Latest transfer news (2024)

Transfers

• Man United submit opening offer for De Ligt and Mazraoui
• Newcastle begin negotiations to sign Guehi from Palace
• Smith Rowe completes Fulham move
• Newcastle to open contract talks with Gordon
• Fulham make £20m bid for McTominay
• Spurs looking at a striker, says Postecoglou

Oriol Romeu is close to joining Girona on a season-long loan deal for 2024-25.

Barcelona announced on Friday evening that the midfielder had "left the team base in Annapolis as he looks to resolve his future".

The 32-year-old is set to return to Girona having left the club last summer to join Barcelona.

The former Chelsea midfielder wanted to join his former club during the January transfer window in 2023-24 but the move was blocked by Barca sporting director Deco.

Romeu, who played for Southampton before joining Girona, made 28 appearances in La Liga last season and an additional seven in the Champions League under former head coach Xavi.

He will provide much needed experience as Girona prepare to play Champions League football for the first time in their history next season.

Romeu would become Girona's second loan signing of the summer following the arrival of Spain compatriot Bryan Gil from Tottenham Hotspur.

Crystal Palace winger Malcolm Ebiowei has joined Oxford United on a season-long loan deal.

Ebiowei joined Palace from Derby County in 2022 and has made five appearances for the south London club since then. He spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan with Belgian side RWD Molenbeek.

“I’m really excited to be here at Oxford United and I can’t wait to get going," said Ebiowei.

“I think this will be the place for me to really flourish as a player and I want to give my all for this badge."

The 20-year-old becomes the second winger signed by Oxford in the past week following the arrival of Matt Phillips, previously of West Bromwich Albion.

Head coach Des Buckingham said: "The wide areas are one area that we were keen to make additions to, and with Matt Phillips joining on Thursday, and now Malcolm, these signings will help us play the way we want to going forward.

"I have had some really good conversations with Malcolm before signing, and he is a player and person who is ready to learn and develop, and hopefully we can see the best of him this season."

Buckingham's side begin the new Championship campaign against Norwich City on August 10.

Roma have completed the signing of Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk from Girona.

Dovbyk was the top goalscorer in La Liga last term, netting 24 times to help Girona secure Champions League qualification for the first time in the club's history.

The 27-year-old, who represented Ukraine at the most recent European Championship in Germany, will wear the number 11 shirt after signing a five-year contract with Roma.

Dovbyk becomes the fifth senior player to leave Girona this summer following the departures of Savinho, Yan Couto, Aleix Garcia and Eric Garcia, who has returned to Barcelona following the end of his loan spell.

Roma begin the new Serie A campaign at Cagliari on August 18.

Erik ten Hag spoke candidly about a range of topics while on Manchester United's pre-season tour of the United States — including transfers and his contract situation.

Laurie Whitwell was there to take in what the manager said — and what he might have meant...

Manchester United Women have completed the signing of Sweden defender Anna Sandberg from BK Hacken.

The 21-year-old has signed a three-year deal which runs until 2027 with the option of a further year.

She becomes United’s fourth summer signing following the arrivals of Elisabeth Terland, Dominique Janssen and Melvine Malard, whose loan move from Lyon has been made permanent.

More below

• Xavi’s doubts over quality
• €30m fee - rising to €61m
• New chance under Flick - but little progress
• Still unregistered amid financial struggles

Barcelona didn’t want to miss out on the next Brazilian wonderkid — but Vitor Roque's move has not gone to plan.

Pol Ballus has more

Carlo Ancelotti says it is likely Real Madrid will be his last job in club management.

The 65-year-old is three years into his second spell at Real Madrid and has a contract with the Spanish champions that runs until 2026.

“I think it will be my last club, I have to say” Ancelotti told told the Obi One Podcast.

“If there would be an opportunity for a national team, I don't know. I'm not so excited to be in a national team for the fact that I would lose what I like more, the day-by-day. The day-by-day I like. To be here, to prepare the training, to talk to the players, to prepare the games.

“This is my season number 29 as a coach. It's true that I have won a lot but imagine the number of titles I lost. I lost a lot.”

From frustration at his boyhood club Arsenal to hope at Fulham — Emile Smith Rowe's new beginning.

• Played just 346 mins last season
• Fulham wanted Willian replacement
• Marco Silva persuasive
• Can rekindle England ambition

Peter Rutzler, Art de Roche and David Ornstein have more

Emile Smith Rowe has completed his move from Arsenal to Fulham.

The Athletic reported earlier this week that Arsenal had accepted a bid of £34million ($43.7m) — with £27m up front and £7m in potential add-ons — for the 24-year-old, a club-record transfer for Fulham. Smith Rowe had a medical with Fulham on Tuesday and has signed a five-year contract at Craven Cottage, with the option of a further 12 months.

“I’m finally here, so I’m really happy for me and my family – it’s a good moment,” Smith Rowe said. “I’m really excited, I just wanted to get here as quickly as possible so I could get going with my team-mates.”

Read more below

Manchester United have bid for Matthijs de Ligt — and his Bayern Munich team-mate Noussair Mazrouai — but if the Dutchman does arrive at Old Trafford it may require a tactical rethink from manager Erik ten Hag.

Anantaajith Raghuraman explains

Newcastle United have opened negotiations with Crystal Palace over a move to sign Marc Guehi.

The 24-year-old has emerged as one of the Premier League’s leading defenders and shone for England at the European Championship this summer.

He is high on the recruitment lists at a number of Europe’s biggest clubs — but Newcastle are the first to enter meaningful talks as they pursue what would be regarded a significant coup.

Palace received Newcastle’s approach this week and if agreements can be reached it will give Eddie Howe’s men a huge lift ahead of the new season.

More details below

Victor Osimhen starred as Napoli won Serie A in 2022-23 but struggled to match that last season.

Chelsea are negotiating with Napoli over a loan deal for the striker with an option to buy — but how good is he? And why the changes in form?

Anantaajith Raghuraman examines Osimhen's decline last term

Manchester City Women have completed the signing of Japan forward Aoba Fujino from Tokyo Verdy Beleza.

The 20-year-old has signed a three-year deal that runs until 2027.

Fujino, who enjoyed a breakthrough World Cup last summer, becomes City's third signing of the summer following deals for Vivianne Miedema and compatriot Risa Shimizu.

Fujino said: “In the league, this is a top-level club both physically and technically. That is something that I find very appealing, the size of the team and the organisation. It's very important to play in this kind of environment.”

Gareth Taylor added: “Aoba brings even more excitement and technical quality to the team. She is still young but has already established herself on the international stage and we are delighted to bring her to our club.”

Ange Postecoglou says Tottenham Hotspur are still light up front but maintains the club need a striker that fits their style of play.

Tottenham have made two signings so far this summer with 18-year-old midfielders Archie Gray and Lucas Bergvall — who agreed to join the club in February — arriving from Leeds United and Djurgarden respectively.

Spurs have also agreed a deal to sign South Korean winger Yang Min-hyuk, who will join the squad in January.

But Postecoglou’s side have not signed a senior striker since Harry Kane left for Bayern Munich last August. During the 2023-24 campaign, Son Heung-min and Richarlison were Spurs’ main striking options.

“Last year, we had to be a bit creative, it's to fair say,” Postecoglou said on the striker position. “If Harry would have stayed I definitely would have used him!

“I think for us what's more important is the type of striker we get. You know we play a certain way. We demand certain things from a physical perspective from the technical aspects of it that it's going be a striker that fits that mould.

“It's still the area of the park we're really probably the thinnest when I talk about squad-wise at the moment, so obviously that's a focus for us.”

Manchester United have submitted an opening double offer to sign Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich.

The Old Trafford hierarchy want to bolster their ranks by landing both defenders and stepped up their pursuit on Thursday via a joint bid.

There was optimism at United and among the players’ representatives that this would satisfy Bayern’s expectations for squad members they deem surplus to requirements.

But the proposal was rejected and the Bundesliga side told their Premier League counterparts it will need a higher fee to reach an agreement, with talks ongoing.

More details below

Newcastle United have agreed a deal to sign William Osula from Sheffield United.

Osula has been identified as player of interest to the North East club, and should everything go according to plan, the 20-year-old is expected to sign for Eddie Howe’s side.

The Danish-born forward, who can play as a winger or through the middle as a lone striker, made 21 appearances last season as Sheffield United were relegated to the Championship after one season in the top flight.

More below

Chelsea midfielder Andrey Santos has returned to Ligue 1 club Strasbourg on a loan deal for the 2024-25 campaign.

The French club are owned by BlueCo, the multi-club ownership group who are also in charge of Chelsea. The 20-year-old midfielder has been capped once by Brazil and returns to Strasbourg for a second spell having spent the second half of the 2023-24 season at the club.

In our 2024 edition of "shopping for Ten Hag," we dive deep into the data to find the perfect defensive midfield partner for Manchester United's rising star, Kobbie Mainoo.

Carl Anka explores potential signings like Manuel Ugarte and Youssouf Fofana, evaluating their fit alongside Mainoo's dynamic style.

Discover how these players could help reshape United's midfield and provide the stability needed for a successful season.

Who will Ten Hag choose to bolster his squad?

Newcastle plan to open contract negotiations with Anthony Gordon when the forward returns from an extended break next week.

The north-east club want to reward him for his superb first full season at St. James’ Park which ended with him being selected for England’s squad for the European Championship.

Newcastle had held discussions with Liverpool over potentially selling Gordon to the Merseyside club as they scrambled to raise around £60million ($76.4m) ahead of the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability (PSR) reporting deadline of June 30, but selling the 23-year-old was always viewed as last resort.

More details below