Chelsea signed Portugal midfielder Raul Meireles from Liverpool in the final moments before the transfer window closed on Wednesday night.
Blues boss Andre Villas-Boas moved quickly to snap up Meireles after his club’s £40 million bid for Croatia midfielder Luka Modric was rejected by Tottenham.
Meireles had to hand in a transfer request to force through the deal in time for the midnight deadline and he will fill the gap in Chelsea’s squad left by the departure of Israel midfielder Yossi Benayoun to Arsenal.
“Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Raul Meireles from Liverpool on a four-year contract,” a statement on the club’s website confirmed.
Meireles arrives at Stamford Bridge for a fee believed to be around £12m.
City striker Bellamy rejoins Liverpool
Craig Bellamy rejoined Liverpool on transfer deadline day as the Wales striker ended his unhappy spell at Manchester City.
The 32-year-old spent last season on loan at Championship side Cardiff after a rift with City boss Roberto Mancini saw him excluded from the first-team squad.
City have been keen to offload Bellamy but with a year left on his contract there were financial issues to sort out before Liverpool could complete a deal.
Bellamy’s return to Anfield comes four years after he left having been brought to the club by Rafael Benitez in 2006.
Palermo sack coach Pioli
Stefano Pioli became the second coach to be fired before the new Serie A season even kicks off as firebrand Palermo president Maurizio Zamparini wielded his over-worked axe once again.
Just a couple of weeks after Cagliari sacked former Italy coach Roberto Donadoni, Zamparini decided he too had to act.
Pioli had not even taken charge of a single league match as he was only hired after the end of last season.
Zamparini now wants Delio Rossi to return as coach despite firing him twice last season. But until Rossi decides whether to return, the first team will be put in the hands of youth team coach Devis Mangia.
Fulham snap up striker Ruiz
Fulham beat Newcastle to the signing of FC Twente attacker Bryan Ruiz for £10.6 million.
The 26-year-old has attracted interest from across Europe due to his Eredivisie form, with the likes of Benfica, Tottenham, Valencia and Villarreal all mooted as potential destinations this summer.
However, Ruiz has penned a four-year deal at Craven Cottage after rejecting a last-ditch offer from Newcastle on Wednesday evening.
“I’m really happy to be joining Fulham FC and playing under Martin Jol who is a manager I admire from his time managing in Holland for Ajax,” he said.
Arteta leaves Everton for Arsenal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made a last-ditch swoop for Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta just hours after signing Fenerbahce defender Andre Santos, Werder Bremen centre-back Per Mertesacker and Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun.
Arteta was the headline deal by Wenger as the Frenchman launched a bid to revitalise a squad rocked by the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and traumatised by Sunday’s 8-2 defeat at Manchester United.
The acquisition of 29-year-old Spaniard Arteta, who signed a four-year contract and is believed to have cost £10 million, gives Wenger a decent replacement for Fabregas in the midfield playmaker role.
Arteta’s move appeared to have fallen through after Everton rejected Arsenal’s player plus cash offer, but he was able to resurrect the deal after handing a transfer request.
Palacio pens new Genoa deal
Argentina striker Rodrigo Palacio has extended his contract with Genoa for a further year after his proposed move to Inter collapsed on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old was set to join the Italian giants on transfer deadline day but the Nerazzurri opted instead to acquire Palacio’s compatriot Mauro Zarate on loan from Lazio.
“We have extended Rodrigo’s contract for another year and have increased his wages,” said Genoa president Enrico Preziosi.
“It is a sacrifice that we have done willingly because the player had been approached by many teams throughout the transfer market.”
Bendtner on loan at Sunderland
Sunderland boss Steve Bruce finally got his man on Wednesday night when he clinched a season-long loan deal for Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner.
The 23-year-old has clinched a temporary move to the Stadium of Light after being told he was not part of Arsene Wenger’s plans.
Bruce will hope Bendtner will bring the goals his side has been lacking to date this season and provide a foil for Asamoah Gyan, who himself was the subject of interest from Turkey during the final days of the transfer window.
The deal re-unites a player and a manager who worked together during their time at Birmingham.