EFL

EFL Play-offs Semi-final recap

/ Christopher Chrysostomou / 1 Comment

Championship

Derby 1-0 Fulham

Cameron Jerome 34’

Derby stunned Fulham with a hard fought victory at home. Cameron Jerome was the match winner for the Rams, heading home his fifth goal in four games.

Fulham had plenty of possession but could not find the killer pass to break down the resilient Derby defence. Fulham’s sideways passing was reminiscent of Manchester United under Louis Van Gaal. Teen sensation Ryan Sessegnon had a night to forget and was subbed off in the 76 minute. The Cottagers will need to improve if they are going to overcome their first leg deficit. Fulham have not won any of their past seven playoff games.

Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa

                                                  Mile Jedinak 15’

Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak gave Aston Villa the advantage in their playoff tie against Middlesbrough. The midfielder headed home from a corner to secure the all-important away victory. Villa possessed more quality in attack and almost doubled their lead when Robert Snodgrass hit the woodwork late in the first half. Middlesbrough committed more bodies forward late on in the game but could not create any chances. The two sides will meet again on Wednesday morning.

League 1

Charlton 0-1 Shrewsbury

                                Jon Nolan 80’

A superb Jon Nolan volley was the difference in a closely fought contest at The Valley. Both sides looked destined to remain level, before Nolan’s wonder strike gave The Shrews the advantage. Both sides will do battle again on Monday morning.

Scunthorpe 2-2 Rotherham

                                       Jon Taylor 17’
Michael Ihiekwe 18’ (OG)
                                      Joe Newell 64’
Cameron McGeehan 88’

Scunthorpe and Rotherham played out the most entertaining match in the first week of the playoffs. Jon Taylor put the visitors ahead, before an own goal from Michael Ihiekwe levelled the scores. Substitute Joe Newell took 58 seconds to score and give the Millers the lead, which was again pegged back by the Iron, as Cameron McGeehan scrambled home a goal.

League 2

Lincoln 0-0 Exeter

Lincoln City and Exeter could not be separated as they fought out a tense goal-less draw in the first leg of the play-off semi-final. Both sides found it difficult to create any chances on goal, with the one-standout chance coming early in the second half, when Matt Rhead headed the ball onto the woodwork.

PPAUK_SPO_Lincoln_City_120518_043JPG

Coventry 1-1 Notts County

                                           Jonathan Forte 49’
Marc McNulty 87’ (P)

Marc McNulty kept Coventry City’s Wembley hopes alive with a late penalty to ensure the tie hangs in the balance at the halfway stage. The Sky Blues dominated the affair in the opening half, but could not convert their chances. Jonathan Forte gave the visitors the lead with a fine finish early in the second half. But just as it looked like the Magpies would come away with the win, Tom Bayliss was caught by Magpies right-back Matt Tootle on the edge of the box and was awarded a penalty.

ENGLISH FOOTBALL TRANSFER WRAP (WEEK 5)

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Tommy Elphick – Aston Villa to Reading (Loan)

Luke Amos – Tottenham to Stevenage (Loan)

Leonardo Ulloa – Leicester to Brighton (Loan)

Justin Shaibu – Brentford to Walsall (Loan)

Harry Toffolo – Norwich to Millwall (Undisclosed/Market value: A$397,000)

Gerard Deulofeu – Barcelona to Watford (Loan)

George Taft – Mansfield Town to Cambridge United (Loan)

Daniel Sturridge – Liverpool to West Brom (Loan)

Connor Mahoney – Bournemouth to Barnsley (Loan)

Charly Musonda – Chelsea to Celtic (Loan)

Caolan Lavery – Sheffield United to Rotherham United (Loan)

Boris Mathis – Everton to Northampton Town (Loan)

Baba Rahman – Chelsea to Schalke (Loan)

Ashley Smith-Brown – Manchester United to Oxford (Loan)

Anton Walkes – Tottenham to Portsmouth (Loan)

Ali Gabr – Zamalek to West Brom (Loan)

Adam King – Swansea to Mansfield Town (Loan)

Aaron Tshibola – Aston Villa to Kilmarnock (Loan)

Tim Cahill – Melbourne City to Millwall (Free)

Pascal Struijk – Ajax to Leeds United (Undisclosed)

Diafra Sakho – West Ham to Stade Rennes (A$15.9 million)

Tom Beadling – Sunderland to Dunfermline Athletic (Loan)

Tobias Figueiredo – Sporting Lisbon to Nottingham Forest (Loan)

Roque Mesa – Swansea to Sevilla (Loan)

Mauro Zarate – Watford to Velez Sarsfield (Loan)

Josh Tymon – Stoke City to MK Dons (Loan)

Joe Rodon – Swansea to Cheltenham Town (Loan)

Jack Harrison – New York City FC to Manchester City (A$6.35 million)

Jack Harrison – Manchester City to Middlesbrough (Loan)

Andrew Boyle – Preston North End to Doncaster Rovers (Loan)

Ahmed Musa – Leicester City to CSKA Moscow (Loan)

Marcus McGuane – Arsenal to Barcelona (Undisclosed)

Emerson Palmieri – Roma to Chelsea (A$31.76 million)

Dodi Lukebakio – Royal Charleroi SC to Watford (Undisclosed/Market value: A$4.76 million)

Diogo Jota – Atletico Madrid to Wolverhampton Wanderers (A$22.23 million)

Chiedozie Ogbene – Limerick FC to Brentford (Undisclosed)

Aymeric Laporte – Athletic Bilbao to Manchester City (A$103.21 million)

Tyler Walker – Nottingham Forest to Bolton Wanderers (Loan)

Todd Kane – Chelsea to Oxford (Loan)

Tin Plavotic – Bristol City to Barnet (Loan)

Thomas Anderson – Burnley to Doncaster Rovers (Loan)

Stephen Humphrys – Fulham to Rochdale (Loan)

Stephen Henderson – Nottingham Forest to Portsmouth (Loan)

Shayon Harrison – Tottenham to Southend United (Loan)

Sandro Ramirez – Everton to Sevilla (Loan)

Ryan Allsop – Bournemouth to Lincoln City (Loan)

Rolando Aarons – Newcastle United to Hellas Verona (Loan)

Reece Oxford – West Ham to Borussia Monchengladbach (Loan)

Reece Burke – West Ham to Bolton Wanderers (Loan)

Pontus Dahlberg – IFK to Watford (A$6.2 million)

Pontus Dahlberg – Watford to IFK (Loan)

Ovie Ejaria – Liverpool to Sunderland (Loan)

Olamide Shodipo – OPR to Colchester United (Loan)

Nathan Thomas – Sheffield United to Shrewsbury Town (Loan)

Muhamed Besic – Everton to Middlesbrough (Loan)

Moses Makasi – West Ham to Plymouth Argyle (Loan)

Monty Patterson – Ipswich to Wellington Phoenix (Loan)

Michy Batshuayi – Chelsea to Borussia Dortmund (Loan)

Matthew Willock – Manchester United to St Johnston (Loan)

Matt Penney – Sheffield Wednesday to Mansfield Town (Loan)

Martin Braithwaite – Middlesbrough to Bordeaux (Loan)

Marnick Vermijl – Preston North End to Scunthorpe United (Loan)

Louis Gray – Everton to Carlisle United (Loan)

Lloyd Jones – Liverpool to Lincoln City (Loan)

Lewis Grabban – Bournemouth to Aston Villa (Loan)

Lazar Markovic – Liverpool to Anderlecht (Loan)

Kyle Howkins – West Brom to Port Vale (Loan)

Krystian Bielik – Arsenal to Walsall (Loan)

Kasey Palmer – Chelsea to Derby (Loan)

Jon Flanagan – Liverpool to Bolton Wanderers (Loan)

Jeff Reine-Adelaide – Arsenal to Angers (Loan)

Jamie Sterry – Newcastle United to Crewe Alexandra (Loan)

Jacob Davenport – Manchester City to Burton Albion (Loan)

Jack Fitzwater – West Brom to Walsall (Loan)

Jack Colback – Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest (Loan)

Issac Success – Watford to Malaga (Loan)

Islam Slimani – Leicester City to Newcastle United (Loan)

Henri Saivet – Newcastle United to Sivasspor (Loan)

Harry Wilson – Liverpool to Hull City (Loan)

George Williams – Fulham to St Johnston (Loan)

Flynn Downes – Ipswich to Luton Town (Loan)

Eoin Doyle – Preston North End to Oldham Athletic (Loan)

Easah Suliman – Aston Villa to Grimsby Town (Loan)

Dylan Mottley- Henry – Barnsley to Chesterfield (Loan)

Didier N’Dong – Sunderland to Watford (Loan)

Costel Pantilimon – Watford to Nottingham Forest (Loan)

Chuba Akpom – Arsenal to Sint-Truidense (Loan)

Chris Martin – Derby County to Reading (Loan)

Benik Afobe – Bournemouth to Wolverhampton Wanderers (Loan)

Ben Stevenson – Coventry City to Wolverhampton Wanderers (A$794,000)

Ben Stevenson – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Colchester United (Loan)

Ben Marshall – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Millwall (Loan)

Ben Hall – Brighton to Notts County (Loan)

Andy King – Leicester City to Swansea (Loan)

Aleksander Mitrovic – Newcastle United to Fulham (Loan)

Ademola Lookman – Everton to RB Leipzig (Loan)

Mustapha Carayol – Nottingham Forest to Ipswich Town (Free)

Matthew Mills – Nottingham Forest to Barnsley (Free)

Mathieu Debuchy – Arsenal to St Etienne (Free)

Louis Dodds – Shrewsbury Town to Chesterfield (Free)

Ashkan Dejagah – Nottingham Forest (Free)

Tyler Roberts – West Brom to Leeds United (A$4.53 million)

Roy Beerens – Reading to Vitesse Arnhem (Undisclosed/Market value: A$2.38 million)

Papa Alioune Ndiaye – Galatasaray to Stoke City (A$25.40 million)

Oliver Giroud – Arsenal to Chelsea (A$27 million)

Matej Kovar – FC Slovacko to Manchester United (Undisclosed/Market value: A$80,000)

Lucas Moura – PSG to Tottenham (A$45.1 million)

Jordan Stevens – Forest Green Rovers to Leeds United (Undisclosed)

Jordan Hugill – Preston North End to West Ham (Undisclosed/Market value: A$4.76 million)

Joe Lolley – Huddersfield Town to Nottingham Forest (Undisclosed/Market value: A$794,000)

Jack Withers – Boston United to Swansea (Undisclosed)

Glenn Middleton – Norwich City to Rangers (Undisclosed)

Gary Madine – Bolton Wanderers to Cardiff City (Undisclosed/Market value: A$477,000)

Freddie Ladapo – Crystal Palace to Southend United (Undisclosed/Market value: A$395,000)

Angus MacDonald – Barnsley to Hull City (Undisclosed/Market value: A$1.6 million)

Andre Ayew – West Ham to Swansea (A$36.20 million)

Admir Mehmedi – Bayer Leverkusen to VFL Wolfsburg (A$12.70 million)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Borussia Dortmund to Arsenal (A$98.80 million)

https://twitter.com/Sporf/status/959120194365984769

*Market value’s courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk 

 

 

English Football Transfer Wrap (Week 4)

/ Christopher Chrysostomou / Leave a comment

Ryan Loft – Tottenham to Exeter City (Loan)

Michal Zyro – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Charlton Athletic (Loan)

Matt Targett – Southampton to Fulham (Loan)

Mateusz Klich – Leeds United to FC Utrecht (Loan)

Kenny McLean – Aberdeen to Norwich City (A$357,460)

Kenny McLean – Norwich City to Aberdeen (Loan)

Erdal Rakip – Benfica to Crystal Palace (Loan)

Alexis Sanchez – Arsenal to Manchester United (Swap)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan – Manchester United to Arsenal (Swap)

It is very rare to see swap deals in football but surely the Sanchez/Mkhitaryan swap is up their with Zlatan Ibrahimovic/Samuel Eto’o as the biggest swap deal of all time. Arsenal fans may not see it now, but in the long term the deal will end up being a win/win for both clubs. Sanchez was in the final six months of his contract and could have walked away from the club for free at the end of the season. Instead, Manchester United swapped Mkhitaryan for the Chilean star. Mkhitaryan had a horrid time under Mourinho but expect him to return to his best at Arsenal. The Armenian suits Arsenal’s passing style of play and if played in his preferred position of central attacking midfield, he will create numerous opportunities for Alexandre Lacazette or possibly Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Sanchez on the other hand will be given licence to cut in from the left or right wings at United. Given he is available for the Champions League, Sanchez’s arrival is a bargain in terms of todays transfer market.

Tommy Smith – Ipswich Town to Colorado Rapids (Undisclosed/Market value: A$2.38 million)

Ritchie de Laet – Aston Villa to Antwerp (Loan)

Kenedy – Chelsea to Newcastle United (Loan)

Jaroslaw Jach – Zaglebie Lubin to Crystal Palace (A$3.49 million)

Aaron Lennon – Everton to Burnley (Undisclosed/Market value: A$7.92 million)

Harry Souttar – Stoke to Ross County (Loan)

Paul Rooney – Millwall to Colchester United (Undisclosed) 

Shaun Miller – Carlisle United to Crewe Alexandra (Loan)

Lois Diony – St Etienne to Bristol City (Loan)

Kevin O’Connor – Preston North End to Fleetwood Town (Loan)

Jason Shackell – Derby County to Millwall (Loan)

Axel Tuanzebe – Manchester United to Aston Villa (Loan)

Onel Hernandez – TSV Eintracht Braunschweig to Norwich City (A$3.17 million)

Matthew Palmer – Burton Albion to Rotherham United (A$633,920)

Guido Carrillo – AS Monaco to Southampton (A$34 million)

Southampton paid a club record transfer fee to secure the exciting Carrillo from Monaco. The 18th placed Saints have found scoring difficult this season, netting only 24 goals in 24 games. Carrillo will need to hit the ground running to help the Saints avoid relegation. 

Dennis Srbeny – Paderborn to Norwich City (A$2.36 million)

Stephen Warnock – Burton Albion to Bradford City (Loan)

Matthew Lund – Burton Albion to Bradford City (Loan)

Bradford’s three signings – Matthew Lund, Ryan McGowan and Stephen Warnock. 

Ryan McGowan – Al-Sharjah to Bradford City (Free)

Australian international Ryan McGowan has swapped the UAE for Yorkshire in the quest to impress new Socceroo’s manager Bert van Marwijk. The 28-year-old defender arrives at Bradford on a free transfer, subject to an international clearance.

Mallik Wilks – Leeds United to Grimsby Town (Loan)

Joao Mario – Inter Milan to West Ham (Loan)

Jacob Bruun Larsen – Borussia Dortmund to VFB Stuttgart (Loan)

Darren Bent – Derby County to Burton Albion (Loan)

It’s a vast contrast from the big money moves that have highlighted Darren Bent’s career, but the move to Burton Albion could be just a pivotal. Bent – one of only 26 players to have netted more than 100 goals in the Premier League, arrives at the Brewers hoping to help the team avoid relegation from the Championship. The Brewers sit in last place, one point below safety. Scoring has been a struggle for the Brewers, who have netted 21 goals in 28 matches. But with vast experience and a knack for finding the net, Bent has the opportunity to become a club hero by helping the side avoid the drop.

Duckens Nazon – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Oldham Athletic (Loan)

Andy Firth – Liverpool to Chester FC (Loan)

Shaun Donnellan – West Brom to Yeovil Town (Free)

Tony Gallacher – Falkirk to Liverpool (A$358,000)

*Market value’s courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk 

 

English Football Transfer Wrap (Week 3)

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Marcus Edwards – Tottenham to Norwich City (Loan)

Jason Cummings – Nottingham Forest to Rangers (Loan)

Ricky Holmes – Charlton Athletic to Sheffield United (A$701,260)

30-year-old Ricky Holmes said his move to Sheffield United was a no brainer. The winger has been heavily criticised by Charlton fans on social media, but Holmes said at his age, moving to Sheffield United may be his last chance to play in the Premier League. The Blades sit in the playoff positions in the Championship and are potentially 19 games away from promotion to the top tier. For Holmes, the decision to leave Charlton for Sheffield was about completing a life-long dream.

https://twitter.com/ricky_holmes/status/952939959777923072

Russell Martin – Norwich City to Rangers (Loan)

Kean Bryan – Manchester City to Oldham Athletic (Loan)

Jack Payne – Huddersfield Town to Blackburn Rovers (Loan)

Michael Madl – Fulham to Austria Vienna (Undisclosed/Market value: A$1.6 million)

Michael Madl departs Fulham.

Keshi Anderson – Crystal Palace to Swindon Town (Undisclosed/Market value: A$155,840)

Cameron Jerome – Norwich City to Derby County (A$2.65 million)

Derby have boosted their attacking options with the signing of 31-year-old striker Cameron Jerome. The deal is seen as a huge step towards promotion for the Derbyshire club. The Rams sit second on the table but have had little output from their strikers. Attacking midfielder Matej Vydra has netted 15 goals this season, nine more than forwards David Nugent and Sam Winnall. Jerome has only scored one goal for Norwich this season, but has netted 124 goals in his career.

Martin Samuelsen – West Ham to Burton Albion (Loan)

Marko Grukic – Liverpool to Cardiff City (Loan)

Marcus Tavernier – Middlesbrough to MK Dons (Loan)

Deniss Rakels – QPR to Cracovia (Loan)

Theo Walcott – Arsenal to Everton (A$35.06 million)

Walcott unveiled at Everton.

After 12 years of service, Theo Walcott departed Arsenal with his belongings in a bin bag. The winger has been at the Gunners since the age of 16, but a lack of game time this season has seen him move to Everton. Walcott thanked Arsene Wenger for giving him the opportunity at such a young age and said he is looking forward to working with Sam Allardyce. Walcott was the third-highest scoring Englishman in the Premier League last season with 19 goals, behind Harry Kane and Dele Alli.

Brandon Comley – QPR to Colchester United (Undisclosed)

Cameron Carter-Vickers – Tottenham to Ipswich Town (Loan)

Daniel Pinillos – Cordoba to Barnsley (Undisclosed/Market value: A$ 468,300)

*Market value’s courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk 

English Football Transfer Wrap (Week 2)

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Kevin Mirallas – Everton to Olympiakos (Loan)

Kevin Mirallas

Jamie Murphy – Brighton to Rangers (Loan)

Joe Lumley – QPR to Blackpool (Loan)

Jake Clark-Salter – Chelsea to Sunderland (Loan)

Charles Vernam – Derby County to Grimsby Town (Loan)

Philippe Coutinho – Liverpool to Barcelona (A$192 million)

Liverpool’s ‘Fab Four’ has been broken up after the Red’s accepted Barcelona’s offer for the Brazilian star. The A$192 million fee is the second largest fee paid for a player. Barcelona vice-president Jordi Mestre claimed Liverpool slashed their price for Coutinho, which has been poorly received by Liverpool fans, who were assured the club did all they could to keep hold onto the playmaker. The deal has been in the pipework’s since Barcelona sold Neymar to PSG in the summer transfer window. It will be interesting to see how Liverpool invests the money.

Barcelona new man Philippe Coutinho

Emilio Nsue – Birmingham City to APOEL Nicosia (Undisclosed/Market value: A$2.32 million)

Kieffer Moore – Ipswich Town to Barnsley (Undisclosed/Market value: A$309,000)

Jack Price – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Colorado Rapids (Undisclosed/Market value: A$1.03 million)

Jack Livesey – Partick Thistle to Burton Albion (Undisclosed)

Yosuke Ideguchi – Gamba Osaka to Leeds United (Undisclosed/Market value: A$1.52 million)

Yosuke Ideguchi – Leeds United to Cultural Leonesa (Loan)

Georges-Kevin N’Koudou – Tottenham to Burnley (Loan)

Elijah Adebayo – Fulham to Cheltenham Town (Loan)

Ben Pringle – Preston North End to Oldham Athletic (Loan)

Adam Armstrong – Newcastle United to Blackburn Rovers (Loan)

Ryan Leonard – Southend United to Sheffield United (Undisclosed/Market value: A$ 771,780)

Ryan Delaney – Burton Albion to Rochdale (Undisclosed/Market value: A$ 154,360)

Moritz Bauer – FK Rubin Kazan to Stoke (A$ 8.65 million)

Luke Hendrie – Burnley to Shrewsbury Town (Undisclosed/Market value: A$385,890)

James Wilson – Manchester United to Sheffield United (Loan)

It’s been a tough time for James Wilson. After recovering from an ACL injury, Wilson has had to shoulder the goal scoring burden for the relegation bound Manchester United under 23 side. Wilson began the season slowly but has recaptured his best form and scored seven goals in his final eight games. The striker will being hoping he can help Sheffield United claw there way back into the automatic promotion places in the Sky Bet Championship. The Blades won only one game in December and now sit sixth on the table.

James Wilson

Lee Evans – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Sheffield United (A$ 1.4 million)

Ryan Blair – Fulham to Falkirk (Loan)

Matty Virtue – Liverpool to Notts County (Loan)

Ivan Toney – Newcastle to Scunthorpe United (Loan)

Donovan Wilson – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Port Vale (Loan)

Laurens De Bock – Club Brugge to Leeds United (A$2.66 million)

Francis Coquelin – Arsenal to Valencia (A$21.86 million)

Coquelin has been much maligned during his time at Arsenal. But in his first press conference after departing Arsenal for Valencia, the defensive midfielder said the only reason he left the club was for the sake of his career. After returning from a loan spell at Charlton in 2014, Coquelin became an integral part of the Gunners midfield, playing his best football when partnered with Santi Cazorla. This season has been a struggle for the Frenchman, who only featured 13 times for the Gunners in all competitions. Coquelin departs after making 160 appearances for the Gunners.

Benjamin Whiteman – Sheffield United to Doncaster Rovers (Undisclosed/Market value: A$234,270)

Ryan Kent – Liverpool to Bristol City (Loan)

Isaac Buckley-Ricketts – Manchester City to Oxford United (Loan)

Harry Charsley – Everton to Bolton Wanderers (Loan)

Noor Husin – Crystal Palace to Notts County (Undisclosed)

Alex Pritchard – Norwich City to Huddersfield Town (A$19.30 million)

Former Tottenham academy product Alex Pritchard joined Huddersfield Town on a three and a half year deal. The attacking midfielder made nine appearances for Norwich this season, scoring one goal and creating two assist. Huddersfield manager David Wagner said Pritchard is the perfect type of player he likes to work with. “Alex is a young, British player who arrives as one of the top performers in the Sky Bet Championship and with a desire to prove himself in the Premier League.”

Nathan McGinley – Middlesbrough to Wycombe Wanderers (Loan)

Fousseni Diabate – GFC Ajaccio to Leicester City (A$3.13 million)

 

*Market value’s courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk 

English Football Transfer Wrap (Week 1)

/ Christopher Chrysostomou / 1 Comment

Josh Barrett – Reading to Coventry (Loan)

Tim Krul – Newcastle United to Brighton & Hove Albion (Free)

Virgil van Dijk – Southampton to Liverpool (A$129.42 million)

Viktor Gyokeres – IF Brommapojkarna to Brighton & Hove Albion (Undisclosed/Market value: A$ 777,000)

Mikel Merino – Borussia Dortmund to Newcastle United (A$10.87 million)

Louis Moult – Motherwell to Preston North End (A$863,000)

Emiliano Marcondes – FC Nordsjaelland to Brentford (A$3.88 million)

Diego Costa – Chelsea to Atletico Madrid (A$98.36 million)

Ahmed Hegazi – AL Ahly to West Brom (A$6.90 million)

Adrien Silva – Sporting CP to Leicester City (A$38 million)

It took four months but Leicester finally landed their man. In September Sporting announced the sale of the midfielder, but FIFA rejected Leicester’s application to register Silva after they reportedly missed the deadline by 14 seconds. Leicester failed to appeal the decision, leaving Silva to train alongside his new teammates without the prospect of playing. Silva finally made his debut in the Foxes scoreless draw with Fleetwood Town in the third round of the FA Cup.

Adrien Silva playing for Leicester

Terence Kongolo – AS Monaco to Huddersfield Town (Loan)

After a less than impressive start to life at AS Monaco, Dutch centre-back Terence Kongolo will be hoping to show why Monaco paid A$23.1 million for his services in the summer, while on loan at Huddersfield. Terriers manager David Wagner was keen to bolster his defensive stocks in the hope of avoiding relegation. Wagner said Kongolo’s mobility will enable him to fit well into the side.

Daniel Rowe – Ipswich Town to Lincoln City (Loan)

Sylvain Deslandes – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Portsmouth (Loan)

Stephy Mavididi – Arsenal to Charlton Athletic (Loan)

Sean Goss – Queens Park Rangers to Rangers (Loan)

Sean Goss

Jordan Maguire-Drew – Brighton & Hove Albion to Coventry City (Loan)

James Hanson – Sheffield United to Bury (Loan)

Connor Ronan – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Portsmouth (Loan)

Adam Phillips – Norwich City to Cambridge United (Loan)

Yeni N’Gbakoto – Queens Park Rangers to Guingamp (Undisclosed/Market value: A$3.1 million)

Rafael Mir Vicente – Valencia to Wolverhampton Wanderers (Undisclosed/Market value: A$1.6 million)

Billy Bodin – Bristol Rovers to Preston North End (Undisclosed/Market value: A$765,000)

Billy Boden has been a shining star in an otherwise disappointing season for Bristol Rovers. The striker netted 11 goals in 24 games this season, before crossing to Preston North End. Rovers chairman Steve Hamer said the departure of Bodin was “probably” inevitable as the striker was to become a free agent in six months. It will be interesting to see if Bodin can make the step up to life in the EFL Championship.

Tom King – Millwall to Stevenage (Loan)

Sid Nelson – Millwall to Chesterfield (Loan)

Paul Jones – Norwich City to Exeter City (Loan)

Josh Kay – Barnsley to Chesterfield (Loan)

Jimmy Dunne – Burnley to Accrington Stanley (Loan)

Jared Bird – Barnsley to Yeovil Town (Loan)

Ike Ugbo – Chelsea to Milton Keynes Dons (Loan)

Conor Ripley – Middlesbrough to Bury (Loan)

Cameron McGeehan – Barnsley to Scunthorpe United (Loan)

Prince Oniangue – Wolverhampton Wanderers to Angers (Loan)

Robert Dickie – Reading to Oxford United (Undisclosed)

Konstantinos Mavropanos – PAS Giannina to Arsenal (A$3.28 million)

Arsenal snapped up the highly rated 20 year old centre-back for a merely A$3.28 million. According to Greek football journalist George Tsitsonis from AGONASport, Mavropanos was considered one of the best defenders in Greece and is known for his ball-winning capabilities and aerial prowess.

 Aaron Drinan – Waterford to Ipswich Town (Undisclosed)

Max Love – Derby County to Shrewsbury Town (Loan)

Marcus Barnes – Southampton to Yeovil Town (Loan)

Lewis Wing – Middlesbrough to Yeovil Town (Loan)

Jonathan Edwards – Hull City to Woking (Loan)

Jake Kean – Sheffield Wednesday to Grimsby Town (Loan)

Corey Whelan – Liverpool to Yeovil Town (Loan)

Aaron Ramsdale – AFC Bournemouth to Chesterfield (Loan)

Shay Facey – Manchester City to Northampton Town (Undisclosed/Market value: A$612,000)

Ross Barkley – Everton to Chelsea (A$26 million)

Having not played for seven months with a hamstring injury and with only six months left on his contract, Chelsea were able to purchase the talented Barkley on the cheap. Barkley’s valuation was cut by half from the summer when Chelsea offered A$52 million for his services. Aged only 24, Barkley has already made 150 appearances in the Premier League and by paying such a small total in todays market, Chelsea have completed the bargain of the transfer window.

Ross Barkley unveiled at Chelsea. Credit: Sky Sports

Liam Walsh – Everton to Bristol City (Undisclosed/Market value: A$383,000)

Gethin Jones – Everton to Fleetwood Town (Undisclosed/Market value: A$383,000)

Cenk Tosun – Besiktas to Everton (A$47 million)

Everton announced the four-and-a-half-year contract with the 26-year-old Turkey international striker at half time in their FA Cup tie against Liverpool. Everton manager Sam Allardyce said Tosun in “the best in the world” at that price. Tosun scored 20 goals for Besiktas last season and has so far netted eight league goals and four Champions League goals this season.

Callum Johnson – Middlesbrough to Accrington Stanley (Undisclosed)

 

*Market value’s courtesy of Transfermarkt.co.uk 

Moneyball fever hits Barnsley City

/ Christopher Chrysostomou / 1 Comment

English Championship side Barnsley City have agreed to a takeover by a duo of investment groups that includes the creator of Moneyball, Billy Beane.

Chinese-American billionaire investor Chien Lee and US film financer Paul Conway have agreed a fee in the region of $17 to $35 million with ailing Tykes owner Patrick Cryne for control of the club.

In a statement to fans Barnsley Chief Executive Gauthier Ganaye said:

“We would like to thank every member of our loyal fan base for their patience and continued support over recent months. An exciting chapter is opening for Barnsley Football Club and we are looking forward to the future together.”

New owners Lee and Conway will look to have as much success with Barnsley as they have had with French side Nice.

Nice were the surprise packets of the 2016/17 Ligue 1 season, finishing in third place and qualifying for the third round of the Champions League.

In the wake of the takeover, some Barnsley fans have shown apprehension, believing their club may be used as a feeder club for the French outfit.

Conway allayed fears yesterday, but did add resources will be shared when circumstances dictate.

“Any investment we do is our own independent investment. But we will look for sharing resources when they make sense,” Conway said.

“[But] all the decisions make here at Barnsley will be made for the long-term benefit of Barnsley.”

Oakland Athletics Executive Vice-president Billy Beane is known to be a keen follower of European football and according Conway, was attracted by the clubs way of doing things.

“Part of the attraction of Barnsley is that they embraced some of his sports philosophy and analytics and they have seen some of the results of that,” Conway said at the new owners’ first press conference.

“With his philosophies, having him in this is important because he brings a unique knowledge-base to the club. He is an executive of the A’s and he will continue to be, he is involved here because he saw a matching of philosophies.”

Moneyball is the name of the book written by Michael Lewis in 2003. The book is about how Beane and the Oakland A’s used stats and analytics to trade and draft players in the 2002 Major League Baseball season.

In 2011, Moneyball was turned into a Hollywood film, with Brad Pitt portraying Beane.

Billy Beane portrayed by Brad Pitt in the 2011 film ‘Moneyball’.

Since Barnsley’s one and only season in the Premier League in 1997/98, the Tykes have spent most of their time in the second division of English Football.

The Tykes have worked on a shoestring budget and have sold their best players to make financial profits.

This season Barnsley sit 20th in the league table. But Tykes manager Paul Heckingbottom believes the club will be able to avoid relegation with the aid of the new owners.

Heckingbottom held transfer discussions with the new owners, who have confirmed the club will be “active” in the January market without spending “crazy” money.