15 years ago, one team spent nothing: Tottenham.

The only addition to the north London club in the new season is a new stadium and even that won't be ready for the first month - at least.

"It's not about adding because it's fashionable to sign players," Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino said Thursday.

Pochettino decided keeping players was the priority after a third successive top-three finish. Harry Kane committed his future to Tottenham before heading to the World Cup and finishing as the top-scorer as England reached the semifinals.

Tottenham did provide the most players to the World Cup semifinalists. But strong performances in Russia weren't a necessity when it came to Premier League clubs deciding whether to spend the fruits of soccer's biggest television contracts.

Kepa Arrizabalaga never made it on the pitch for Spain in Russia but Chelsea broke the transfer record for a goalkeeper by meeting an 80 million euro ($93 million) buyout clause from Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday as a replacement for Thibaut Courtois.

Real Madrid was already pursuing the Belgium goalkeeper before striking the 35 million euro fee with Chelsea. The west London club did snap up a player from Madrid on loan for the season: Midfielder Mateo Kovacic, who helped Croatia reach the World Cup final where it lost to France.

Last season's top-two teams spent nothing on Thursday. Champion Manchester City had already signed winger Riyad Mahrez for a club-record 60 million pounds from Leicester. Manchester United signed midfielder Fred, defender Diogo Dalot and goalkeeper Lee Grant last month, but manager Jose Mourinho was left frustrated in his efforts to further strengthen.

FULHAM

Preparing for its first Premier League campaign in four years, Fulham added five players on Thursday, including signing midfielder Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa from Marseille, goalkeeper Sergio Rico from Sevilla and forward Luciano Vietto on loan from Atletico Madrid. American owner Shahid Khan has funded the recruitment of 12 players for the west London club.

EVERTON

Everton completed the treble-signing of Brazil winger Bernard from Shakhtar Donetsk, along with Barcelona duo Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes. The 23-year-old Mina, a Colombia defender, cost 31 million euros ($36 million), while 25-year-old Portugal midfielder Gomes moved to Goodison Park on a season-long loan. Everton has already broken its transfer record in the offseason by paying Watford 40 million pounds for Richarlison, a forward who didn't even make Brazil's World Cup squad.

BRIGHTON

Brighton engaged in a flurry of deadline-day activity, including signing Martin Montoya from Valencia. The former Barcelona and Inter Milan right back has committed to a four-year contract with Brighton, with the move subject to international clearance.

CRYSTAL PALACE

Crystal Palace will be hoping history doesn't repeat itself after signing Ghana striker Jordan Ayew on a season-long loan from Swansea. The 26-year-old Ayew has been relegated from the Premier League twice in the last three seasons - with Aston Villa in 2015-16 and Swansea last season. Ayew, who has 11 goals in 49 appearances for Ghana, scored 11 times for Swansea last season as he impressed in a struggling side.

LEICESTER

Leicester has signed three central defenders in the transfer window, with Jonny Evans, Filip Benkovic and Caglar Soyuncu giving Claude Puel a number of options in the position. Preventing England World Cup star defender Harry Maguire joining Manchester United was a triumph for Leicester. It also secured another England international, striker Jamie Vardy, to a new contract through 2022 on Thursday.

NEWCASTLE

Newcastle signed Argentine defender Federico Fernandez from Swansea, reuniting with manager Rafa Benitez after playing for him at Napoli.

WOLVERHAMPTON

The promoted team signed Leander Dendoncker from Anderlecht on an initial season-long loan. The central midfielder has made six appearances for Belgium, including in the group-stage win over England at the World Cup.

CARDIFF

Back in the Premier League after a four-year absence, Cardiff signed midfielder Victor Camarasa on a season-long loan from Real Betis before the opening weekend.

WEST HAM

Lucas Perez joined West Ham after the striker struggled to make an impact at Arsenal.

SOUTHAMPTON

Liverpool striker Danny Ings secured a return to hometown club Southampton, initially on loan ahead of an 18 million pound permanent transfer next year.

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AP Premier League coverage: www.apnews.com/tag/PremierLeague

Tottenham Hotspur defender Kyle Walker-Peters (37) leaps over the slide tackle of AC Milan forward Fabio Borini (11) during an International Champions Cup soccer match, Tuesday, July 31, 2018 in Minneapolis. Tottenham Hotspur won 1-0. (AP Photo/Bruce Kluckhohn) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017 file photo Real Madrid's Mateo Kovacic leaves the pitch after being injured during a Champions League group H soccer match between Real Madrid and Apoel Nicosia at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain. It has been reported on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 that Chelsea has signed Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic on loan from Real Madrid for the season. The move was completed on the final day of the summer transfer window in the Premier League. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco, File) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Saturday, July 28, 2018 file photo, Manchester United's Fred looks on during their International Champions Cup tournament soccer match against Liverpool, in Ann Arbor, Mich. The summer transfer window has been shortened in the Premier League to close on Thursday, Aug. 9 before the season starts. Joining from Shakhtar Donetsk for $66 million, Fred likely will take up a position in midfield alongside anchorman Nemanja Matic and also Pogba, who should play in his preferred place on the left of a central three and have fewer defensive responsibilities. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, file) The Associated Press

FILE - In this Friday, June 22, 2018 file photo, Serbia's Aleksandar Mitrovic celebrates after scoring the opening goal during their group E match against Switzerland at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Kaliningrad Stadium in Kaliningrad, Russia. Serbiaâs World Cup forward Aleksandar Mitrovic, who joined Fulham on loan from Newcastle in January, signed a permanent deal with the newly-promoted English Premier League club on Mondaym, July 30. No transfer fee was disclosed but media reports have put it at 22 million pounds ($28.9 million), rising to 27 million pounds ($35.4 million) with add-ons. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni, file) The Associated Press

New Everton signing Lucas Digne poses for a photo after a press conference at USM Finch Farm, Liverpool, England, Friday, Aug. 3, 2018. France left back Lucas Digne has joined Everton from Barcelona as the second signing of recently hired manager Marco Silva. (Eleanor Crooks/PA via AP) The Associated Press

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