With the summer transfer window about to end, HITC Sport look back at the best Premier League deadline day signings in August 2021 – from Marc Cucurella to Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The 2022 market will slam shut on September 1 at 23:00 after 12 weeks of transfers as the Premier League works in line with other major European leagues. La Liga end their window at 22:59 local time, whilst Serie A and Bundesliga work until 17:00 and Ligue 1 go to 23:59.
- WORLD CUP: ONE PLAYER TO WATCH FROM ALL 32 NATIONS AT QATAR
- WORLD CUP: TOURNAMENT RECORD OF FRANCE ICON ZINEDINE ZIDANE
Premier League sides spent a whopping £1.37bn last summer, with the 20 clubs combining for 476 done deals. Jack Grealish’s transfer from Aston Villa to Manchester City toppedl the money list at £100m, pipping Romelu Lukaku’s £97.5m return to Chelsea from Inter Milan.
Yet some of the best bits of deadline day business that Premier League sides splashed their cash on were not among the most lucrative moves during the summer 2021 sales. Instead, a handful of clubs found value in their last-gasp raids to secure last-ditch reinforcements…
Marc Cucurella: Brighton secured one of best August 2021 deadline day deals
Brighton & Hove Albion brought Marc Cucurella to the Premier League on deadline day in August 2021 from Getafe. The Seagulls triggered a £15.5m release clause in the left-back’s contract with the La Liga outfit, and handed the Spaniard a five-year contract at the Amex.
Yet Cucurella would only spend a season on the south coast before netting Brighton more than £60m by joining Chelsea. The Blues spent big on the 24-year-old this August following 35 top-flight appearances with the Seagulls, which only returned just a goal and one assist.
His exciting and attacking efforts at the Amex also attracted interest from Manchester City. But Sky Sports noted that Pep Guardiola’s side refused to increase their £30m offer for the left-back, despite Cucurella handing in a transfer request in the aim of joining the Citizens.
Takehiro Tomiyasu: Arsenal signed new starting right-back on deadline day
Arsenal signed their new starting right-back from Bologna on deadline day last August in a £15.5m move for Takehiro Tomiyasu. The Japan international instantly cemented his place in Mikel Arteta’s plans with a fantastic defensive ability the Gunners had previously lacked.
Had he stayed fit through the entire term, Tomiyasu was on course to be regarded as one of Arsenal’s best signings through the 2021/22 season. However, the 23-year-old struggled with a wealth of injuries following the turn of the year that majorly restricted his minutes.
Dan James: Premier League winger may feature in another deadline day deal
Leeds United raided one of their biggest rivals in Manchester United on deadline day last summer to sign Dan James. The Whites paid in excess of £25m for the Welsh winger, who penned a five-year contract to move to Elland Road after just two seasons at Old Trafford.
The 24-year-old had struggled to cement a presence with the Red Devils, starting just 39 of his 50 Premier League appearances for six goals and seven assists. Yet James has been a huge hit in West Yorkshire, starting 31 of his 36 games for four goals and five assists so far.
His performances as a versatile forward threat, capable of playing on both wings and in the centre, have also merited interest from Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. Fabrizio Romano notes the Toffees have made enquiries, whilst Spurs are targeting a loan with a buy option.
Ademola Lookman: Brendan Rodgers admitted Leicester wanted to retain loanee
Ademola Lookman secured a season-long loan deal to Leicester City from Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig on deadline day in August 2021. The 24-year-old would only start in 16 of his 26 Premier League appearances with the Foxes, yet offered six goals across his 1,456 minutes.
He additionally helped Leicester reach the Europa Conference League semi-finals with four starts from eight appearances. While only Jamie Vardy and James Maddison eclipsed what Lookman offered in the top-flight, netting 15 and 12 goals respectively in 25 and 35 games.
Such was the impact Lookman made in his limited opportunities, Brendan Rodgers wanted to retain the winger. But the Foxes were not able to afford to buy the former Everton gem, who instead left Leicester to join Serie A side Atalanta in August 2022 in a £15m operation.
“I would have loved to have signed Ademola, who was great here last season and got over 10 goals and assists. But we weren’t able to do that,” Rodgers said, via Leicestershire Live.
Connor Roberts: Burnley secured low-cost deal for new starting right-back
Burnley agreed a low-cost deal with Swansea City to sign Connor Roberts on deadline day in August 2021. The right-back moved to Turf Moor on a four-year contract for £2.5m for his first real taste of Premier League football, and soon became the Clarets’ first-choice option.
Roberts had previously played four top-flight games with the Jacks in 2017/18, prior to the Welsh side’s relegation. He would go on to make 21 appearances with Burnley for one goal and one assist. Sean Dyche had to wait until December to field him following a groin injury.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Portuguese icon delivered on the pitch before summer of turmoil
Cristiano Ronaldo can be viewed as one of the Premier League’s best deadline day signings from August 2021. The Portuguese delivered on the pitch under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and his interim successor Ralf Rangnick, before he sparked a summer of turmoil at Old Trafford.
No Manchester United player outscored Ronaldo in the top-flight last term as the 37-year-old hit 18 goals in 30 games. The 189-cap international’s efforts were also enough to rank third in the league, behind Golden Boot winners Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-Min (23).
Yet the Red Devils’ failure to qualify for the Champions League sparked a desire within the five-time Ballon d’Or winner to leave. ESPN note his wish for a transfer became public back in July – a decision a majority of his teammates are also claimed to have ‘greeted with joy’.
The £13m arrival from Juventus, rising by £7m with add-ons, has so far only held a bit-part role under Erik ten Hag this season, amid the uncertainty surrounding Ronaldo’s future. He has only started one of four appearances in the Premier League for a total of 153 minutes.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
