Transfer deadline day: The biggest transfers of all-time

The summer transfer window runs for several months, but many clubs leave it until the last minute to get major deals over the line.

With that in mind, read on as we look at some of the biggest deadline day deals ever completed.

The biggest deadline day transfers of all-time

Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea to Manchester City – 2026

Manchester City had to be patient this summer, with Chelsea repeatedly insisting that Enzo Fernandez would not leave unless their demands were met.

A £125 million offer ultimately proved to be enough to get the deal over the line to complete a mind-boggling summer midfield rebuild for City.

Alexander Isak – Newcastle United to Liverpool – 2025

Alexander Isak went on strike to force through a move from Newcastle United to Liverpool last summer, and he eventually got his wish.

However, he has yet to prove his worth, with injuries and poor goalscoring form raising questions about Liverpool’s decision to splash the cash on him.

Cole Palmer – Manchester City to Chelsea – 2023

Chelsea’s decision to pay Man City £42.5m for Cole Palmer is widely regarded as one of the shrewdest moves completed in the Premier League.

Palmer tallied 25 goals and 15 assists in 45 appearances for Chelsea in 2023/24, and has put a slightly underwhelming 2025/26 campaign behind him with a fine start to this season.

Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus to Manchester United – 2021

Cristiano Ronaldo’s second stint with Manchester United ultimately ended in disappointment, but that does not detract from the buzz created by his return.

A total of 24 goals in 38 appearances during his debut season highlighted his prowess inside the box and he will forever be regarded as one of the club’s all-time greats.

Gareth Bale – Tottenham Hotspur to Real Madrid – 2013

The £85m paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale made him the world’s most expensive player at the time. It is debatable whether they got value for money.

Bale helped Los Blancos win plenty of major silverware, but a perceived lack of commitment resulted in the supporters turning against him.

Mesut Ozil – Real Madrid to Arsenal – 2013

Arsenal failed to sign Luis Suarez and Gonzalo Higuain during the summer of 2013, but eventually managed to snap up Mesut Ozil from Madrid.

His playmaking skills made him a fan favourite, but ultimately failed to deliver the Premier League title that the club’s fans craved.

Ashley Cole – Arsenal to Chelsea – 2006

Ashley Cole’s move to Chelsea in 2006 triggered a meltdown amongst Arsenal fans, with many accusing him of being greedy.

Cole shrugged off the criticism to establish himself as one of the finest defenders in the Premier League era.

Sergio Ramos – Sevilla to Real Madrid – 2005

The term ‘legend’ is thrown around too easily in professional football, but it unquestionably applies to Spanish centre-back Sergio Ramos.

He helped Madrid win five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues before joining Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.

Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United – 2004

Manchester United pulled off a major coup when they signed Wayne Rooney from Everton for £27m in 2004. Like Ramos, he earned legendary status.

He scored 253 goals and helped United win 16 pieces of silverware, including five Premier League titles and the 2007/08 Champions League.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Ajax to Juventus -2004

Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s overly inflated ego did not find favour with everyone during his career, but there is no denying his talent.

His move to Juventus did not work out, but he subsequently enjoyed successful spells with Inter Milan, Barcelona, AC Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Man United.

Premier League summer deadline day 2026 – All the done deals

Transfer deadline day 2026 in the Premier League provided its usual mix of blockbuster moves and deals which ultimately collapsed before the 11.00 pm cut-off.

Man City were the biggest spenders yesterday with Fernandez’s £125 million move from Chelsea becoming one of the most expensive transfers of all-time.

We look at the final deals completed during the 2026 summer transfer window, before assessing some of the headline-grabbing moves.

• Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea to Manchester City – £125m
• Iliman Ndiaye – Everton to Manchester City – £65m
• Matias Fernandez-Pardo – Lille to Newcastle United – £51m
• Ibrahim Mbaye – Paris Saint-Germain to Aston Villa – £47m
• Malick Fofana – Lyon to Sunderland – £31m
• Lucca Brughmans – Genk to Liverpool – £30m
• Taylor Harwood-Bellis – Southampton to Aston Villa – £29m
• Zian Flemming – Burnley to Ipswich Town – £20m
• Beto – Everton to Fiorentina – £15.4m
• Marc Guiu – Chelsea to RB Leipzig – £13.7m
• Tim Iroegbunam – Everton to Hull City – £13m
• Brooke Norton-Cuffy – Genoa to Hull City – £12m
• Sorba Thomas – Stoke City to Hull City – £10m
• Tosin Adarabioyo – Chelsea to Tottenham Hotspur – £10m
• Gabriel Jesus – Arsenal to Barcelona – £8.6m
• David Affengruber – Elche to Fulham – £8.5m
• Fabio Vieira – Arsenal to Hamburger SV – £8.5m
• Deivid Washington – Chelsea to Strasbourg – £6.9m
• Juan Riquleme Angulo – Independiente to Sunderland – £5m
• Ainsley Maitland-Niles – Lyon to Everton – £4m
• Manuel Angel – Real Madrid to Fulham – £3.4m
• Ben Chilwell – Strasbourg to Crystal Palace – undisclosed
• Quinten Timber – Marseille to Crystal Palace – undisclosed
• Caylan Vickers – Brighton & Hove Albion to Burton Albion – undisclosed
• Chema Andres – Stuttgart to Brighton & Hove Albion- undisclosed
• Christos Mouzakitis – Olympiacos to Hull City – undisclosed
• Igor Julio – Brighton & Hove Albion to Burnley – undisclosed
• Honest Ahanor – Atalanta to Chelsea – undisclosed
• Hugo Larsson – Eintracht Frankfurt to Fulham – undisclosed
• Ilyas Ansah – Union Berlin to Hull City – undisclosed
• Luis Semedo – Sunderland to Clermont Foot – undisclosed
• Nick Woltemade – Newcastle United to Juventus – loan
• Pape Matar Sarr – Tottenham Hotspur to Juventus – loan
• Jack Grealish – Manchester City to Everton – loan
• Harvey Elliott – Liverpool to Valencia – loan
• Mykhailo Mudryk – Chelsea to Tottenham Hotspur – loan
• Ethan Nwaneri – Arsenal to Borussia Dortmund – loan
• Robert Sanchez – Chelsea to Como – loan
• Kevin Danso – Tottenham Hotspur to Sunderland – loan
• Melvin Bard – Nice to Leeds United – loan
• Dario Osario – Midtjylland to Crystal Palace – loan
• Kota Takai – Tottenham Hotspur to Sint-Truidense – loan
• Borna Sosa – Crystal Palace to Koln – loan
• Cameron Humphreys – Ipswich Town to Huddersfield Town – loan
• Honest Ahanor – Atalanta to Crystal Palace – loan
• Jean Matteo Bahoya – Eintracht Frankfurt to Leeds United – loan
• Freddie Simmonds – Brighton & Hove Albion to AFC Wimbledon – loan
• Tudor Mendel – Ipswich Town to Luton Town – loan
• Jaden Heskey – Manchester City to Sheffield Wednesday – loan
• Sam Chambers – Leeds United to Northampton Town – loan
• Josh Powell – Nottingham Forest to Northampton Town – loan
• Dario Essugo – Chelsea to Strasbourg – loan
• Zach Abbott – Nottingham Forest to Southampton – loan
• Morato – Nottingham Forest to West Ham United – loan
• Wilfried Gnonto – Leeds United to Fiorentina – loan
• Mark O’Mahony – Brighton & Hove Albion to Burton Albion – loan
• Nathan Patterson – Everton to Torino – free
• Robinio Vaz – Roma to Hull City – loan
• Tudor Mendel – Ipswich Town to Luton Town – loan
• Chiedozie Ogbene – Ipswich Town to Lincoln City – loan

City lay down a marker on deadline day

City have generally preferred to get their transfer business done early, but they bucked that trend in style this time around.

A combined £190m outlay on Fernandez and Iliman Ndiaye has strengthened a squad which was already one of the most formidable in the Premier League.

Chelsea failed to acquire a direct replacement for Fernandez, with a move for Monaco’s Lamine Camara breaking down late in the day.

Arsenal’s hopes of acquiring a marquee forward floundered as Atletico Madrid maintained their strict ‘not for sale’ stance on Julian Alvarez.

Gabriel Martinelli’s imminent departure to Al-Hilal could be the biggest sale in Arsenal’s history with a reported fee of £55m. The Saudi Pro League transfer window runs until September 6.

Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira completed permanent moves away from Arsenal, while Ethan Nwaneri joined Borussia Dortmund on loan.

Other noteworthy deadline day deals included Newcastle United’s £51m swoop for forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille.

Nick Woltemade has exited St James’ Park after completing a season-long loan to Serie A giants Juventus.

Aston Villa have boosted their squad, signing Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris Saint-Germain and Taylor Harwood-Bellis from Southampton.

Everton managed to secure a season-long loan for Man City playmaker Jack Grealish, but a move for Monaco forward Folarin Balogun did not progress to completion.

The only deadline-day signing for Liverpool was 18-year-old Belgian goalkeeper Lucca Brughmans, while Man United failed to complete any deals.

They attempted to sign Man City defender Rayan Ait-Nouri on loan and will now hope that left-back Luke Shaw steers clear of injuries this season.

Sunderland fended off stiff competition from Crystal Palace to complete an unexpected £31m move for Malick Fofana from Lyon.