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Transfer updates! Everton sign Barca's Mina and Gomes

August 10, 2018

IMAGE: Everton confirmed Yerry Mina and Andre Gomes. Photograph: Everton/Twitter

Everton have agreed to sign Barcelona's Colombia centre back Yerry Mina for an initial 30.25 million euros ($34.97 million) and have also taken the club's midfielder Andre Gomes on loan, the Spanish champions said on Thursday.

Minutes before the English transfer deadline closed on Thursday, Everton also announced the signing of Brazil playmaker Bernard on a free transfer from Shakhtar Donetsk.

 

The 23-year-old Mina, who was impressive in defence at this year's World Cup in Russia where he also scored three goals, will rejuvenate an ageing Everton back line while offering a threat from set-pieces at the other end of the pitch.

The fee could rise by 1.5 million euros and Barcelona have inserted a buy-back clause in the player's contract.

Everton's season-long loan deal for Portugal's Gomes will see them pay 2.25 million euros and the player's wages. The 25-year-old has played 29 times for his country.

Bernard, also 25, has signed a four-year deal with the Merseyside club after his contract at Shakhtar ran out in June.

Capped 14 times by his country, Bernard can play on either wing or as an attacking midfielder.

The Brazilian said new Everton boss Marco Silva convinced him to join the Toffees.

Batshuayi joins Valencia on loan from Chelsea

La Liga side Valencia have signed Belgium striker Michy Batshuayi on a one-season loan deal from Chelsea, the two teams said on Friday.

Batshuayi joined Chelsea in 2016 from Olympique de Marseille for a reported 33 million pounds ($42 million) and only struck five league goals in his first campaign, although he scored in a 1-0 win at West Bromwich Albion which clinched the 2016/2017 Premier League title.

He struck 10 goals in all competitions in his second season with Chelsea but in January was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund, where he scored seven times in 10 Bundesliga appearances.

Valencia finished fourth in La Liga last season to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in three years, allowing Batshuayi to play in Europe's elite competition while Chelsea will be in the Europa League.

Batshuayi made three appearances at the 2018 World Cup. While celebrating Belgium's winning goal against England, he ended up being smacked hard in the face by the ball.

Chelsea defender Zouma joins Everton on season-long loan

Everton have signed French centre back Kurt Zouma on a season-long loan from Chelsea, the Premier League clubs announced on Friday.

The Merseyside club made a late move for the 23-year-old ahead of Thursday's 1600 GMT (5 pm BST) transfer deadline, and had to wait until Friday to learn if their bid was successful.

Zouma has made 71 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea before falling out of favour under former manager Antonio Conte, featuring in only nine league matches during the title winning 2016-17 campaign.

He spent last season at Stoke City and made 34 league appearances but could not prevent their relegation from the top-flight.

Zouma joins Brazil midfielder Bernard, Barcelona trio Yerry Mina, Andre Gomes and Lucas Digne, Richarlison and goalkeeper Joao Virginia in arriving at Goodison Park in the close season.

Atletico boost strike force by signing Kalinic from AC Milan

La Liga runners-up Atletico Madrid announced on Thursday they have signed Croatia striker Nikola Kalinic from AC Milan for an undisclosed fee, bolstering their already fearsome strikeforce of Antoine Griezmann and Diego Costa.

"Our club has reached an agreement with AC Milan for Niko Kalinic," said a statement from Atletico.

"The Croatian, 30, has become a new Atletico player after signing a three-year contract. Kalinic is a powerful striker who is very good in the air and who has a wealth of experience in European football."

Kalinic struck six goals in 20 starts in Serie A last season and is likely to be Atletico's third choice striker behind Costa and Griezmann.

The move is likely to lead to French striker Kevin Gameiro searching for a new club, with the Spanish media reporting this week that Valencia and Borussia Dortmund have made bids to sign him.

Southampton sign striker Ings on loan

Southampton have signed striker Danny Ings on a season-long loan from Liverpool before a permanent move next year, the Premier League club said.

The 26-year-old Ings played only 14 games in three years at Liverpool after suffering a number of injury problems.

“There was significant competition for Danny, with a lot of clubs keen to complete a deal for him, so we’re clearly delighted that he chose to join us," Southampton manager Mark Hughes told the club website.

“We have admired him for some time now, not only for his ability, but also his character and personality, which we feel will be an ideal fit in our dressing room.

“He’s obviously a local boy, who gives us another excellent option up front."

Ings started his career with Bournemouth before joining Burnley in 2011 and he played one match for England in 2015.

"He didn't get to play as much as he would have liked at Liverpool, but he has been injury-free for some time now and has a real point to prove," Hughes said.

Brighton bag Montoya from Valencia on deadline day

Brighton and Hove Albion signed right back Martin Montoya from Spanish side Valencia on a four-year contract on Thursday, the Premier League club said.

Montoya, 27, a former Barcelona and Inter Milan defender, who made more than 50 appearances for Valencia over the past two seasons, is Brighton's 10th signing of a busy transfer window.

"Martin's pedigree is excellent, and I'm delighted we have been able to add a player of his standing to our squad. There is no doubt he will improve our options in the right back position," manager Chris Houghton said.

Leicester bolster defence with Soyuncu and Benkovic deals

Leicester City strengthened their defence with the signings of Caglar Soyuncu and Filip Benkovic before the transfer window shut.

Soyuncu, who has been capped 15 times by Turkey, completed a move from Freiburg after signing a five-year deal.

British media reported Leicester paid around 19 million pounds ($24.4 million) for the 22-year-old, who played 30 times for Freiburg last season as they finished 15th in the Bundesliga.

Young Croatian Benkovic has moved from Dinamo Zagreb on a five-year deal for a fee reported to be about 13 million pounds.

The 21-year-old arrives at the King Power Stadium on the back of an impressive 2017-18 campaign with Zagreb in which he made 30 appearances in all competitions and helped them clinch the Croatian league title.

Defender Fernandez swaps Swansea for Newcastle

Newcastle United signed defender Federico Fernandez from Championship side Swansea City on Thursday, minutes before the transfer window closed in England.

Fernandez is Newcastle's seventh close season addition and has been given a two-year contract. He joined Swansea in 2014 and made more than 100 Premier League appearances for the Welsh club, who were relegated last season.

The Argentine played under Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez before joining Swansea, when the latter was in charge of Italian side Napoli.

Source: REUTERS
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