Deadline Day:Arsenal have completed the signings of Andre Santos, Per Mertesacker and Yossi Benyoun, while Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta has also moved to the Emirates Stadium from Everton. Liverpool have re-signed Craig Bellamy from Manchester City on a two-year-deal and offloaded Raul Meireles, David Ngog, Joe Cole and Christian Poulsen.
Portuguese midfielder Meirelessigned for Chelsea on a four-year-deal for a £12 million fee after he submitted a transfer request late in the day. Uruguayan Alvaro Pereirafrom FC Porto earlier conceded his proposed move to Chelsea would not happen.
Colehas joined French champions Lille on a season-long loan deal. The 29-year-old travelled to France yesterday to undergo a medical and, despite a late bid by Aston Villa, the player has opted to join the Ligue 1 club.
“Liverpool announced today it had finalised a deal with Lille OSC for the loan transfer of Joe Cole,” said a club statement. “The 29-year-old will now join the French champions for the remainder of the current campaign.”
Liverpool last night completed the signing of Uruguayan international defender Sebastian Coateson a long-term deal for £7 million, while Danish midfielder Poulsenwill join Cole in Ligue 1 when he arrives at newly promoted Evian.
Ngoghas agreed a £4 million move to Bolton Wanderers, where he will be joined by loan signing Gael Kakutafrom Chelsea.
Arsenal — mauled 8-2 at Old Trafford on Sunday — last night added Korean forward Park Chu-youngand followed that up today with the signatures of Brazilian defender Santosfrom Fenerbahce and German international Mertesackerfrom Werder Bremen.
The 28-year-old Santos joins the Gunners from the Turkish champions and will add some much-needed experience to an Arsenal backline which shipped eight goals in their humiliating defeat at Manchester United on Saturday.
Manager Arsene Wenger told the club's official website, www.arsenal.com: "Santos is a quality player, with the ability to both defend well and get forward and help with attacks. He has experience in the Champions League and for Brazil and has proven he can deliver at the highest level.
"We welcome Santos to the club and look forward to him having a big impact for us."
The Brazilian full-back, who did not feature in the 2010 World Cup squad, is understood to have joined the Gunners in a £6 million deal.
Mertesacker
passed a medical and agreed personal terms at Emirates Stadium today and a settlement, believed to be worth over €10 million, was reached with Werder. The Gunners confirmed the deal this evening, shortly before Chelsea's Israeli midfielder
Yossi Benayoun
announced on Twitter he was delighted to be joining the Gunners on loan.
The
Arteta
deal was reported after the 11pm deadline but no details were released, while
Nicklas Bendtner
was expected to be confirmed a Sunderland player,
Meanwhile, Spurs boss Harry Redknapp has signed Scott Parkerand held on to Luka Modric, despite what he claims was a £40 million offer from Chelsea. The 30-year-old Parker was not included in the West Ham squad for last weekend's win at Nottingham Forest as the deal drew ever closer.
Parker handed in a transfer request at Upton Park on Tuesday in a bid to force through the move to White Hart Lane and both clubs have finalised the switch this afternoon.
Redknapp also had an interest in Bolton centre-back
Gary Cahill
but claimed after 9pm that a move for the Bolton defender was not going to happen. However,
Peter Crouch
and
Wilson Palacios
have left White Hart Lane for Stoke City in deals worth a combined £18 million. They will be joined by striker
Cameron Jerome
from Birmingham City.
Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillipshas joined QPR, while Owen Hargreavesearlier move to Eastlands on a one-year contract following his release by rivals Manchester United.
Blackburn Rovers have signed Everton's Nigerian striker Aiyegbeni Yakubuand defender Scott Dannfrom Birmingham.