With deadline day now underway, HITC Sport look back at the most expensive signings by Premier League clubs on the last day of the last 10 summer windows, including Mesut Ozil.
English top-flight clubs have until 23:00 on September 1 to conclude their business for the first half of the season in 2022. Vast figures have been spent right to the deadline in recent years with 2021 returning a Premier League record of £154m – excluding undisclosed fees.
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Per Sky Sports, the deadline day spend by Premier League clubs one year ago eclipsed the previous record of £150.5m set in 2016. It also continued a consistent rise in fees through the previous five windows, having fallen to £67m in 2017 then £99m, £100m and £127.5m.
The 2016 market’s mammoth deadline day outlay marked an outlier from windows either side. Premier League clubs dashed to get deals over the line in 2012 with a last-day £74.5m spend, before splashing a then-record of £111m in 2013, £71m in 2014 and £74m in 2015.
West Ham United, Arsenal, Watford, Everton, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City have all agreed one of the most expensive deadline day deals by Premier League teams during the last 10 windows, with the Gunners the top spenders three times.
But Premier League clubs splashing big bucks to beat the deadline has not always ensured their last-day deals have proven a success, as David Moyes learnt the hard way a year ago.
Nikola Vlasic: West Ham agreed most expensive deadline day deal in August 2021
West Ham United agreed the most expensive deadline day deal by a Premier League club in August 2021 as David Moyes brought Nikola Vlasic back to England from CSKA Moscow. The Hammers paid an upfront £27m for the Croatia maestro, plus up to £7.5m in add-ons.
Yet Vlasic would only start seven of his 12 top-flight games in claret and blue, while failing to score or provide an assist. The 24-year-old played a total of 574 minutes, and is now in Serie A on loan to Torino – who have an option to buy him next summer for €15m (£13m).
Thomas Partey: Arsenal topped Premier League deadline day spending in 2020
Arsenal topped the spending list in October 2020 with their deadline day move for Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid at £45.5m. Mikel Arteta triggered a release clause in the 29-year-old’s contract at the Metropolitano, and has reaped the rewards of their last-gasp transfer.
Partey has proven a transformative presence at the Emirates Stadium with his athleticism and defensive skill in the deep-lying areas. The Gunners sorely miss the Ghanaian in front of their backline when injured, which is often with just 51 league outings from a potential 78.
Ismaila Sarr: Watford broke the bank to bring winger to Premier League in 2019
Watford broke the bank to bring Ismaila Sarr to the Premier League from Stade Rennais in a £40m deadline day deal in August 2019. It set a club-record for the Hornets, who fended off an array of competition to get the Senegal ace to Vicarage Road on a five-year contract.
The 24-year-old has since gone on to prove an electric presence in the Watford frontline in the Premier League and Championship. Sarr boasts 10 goals and eight assists from 50 top-flight appearances, and has so far struck 15 while creating 11 from 44 second-tier outings.
Yerry Mina: Everton agreed deadline day deal with Barcelona for defender
Everton agreed a last-ditch transfer with Barcelona in August 2018 for Yerry Mina at £27m, which would be the most expensive deadline day deal by a Premier League team that year. The Toffees also awarded the Colombia centre-back a five-year contract worth £120k-a/w.
However, while Mina has delivered a number of important performances with a towering presence in the box, he has all too often been unavailable. The 27-year-old has only made 80 top-flight appearances, starting 70, from a potential 157 games after a string of injuries.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Liverpool raided Arsenal for deadline day deal in 2017
Liverpool raided Arsenal on deadline day in August 2017 to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a £40m deal, making it the most expensive last-gasp move by a Premier League side. It also saw the England international reject Chelsea in favour of a £120k-a/w deal at Anfield.
The 29-year-old had spent six years at the Emirates Stadium for nine goals and 18 assists in 132 top-flight fixtures. He has since offered Liverpool 10 goals and 10 assists in 94 outings, but has only opened 42 games from a potential 154 matches after a succession of injuries.
David Luiz: Chelsea struck most expensive 2016 Premier League deadline day deal
Chelsea agreed the most expensive deadline day deal by a Premier League team in August 2016 to sign David Luiz. The Blues paid Paris Saint-Germain £32m to re-sign the centre-half who had only left Stamford Bridge to move to the Parc des Princes in a £50m deal in 2014.
Luiz had helped the west London outfit win the Champions League during his first spell at the club. His return would also return the Premier League title in 2016/17, along with their second FA Cup title together in 2018 and a second Europa League crown together in 2019.
Anthony Martial: Manchester United spent big on deadline day deal with Monaco
Manchester United paid Monaco £36m, rising to £58m after add-ons, to sign a 19-year-old Anthony Martial, making him the most expensive deadline day signing by a Premier League club that summer. The deal also made him the world’s most expensive teenage footballer.
The forward convinced the Red Devils to spend big bucks on his services after 15 goals and eight assists in 70 games for Les Monegasques. Martial has since hit the net 79 times, with 51 assists, from 270 games across all competitions as a versatile attacker at 26-years-old.
Danny Welbeck: Arsenal raided Manchester United to beat Premier League deadline
Arsenal raided Manchester United ahead of the Premier League deadline to agree a £16m deal for Danny Welbeck in September 2014. Arsene Wenger targeted the then-23-year-old after 29 goals in 142 games at the Red Devils, who let him go after signing Radamel Falcao.
Welbeck also lifted two Premier League titles whilst at Old Trafford, and would add two FA Cup winners’ medals to his trophy cabinet while at the Emirates Stadium. He also struck 32 goals in 126 games with the Gunners, before the now Brighton ace joined Watford in 2019.
Mesut Ozil: Arsenal struck shock deadline day deal for Real Madrid maestro
Arsenal struck a shock deadline day deal to sign a 24-year-old Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for a then club-record £42.5m in September 2013. The Gunners beat the deadline to land a La Liga winner, considered by many at the time to be among the best playmakers around.
Ozil helped Arsenal end their trophy drought in his debut season with the club by winning the FA Cup. It would be one of four that the 92-cap maestro lifted whilst in north London, where he made 254 appearances, before also helping Germany win the 2014 World Cup.
Javi Garcia: Manchester City beat transfer deadline for final day deal in 2012
Manchester City beat the transfer deadline to secure a £16m deal with Benfica to sign Javi Garcia, and make him the most expensive Premier League arrival on the final day in 2012. Roberto Mancini made the Spaniard his priority as Daniele de Rossi opted to stay at Roma.
Garcia would later help the Citizens win their maiden Premier League title in 2013/14, plus the 2014 EFL Cup. The two-cap international – now an assistant manager at Benfica – only stayed at the Etihad Stadium until 2014, though, following 76 outings in all competitions.
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