Crystal Palace’s swoop for midfielder Adam Wharton from Blackburn looked to be the biggest Premier League move of deadline day as the transfer window closed with a flurry of late loan deals.
The Eagles – fighting to stay clear of being dragged into a relegation battle – are said to have paid an initial fee of £18million, which could potentially see a further £4m in add-ons for the talented 19-year-old.
Wharton, who has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract, feels Crystal Palace is the right place for him to further his ambitions.
“The way they have brought players from the Championship and developed them into world-class players in the Premier League is something that stood out to me,” Wharton said on the club’s website. “It is a big reason why I wanted to come here.”
Burnley, who sit second bottom of the table, completed a loan deal for Montpellier defender Maxime Esteve until the end of the season and then also announced the arrival of right-back Lorenz Assignon on loan from Rennes.
Centre-back Esteve, 21, had watched the Clarets’ 3-1 defeat at Manchester City on Wednesday night before completing the formalities of his deal ahead of the transfer deadline.
There were plenty of loan deals announced late in the window.
Sheffield United confirmed Mason Holgate’s arrival until the end of the season from Everton after ending his spell at Southampton six months early having only made seven appearances.
Chelsea’s 19-year-old Brazilian midfielder Andrey Santos has joined French club Strasbourg on loan until the end of the season, having spent the first half of the campaign at Nottingham Forest.
Earlier, Forest had signed 18-year-old striker Rodrigo Ribeiro on loan from Sporting Lisbon and there were more late deals at the City Ground, with veteran goalkeeper Matz Sels arriving from Strasbourg.
Bournemouth have signed Turkey forward Enes Unal on loan from Getafe for the rest of the season and Tottenham forward Alejo Veliz has completed a loan move to Sevilla.
Forest also confirmed Orel Mangala had completed a loan move to Lyon, who have the option to make the deal permanent in the summer.
Spanish side Villarreal reached an agreement to take Bertrand Traore for the rest of the campaign after he was allowed to leave Aston Villa on a free transfer.
Brentford head coach Thomas Frank was delighted as striker Ivan Toney stayed at the club, having been linked with Arsenal and Chelsea during the January window.
Despite the 11pm deadline, more transfers could be completed provided clubs have lodged a ‘deal sheet’ to allow extra time to tie up the formalities.
Fulham have been chasing a loan deal for Chelsea striker Armando Broja.
PA understands West Ham’s Pablo Fornals – who was set to be named on the bench against Bournemouth – has permission to discuss a £7million move to Real Betis.
However, Said Benrahma’s proposed move to Lyon broke down, despite the player having travelled to France for a medical.
“West Ham United can confirm that the deadline day deal for Said Benrahma to join Olympique Lyonnais was not concluded ahead of the deadline, with a deal unable to be completed before 11pm,” a spokesman for the Premier League club said.
Like Forest, Aston Villa and Newcastle had also completed early deals to strengthen their squads.
Morgan Rogers swapped Middlesbrough for Villa Park in a reported £8million switch and Newcastle brought in teenage midfielder Alfie Harrison from Manchester City.
Villa later announced Australia goalkeeper Joe Gauci would be joining from Adelaide United following the Asian Cup, while Brighton midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud has joined Stuttgart on loan.
In the Sky Bet Championship, promotion-chasing Ipswich signed Wales forward Kieffer Moore on loan from Bournemouth.
Norwich have signed Dutch forward Sydney van Hooijdonk – son of former Celtic and Nottingham Forest forward Pierre – on loan from Serie A club Bologna, with an option to make the deal permanent.
West Brom brought Celtic winger Mikey Johnston to The Hawthorns, versatile Manchester City player Josh Wilson-Esbrand signed for Cardiff until the end of the season and Liverpool defender Billy Koumetio linked up with Blackburn on loan.
QPR strengthened their midfield in a bid to beat the drop with the loan signings of Isaac Hayden from Newcastle and Joe Hodge from Wolves.
Sheffield Wednesday completed the loan signing of forward Ian Poveda from Leeds and Cristian Pedersen from Swansea.
Defender Connor Roberts heads to Elland Road from Burnley and Stoke signed Netherlands Under-21 winger Million Manhoef from Vitesse Arnhem.
Earlier, midfielder Alex Pritchard completed a move from Sunderland to Birmingham, where he will be reunited with former Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray.
Sunderland signed winger Romaine Mundle from Standard Liege and then brought in Callum Styles from Barnsley on loan ahead of the deadline.
Hull’s busy transfer window continued with the signing of Turkey midfielder Abdulkadir Omur from Trabzonspor and Burnley winger Anass Zaroury on loan.
Swansea brought in Poland international Przemyslaw Placheta after his contract at Norwich was cancelled along with signing young forward Charles Sagoe Jr on a six-month loan from Arsenal.
Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes: ‘A win would change everything’ - Godoy
Anibal Godoy insists that Nashville are already looking at their game against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday as a must-win.
Nashville have won just once in the MLS this season and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference after a run of four without a win.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are bottom of the Western Conference having lost eight of their matches and recording just one win.
Godoy is aware of how their poor start to the season could affect their playoff hopes later down the line but is confident that Nashville can turn things around.
He said: “For us, it's an important week. It's a day we have to win, or we'll start to feel the pressure from other teams as they start to separate in the table.
“This league is long but if we want to get to the playoff you have to win games early on, especially at home.”
Liverpool agree compensation deal for Slot
Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation deal for Arne Slot to become the Reds’ manager next season, according to widespread Dutch media reports.
The Dutchman is reportedly poised to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021.
It is believed that he topped the list of Liverpool’s favoured candidates due to his attacking playing style and ability to develop players.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim were also reported contenders to take over from Klopp.
Slot had already confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League, both earlier this week and previously when he was linked to Tottenham in 2023.
QPR 4-0 Leeds United: Shock loss for Farke's men seals Leicester's promotion
QPR thrashed Leeds United 4-0 in the Championship on Friday, ensuring Leicester City booked their promotion straight back to the Premier League.
Ilias Chair was the star for the Hoops as he scored the opener and assisted two more goals to ensure QPR will stay in the Championship for another season.
Lucas Andersen, Lyndon Dykes and Sam Field also got their names on the scoresheet in an emphatic win for Marti Cifuentes' side.
Leeds' heaviest defeat of the season was a huge blow in the race for an automatic promotion spot, with Ipswich Town just one point behind them in third place with two games in hand going into their away clash against Hull City on Saturday.
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