The first day of what likely will be the busiest and biggest-spending transfer window ever seen in English soccer began with Manchester City and Crystal Palace signing forwards on Friday.
Spain international Nolito became City’s second signing under new coach Pep Guardiola - after Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan - when he joined from Celta Vigo on a four-year deal. No financial details were disclosed, but British media reported the fee to be 13.8 million pounds ($18.3 million).
Palace then announced the club-record signing of Andros Townsend for 13 million pounds ($17.3 million) on a five-year deal, with the England winger ending his brief spell at Newcastle following its relegation from the Premier league.
Europe’s summer transfer window opened for business on Friday and Premier league clubs are set to dominate, even more so than normal. The world’s richest domestic league is starting its new domestic and international TV rights deals for 2016-19, worth around 8.3 billion pounds ($11 billion). That’s an increase of around 70 percent from the last deal.
The 29-year-old Nolito, who played under Guardiola at Barcelona from 2008-11, can play as a central striker or on the wing and will freshen up City’s attack.
He started all four of Spain’s matches at the European Championship.
Ben Arfa joins PSG
Winger Hatem Ben Arfa joined French champion Paris Saint-Germain from Nice on a two-year-deal on Friday, becoming new coach Unai Emery’s first signing.
Ben Arfa’s move follows the best season of his career. He scored 17 league goals last season, many of them spectacular solo goals, to help unheralded Nice finish in fourth place and secure a place in the Europa league.