Depatures from English Football.

The completion of two major transfers occured last night, where Arjen Robben left West London and Gabriel Hienze left Manchester both bound for Madrid. Robben claims in the Guardian that “Chelsea should of done more to keep me”, which is funny considering he requested the move, and besides who would want to keep a player no matter how talented that player is (and Robben is immensely talented) who is always on the injury bench?? Heinze finally got his move away from Manchester, and  the Telegraph reports on whether Heinze will still take further action against Manchester United blocking his “dream move” to Liverpool.

Elsewhere Roy Keane lands the services of Andrew Cole who will reunite with the manager and Dwight Yorke. (football.co.uk)

Filed under: Chelsea, football, football transfers, liverpool, manchester united, soccer, sports

Fowler heads to Cardiff

Robbie Fowler will join Cardiff city this summer after rejecting offers from Sydney FC in Australia’s A League and Leiscester City.

He is has accepted a two year contract with the Welsh club and is expected to be unveiled sometime next week.

The former England international and Liverpool legend will once again team up with chairman Peter Risedale, who was also in charge of Leeds United when they had brought Fowler from Anfield to Leeds.

The aquisition of Fowler has come after the club lost its most prolific and valuable striker: Michael Chopra to Sunderland.

Fowler was released by Liverpool at the end of last season after spending 10 years there, with spells at Manchester city and Leeds in between this tenure.

Filed under: Cardiff city, football, football transfers, liverpool

Mido to move to Birmingham for £6 million

It has been reported that Egyptian strker Mido will move to Birmingham for a £6 million fee. Initially Mido was scheduled to move to Birmingham for a one year loan deal after struggling to make an impression at Spurs last season.

But with the arrival of Darren Bent from Charlton this summer and having to compete with Robbie Keane, Berbatov and Jermain Defoe up front, his move to Birmingham is likely to turn permanent.

If the deal goes through, subject to Mido agreeing personal terms and passing a medical it will be Steve Bruce’s largest buy of the summer.

The Birminghma manager is also reported to be interested in Mido’s Tottenham teammate and compatriot Hossam Ghaly

Filed under: birmingham, football, football transfers, soccer, tottenham

Arsenal secure Sagna

Arsenal have completed the signing of French defender Bacary Sagna from Auxere today on a long term contract for an undisclosed fee.

Speaking from Arsenals website, Wenger showed that he was delighted with the arrival of the 24 year old

” He is a very capable defender and has played consistently well fro Auxerre in recent seasons. He plays mainly at rightback but can also play along the defence or in midfield. He is strong quick and enjoys defending but alkso has a good offensive side to his game.”

Sagna ’s arrival at the Emirates could prove beneficial to a team that has lacked a sufficient defence since the Tony Adams left and also the departure of Sol Campbell. The North London club let in 35 goals last season and Wenger was looking for a suitable partner and defensive cover at the back for Kolo Toure and William Gallas.

Facts about Sagna from arsenal.com

Filed under: arsenal, football, football transfers

Liverpool seal Babel for £11 million and other transfer news

Babel moves to Anfield for £11 million

Liverpool has agreed terms with Ajax to sign the Dutch winger Ryan Babel for 11 million. The 20 year old will sign a four yeasr contract with Liverpool this Friday. Babel is a protege of Ajax’s famed youth system and he was a member of the Dutch team that won the under 21 European championship in June and also was in the senior squad in the 2006 World cup in Germany.

Arsenal had also been monitoring his progress but Liverpool were able to meet the financial demands of the Dutch club by supplementing their income through the saale of Craig Bellamy to West Ham.

Nugent signs for Pompey £6 million:

 

David Nugent completed his move from championship side Preston North End to Portsmouth yesterday in a deal that had cost the southampton team £6 million. The 22 year old signed a four year contract after negotiations between his former club and Everton (his boyhood club) broke down because Everton could not meet the £6million evaluation mark for the striker. He had also chose Fratton Park over a move to Sunerland who did manage to match Preston North Ends demands.

Nugent said of his move:

“i can no longer play for the England under 21s and i have to break into the senior squad. i am now playing in the premier league which will now further my career. i met Harry and straight away knew where i was going.”

“He sold the club to me  on the players he was bringing i, the squad is full of great names”

Nugent was unveiled today with another newboy, the Nigerian stiker John Utaka. 

Tottenham edge closer to signing Boateng 

Today Tottenham moved closer to sealing a deal that would take Kevin-Prince Boateng to White heart Lane after Hertha Berlin accepted an offer from the North London club. Sevilla also had a keen interest in the 20 year old midfielder placing a £2.7 milion bid last week but the Bundsliga club were tempted by a £5.4 million offer from Tottenham.

“The offer from Seville never interested us. It was not enough so we turned it down. We have accepted an offer from England but now we must reach an agreement.” said the Hertha general manager Dieter Hoeness.

The German midfielder has made 43 appearances for the Bundesliga side scoring four goals.

Filed under: football, football transfers, liverpool, portsmouth, tottenham

Benayoun moves to Liverpool for £5 million

Benitez has continued his busy shopping spree with Liverpool by purchasing Yossi Benayoun from West Ham for 5 million. The Israeli captain has signed a four year contract worth around £50, 000 a week with the red half of Merseyside, after successfully completing his medical.

The move was completed after a Benayoun had refused to sign a new contract with the Hammers, after he had supposedly agreed to do so. Benitez has alwaays been a keen admirer of the Israli international since his days in Spain when he used to play for Racing Santander.

Benayoun has spent two years with the Hammers and enjoyed an impressive first season where he helped giude the team to the FA Cup final. He had initially turned down interest from Benitez before whilst at West Ham. However he felt marginalised in recent times with the Hammers, especially under Curbishley (although he had a decent run in the squad towards the end of the season), and endured a difficult time with the East End club while struggling to avoid relegation

Filed under: West Ham, football transfers, liverpool

Football gypsy signs for Hammers

West Ham have secured the services of Craig Bellamy in a £7.5 million deal with Liverpool.

The 27 year old Welsh Captain’s move to Upton Park was signified by Livepools purchase of Fernando Torres last week, which would of left him limited to first team chances; fourth behind Torres, Kuyt and Voronin.

“The club is looking to strengthen what is already a very good squad, and West Ham are renowned for their open and attacking football, so everything is perfect for me” Bellamy said of his move from Anfield “I could sit at Liverpool as a squad player all day long, picking up my money, playing every now and then, but I’d be cheating myself and my personality”

West Ham is the 7th club that Bellamy has played for and controversy has followed him at almost every club he has been at. He famously fell out with Graham Sousness whilst he as incharge of Newcastle, and Bobby Robson had described him as the “gobbiest” player he has ever worked with. Whilst at Liverpool last season he was alleged to have threatened co-team mate John Arne Riise with a golf club in a pre team break in Portugal.

This aside it is apparent why Curbishley is interested in the Welsh international. Bellamy’s qualities as a player shows that he is pacy, has great technique and the same fire that has characterised him by the media and former managers, will transfer well onto the pitch.

Filed under: West Ham, football transfers, liverpool

Chelsea sign Malouda

Florent Malouda has signed for Chelsea today after beating off stiff competition from around Europe including Liverpool and Real Madrid. The 27 year old French winger has joined the FA Cup holders fom Lyon for an undisclosed fee said to be within the £13.5 million mark and has signed a four year contract.

At Lyon, Malouda won four french titles and was voted best player in the French League 1 last year scoring twelve goals along the way. He was also a member of the French squad that reached the final of the World cup last year when they went out to Italy. Malouda video

Speaking about his decision to join Chelsea when being courted by nearly everyone in Europe, he explained that his choice was helped by the persuasion of his friend and former teammate at Guingamp :

“i felt everyone there wanted me to sign, but Didier pushed for it in particular and the manager wanted me too. I had a few people on the phone, particulary Rafael Benitez. But i got the impression that it was only him who wanted me.”

Filed under: Chelsea, football transfers