Beckham takes deadline-day limelight

David Beckham stole the show on transfer deadline day by agreeing to join Paris St Germain pending a successful medical.

Beckham takes deadline-day limelight

David Beckham stole the show on transfer deadline day by agreeing to join Paris St Germain pending a successful medical.

Just hours before the transfer window shut, the 37-year-old former England captain, a free agent since ending a six-year spell with Los Angeles Galaxy before Christmas, headed to Paris for a medical.

It is understood he is due to be officially unveiled at a news conference this afternoon.

In the Premier League, QPR boss Harry Redknapp hailed the record signing of defender Christopher Samba for an undisclosed fee – but admitted that a move for Stoke striker Peter Crouch is unlikely to come off.

Samba, the former Blackburn centre-back, moved from Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala after QPR yesterday triggered his release clause, believed to be more than £10m.

Leaving QPR is midfielder Alejandro Faurlin, who has joined Italian side Palermo on loan.

Meanwhile, Norwich have signed striker Luciano Becchio from Leeds, with Steve Morison going the other way in part-exchange.

Argentinian forward Becchio, who has scored 19 goals for Leeds this season, handed in a transfer request at Elland Road last week.

Sunderland also swooped for a new striker and have completed the signing of Danny Graham from Swansea for £5m.

The striker has signed a three-and-a-half-year deal at the Stadium of Light, just days after he was booed by some of the Black Cats fans when he appeared against them for the Swans.

Wigan have confirmed the signing of Paul Scharner on loan from Hamburg for the rest of the season.

Scharner is returning to the DW Stadium having spent more than four years with the Latics before leaving for West Brom in the summer of 2010.

AC Milan’s utility player Urby Emanuelson has joined Fulham on loan until the end of the season.

The 26-year-old, a left-sided full-back or midfielder, has 16 caps for Holland and played for Cottagers boss Martin Jol during his time at Ajax.

Aston Villa have announced they are set to complete the signing of French midfielder Yacouba Sylla from Ligue 2 side Clermont Foot.

Tottenham goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes, meanwhile, has travelled to German side Hoffenheim for a medical.

Manchester City also confirmed that Mario Balotelli has completed his move to AC Milan.

Milan said Balotelli has signed a four-and-a-half year contract – the fee is understood to be £19m, rising to £22m.

Before deadline day, Premier League clubs had spent around £85m on acquiring new players, according to analysts Deloitte, already almost three times the amount spent at the same time last year.

It is similar to the level in January 2011 – but two years ago an astonishing £100m was splashed out on the final day.

Dan Jones, partner in the sports business group at Deloitte, said: “Premier League clubs have been relatively restrained in their player transfer fee spending, in spite of the upcoming uplift in their broadcasting revenues of between £20m and £30m each from next season.

“Clubs are now in a period that will count towards UEFA’s financial fair play break-even requirement and Premier League clubs are considering additional cost control regulation at a domestic level.

“Their apparent relative restraint in this transfer window may reflect an increasing focus on clubs achieving more sustainable levels of expenditure relative to revenues.”

more courts articles

Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother Man (25) in court charged with murdering his father and attempted murder of mother
Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van Man appears in court charged with false imprisonment of woman in van
Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman Man in court over alleged false imprisonment of woman

More in this section

Republic of Ireland Training Session and Media Conference Ogbene ruled out for 'few weeks'
Chelsea v Leicester City - Barclays Women's Super League - Kingsmeadow Willie Kirk sacked as Leicester boss after position became ‘untenable’
Cork City v UCD - SSE Airtricity Men's First Division Clancy keen to build on City's perfect home record
Sport Push Notifications

By clicking on 'Sign Up' you will be the first to know about our latest and best sporting content on this browser.

Sign Up
Sport
Newsletter

Latest news from the world of sport, along with the best in opinion from our outstanding team of sports writers

Sign up
Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited