Transfer Deadline Day: Winners and Losers

A day of total madness, despair for some and pure joy for others – the Transfer Deadline Day certainly lived up to all the hype. Money changed hands, and players changed teams. Now that it’s all over, let’s see how well each team did.

Note: For the sake of simplicity, only the big clubs that did business on the last day are featured here. You can find the full list of transfers here.

Winners

Arsenal

There can be only one! A sensational deadline day swoop for German playmaker Mesut Ozil sent Arsenal fans in a frenzy late last night. Although there were conflicting reports about Manchester United joining the chase and Ozil refusing to leave Madrid, in the end Arsene Wenger got to deliver his surprise.

For £42.5m, Arsenal have signed one of the top three playmakers in the world and perhaps the most likeable footballer on the planet – a brilliant double whammy that will not only bring the disgruntled fans back on board, but also new ones.

Supporting Arsenal just became sexy. And it was telling that Chelsea backed out of loaning Demba Ba to Arsenal at the last minute. In one fell swoop, Arsenal went from Champions League spot contenders to having an outside chance at the title. 27-year-old goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano also joined on a season-long move, to provide sturdy competition for the no.1 spot.

Liverpool

A last minute loan move for Victor Moses means the Reds completed three first team signings on deadline day, quite a catch for Brendan Rodgers.

In Sakho and Illori, Liverpool have signed two quality centrebacks with a lot potential and added a lot of depth to an already good team. Fabio Borini’s loan move to Sunderland will help him get more game time, which would have been difficult with Moses joining, so in that sense it was another prudent move.

Three good signings and Suarez still to come back from his ban – the sun is shining brightly at Anfield.

AC Milan

The Italian giants signed Kaka for free. Kaka. For. Free. Four years after selling him for €65 million. If that doesn’t make them a winner, then I don’t know what does.

Everton

Roberto Martinez needed a striker, and boy did he get one! Chelsea’s decision to send Lukaku out on loan seems inexplicable, but Martinez will not be complaining – he now has a proper striker up front to bang in the goals, a problem area in the first few matches. Midfielder James McCarthy also joins from Wigan for 13m, so there’s another familiar face for Martinez to work with.

Keeping hold of Leighton Baines is another feather in the cap for Martinez, considering Man United’ genuine interest and multiple bid.

Man City’s only piece of business on the last day was loaning out midfielder Gareth Barry to Goodison Park, a valuable and experienced addition for Everton.