Manchester United completed a staggering transfer deadline-day deal for French teenager Anthony Martial on Tuesday, overshadowed in part by David de Gea remaining at Old Trafford after his move to Real Madrid collapsed.
News of United’s interest in the 19-year-old Martial first broke on Monday and he signed a four-year contract with an option for a further year after passing a medical examination.
British press reports put the fee at £36 million (Dh202.1m), which would make Martial the game’s most expensive teenager. Reports in France said the cost of the transfer could rise to €80 million (Dh330.8m).
"I have always wanted to play in the Premier League and to join the biggest club in the world is what every young footballer dreams of," said Martial, who received his first France call-up last week.
Martial played in 52 Ligue 1 games at Monaco. United manager Louis van Gaal said the club would need to show the pacey former Lyon youngster patience.
Read more: Ian Hawkey on the pricey baggage Anthony Martial will have to carry at Manchester United
“He has all the attributes to become a top football player; however we need to give him time to adjust to his new environment and the rhythm of the Premier League,” Van Gaal told the United website.
Against all expectations, Martial is set to start life at Old Trafford alongside goalkeeper De Gea, who was left stranded after his long-awaited transfer to Madrid broke down late on Monday.
De Gea had appeared on the brink of a move to Madrid worth €30-40 million and involving Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas in part-exchange.
But the deal collapsed at the last minute, with a Spanish Professional League (LFP) spokesman telling AFP that De Gea had not been registered as a Madrid player.
The Spanish club subsequently released a statement accusing United of sending the necessary documents after the deadline had passed in Spain.
In a statement of their own, United laid the blame at Madrid’s door, adding: “The club is delighted that its fan-favourite double Player of the Year, David de Gea, remains a Manchester United player.”
Financial consultants Deloitte said that Premier League gross spending was £870m, surpassing the record of £835m for a single transfer window, which was set a year ago.
“English clubs have significantly increased means relative to their European peer group,” Alex Thorpe from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group told AFP.
“With the recently announced broadcast deal to the next cycle, that trend is set to continue.”
On a relatively low-key deadline day, one of the most intriguing stories involved West Bromwich Albion's Saido Berahino, who apparently threatened to go on strike after his hopes of a move to Tottenham Hotspur fell through.
Having already turned down two offers of up to £21m from Spurs last month, West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace reportedly rejected two more approaches for the 22-year-old striker in the final hours before the deadline.
Peace’s stance infuriated Berahino, who had a transfer request rejected last month, and a post on his Twitter account suggested he was willing to stage a protest.
“Sad how I can’t say exactly how the club has treated me but I can officially say I will never play Jeremy Peace,” he tweeted.
Peace responded by blaming Tottenham for unsettling Berahino with their repeated attempts to prise him away from The Hawthorns.
“We have a key player who has been very unsettled by antics which were designed to get him out of our club cheaply,” Peace said.
“We are now left with the task of repairing the damage created by this unfortunate episode.”
Having been rebuffed three times in their pursuit of Everton defender John Stones, Chelsea signed Senegal centre-back Papy Djilobodji from Nantes on a four-year deal.
The champions added a second signing just before the window closed when they paid a reported £4m for Reading defender Michael Hector, who was immediately loaned back to the second-tier club.
West Ham United enjoyed a fruitful day as Alex Song and Victor Moses joined on loan from Barcelona and Chelsea, respectively.
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic signed Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic from Hull City for an undisclosed fee and winger Michail Antonio from Nottingham Forest for around £7m.
Everton announced the signing of Argentine centre-back Ramiro Funes Mori from River Plate on a five-year contract for a fee of £9.5m.
Southampton signed defender Virgil van Dijk from Scottish champions Celtic on a five-year deal for £11.5m, while Bournemouth landed striker Glenn Murray from Crystal Palace.
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