Gyan joy for Black Cats as Robinho makes Milan move
Robinho’s final exit from Manchester City and Sunderland’s club-record signing of Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan were the biggest deals completed on a quiet transfer deadline day.
With most Premier League clubs keeping their chequebooks firmly closed, analysts Deloitte said total spending this summer was around £330m – 25% down on last year.
Brazilian forward Robinho signed for AC Milan on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, variously reported as between £14m and £18m.
City, who signed the 26-year-old for a British record fee of £32.5m two years ago, will at least have his £160,000 weekly salary off the wage bill.
Gyan, the striker who made such an impact in the World Cup, joined Sunderland for £13m from French side Rennes.
Birmingham picked up former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb on a one-year loan from Barcelona, while the Gunners full-back Armand Traore joined Juventus, also on a season-long loan deal.
On a busy day for Birmingham, the Blues also signed Chile midfielder Jean Beausejour on a three-year deal – another player who made his mark in the World Cup – from Mexican side Club America and defender Martin Jiranek on a one-year contract from Spartak Moscow.
The Blues also allowed striker Marcus Bent to join midlands rivals Wolves on a four-month loan.
Wigan pounced for two signings, securing Chelsea’s 21-year-old Argentinian striker Franco Di Santo on a three-year deal just minutes before the window closed.
Midfielder Tom Cleverley, 21, joined on loan from Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson decided to give the England Under-21 international some Premier League experience.
Wigan manager Roberto Martinez said of Cleverley: “We have been watching him for some time and feel he is the right sort of player to join our squad; young, hungry, desperate to play for the club in the Premier League and to grow with us.”
Everton confirmed their long-serving Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo is set to join Turkish club Fenerbahce on a season-long loan pending agreement on personal terms and a medical. Yobo has been at Goodison Park since 2002, making more than 250 appearances.
Stoke clinched agreement with Monaco for a season-long loan of Eidur Gudjohnsen, while midfielder Salif Diao, whose contract expired at the end of last season, re-joined the club on a two-year deal.
Other Premier League transfers saw Tottenham signing Croatian goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa on a season-long loan from Spartak Moscow.
Blackpool re-signed striker DJ Campbell from Leicester and this time on a permanent basis.
Campbell had a successful loan spell at Blackpool last season and hit a hat-trick in the play-off semi-final victory over Nottingham Forest.
The Seasiders also swooped for Wycombe’s 19-year-old winger Matt Phillips for an initial fee of £325,000.
One surprise came when Bundesliga side Werder Bremen moved for Northern Ireland Under-21 striker Liam Boyce.




