The summer transfer window closes today, with clubs in Europe scrambling to get deals finalized before the deadline. Follow along throughout the day as we dissect the biggest signings and rumors in the soccer world.
Jump to:
Potential deals | Latest analysis | Top signings
Deals confirmed today
Potential deals to monitor
Less than six hours remain in the summer window, and there's still much to monitor. The Premier League has the latest deadline at 6 p.m. ET, while Europe's other top leagues will close for business slightly earlier in the day.
Here are the marquee moves that could still be completed today:
Latest analysis
Enzo joining Man City
New Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has been trying to reunite with ex-pupil and namesake Enzo Fernandez for much of the summer, and, at long last, it appears he's getting his man.
Manchester City are reportedly matching the British transfer record to sign the Argentine for £125 million, completing a midfield overhaul that was badly needed following Rodri's departure for Barcelona.
Man City have already spent over £200 million combined on rising stars Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Fernandez will complete the puzzle at the Etihad Stadium after several other sales.
The Argentine has his detractors, but that's largely down to his antics at international level - see this summer's World Cup, for example.
His on-pitch value has been impossible to argue since he made a then-record £106.8-million transfer from Benfica to Chelsea in 2023. Fernandez was one of only six players in the Premier League last season to complete over 1,500 passes and create 50-plus chances.
His arrival at the Etihad will take some of the pressure off Anderson to be the focal point in midfield, and it also means 18-year-old phenom Bouaddi can develop at a steadier pace as he gets more comfortable with the rigors of English football. Fernandez immediately raises Man City's level, and has a positive knock-on effect on his midfield peers.
The 25-year-old was left out of Chelsea's squad for the last two matches amid transfer speculation, so it was in everybody's best interest that this deal got over the line today. Chelsea are already chasing potential replacements in Manu Kone and Lamine Camara.
Barca's backup plan
Barcelona tried, and failed, to pry Julian Alvarez away from Atletico Madrid this summer in a saga that turned nasty.
Atletico publicly accused their rivals of using manipulative tactics to sway the Argentine forward, while Alvarez himself looked totally despondent in the early matches of the season and drew the ire of Atleti fans for his failure to acknowledge them inside the stadium.
But Atletico stood their ground and refused to negotiate with the Catalan club. Barcelona eventually yielded, and have now turned to Gabriel Jesus as a low-cost backup option to help replace the scoring production that was lost when Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres left the club this summer.
If he can stay fit, Jesus should fit nicely with Hansi Flick's squad and tactics. But that's a very big question mark. Jesus, beset by injuries throughout his career, started just nine Premier League matches over the past two seasons as he spent time on the sidelines and fell down Arsenal's pecking order.
Is he really the guy that's going to push Barca over the line in the Champions League? It seems likely that Raphinha, who's been used as a makeshift No. 9 early in the season - to great effect, in fairness - will still be spending plenty of time playing through the middle despite the arrival of his compatriot.
Rebuilding on the fly
Aston Villa have had one of the most interesting summers of any club in Europe.
Unai Emery has watched as half of his starting lineup from last season was picked apart. Morgan Rogers, Ezri Konsa, Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Emi Martinez - huge contributors on the pitch with equally massive leadership roles and weight within the dressing room - were all sold. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Villa have started the season with two consecutive league losses and no goals scored.
But there's reason for optimism after the club reinvested in nine new signings. The deadline-day deal for Ibrahim Mbaye could end up looking like a total steal in the very near future. The Senegal international, still only 18, logged over 1,500 minutes of playing time at the senior level for PSG. Considering the caliber of forwards at the French club, it's a testament to his budding talent.
Late U-turns
An 11th-hour surprise is almost a guarantee on transfer deadline day, to the point where a hijacked transfer may no longer even constitute a "surprise."
The likeliest candidates for that type of U-turn on Tuesday appear to be Malick Fofana and Nicolas Tagliafico. The Lyon winger, one of Europe's most intriguing young attackers, seemed set to join Sunderland for around €30 million today, but Crystal Palace have reportedly arrived on the scene with a late offer that eclipses the Black Cats' bid.
Tagliafico, meanwhile, was in discussions with Juventus on Monday, but the Argentine left-back now looks destined to link up with several of his compatriots - and fellow Argentine Diego Simeone - at Atletico Madrid.
How many twists and turns will the day provide?
Can Arsenal get Alvarez?
Alvarez, as outlined, isn't going to Barcelona. But he could still move elsewhere.
Mikel Arteta and Arsenal have been chasing Alvarez for over a year as they seek the final attacking piece to complete their already outstanding squad. The 26-year-old has reportedly been reluctant to approve a transfer to the Premier League champions, but convictions can change quickly on deadline day as the clock ticks down.
Gabriel Martinelli is on the verge of leaving Arsenal today for Al-Hilal, while Ethan Nwaneri is close to joining Borussia Dortmund. The Gunners aren't clearing out squad space and shedding wages for no reason. Someone is coming to bolster the attack.
It's also worth noting that Viktor Gyokeres hasn't played a single minute to start the new season. Is Arteta trying to send a clear message that he wants an upgrade up front?
Reviving careers
As always, deadline day offers many players a chance to escape unfavorable situations and get their once-promising careers back on track. And many, unwilling to sit tight for another five months until their next opportunity to move arrives in the January window, jump at the chance.
Canadian striker Jonathan David has totally lost his confidence at Juventus, and is on the way to Atletico Madrid to try and rediscover it. Towering striker Nick Woltemade was considered one of Germany's prized prospects when he joined Newcastle for big money last year, but after a challenging transition to English football, he's now on the verge of a loan move to Juve, where his skill set should be a better fit for Luciano Spalletti than David's.
Elsewhere, Jack Grealish appears set to rejoin Everton, where he'll get playing time that wasn't going to be afforded to him at Manchester City, and Valencia are chasing Liverpool's Harvey Elliott.
Top summer deals
Teams in England's top flight have spent over £3 billion on new players this summer, and the all-time record of £3.14 billion for a single transfer window - established by the Premier League just last year - will be eclipsed when Enzo Fernandez's move to Manchester City becomes official.
Here are the biggest signings of the summer across European soccer so far:
