SOCCER
Key movements and signings from Europe's top clubs: 2021 soccer transfer window
The last day of August brought a close to the frantic summer transfer window with Mbappé staying at PSG and Griezmann and Saúl moving late on deadline day.
Antoine Griezmann and Saúl Ñiguez were the big names to move late on deadline day, with Atlético Madrid having a busy night.
Griezmann's move to his former club completed a day of outgoings for Barcelona, who sold Emerson Royal and Ilaix Moriba, as well as loaning out Ray Minaj.
Ronald Koeman's Barcelona did get one player in, however, who will seemingly replace Griezmann in attack with Sevilla's De Jong moving to the Catalan capital.
Barca's LaLiga rivals Real Madrid did not manage to get a mega deal for Kylian Mbappe over the line, despite a reported bid of €200m having been lodged on Tuesday, though Los Blancos did sign Rennes sensation Eduardo Camavinga.
Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will both pull on different shirts next season at Parc des Princes and Old Trafford respectively in a frantic transfer window like no other.
Summer transfer business by club:
PSG (Ligue 1)
Paris Saint-Germain capped a busy transfer window with the loan signing of highly rated left-back Nuno Mendes from Portuguese champions Sporting CP, with Pablo Sarabia moving in the other direction.
Mendes joins PSG on a season-long loan, while the Ligue 1 giants have the option to buy the Portugal international at the end of the season.
The 19-year-old had previously been linked with the likes of Manchester City and Liverpool, but he has made the move to PSG alongside fellow recruits Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Achraf Hakimi and Georginio Wijnaldum.
A product of Sporting's famed youth academy, Mendes played a key role as the club ended their 19-year title drought last season.
PSG (Ligue 1) Players in:
Danilo Pereira (FC Porto) 15 million euro
Georginio Wijnaldum (Liverpool) free
Achraf Hakimi (Inter) 55 million euro
Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) free
Donnarumma (AC Milan) free
Leo Messi (FC Barcelona) free
Nuno Mendes (Sporting CP) loan
Real Madrid (LaLiga)
The Mbappé possible to move to Real Madrid saga dominated the final weeks of the summer with PSG standing firm and failing to entertain two substantial bids for the striker. There was one player moving from France to Spain in the shape of teenager Camvainga and along with David Alaba, both individuals represented the sole acquisitions by the Bernabéu side this summer.
Real Madrid (LaLiga) Players in:
David Alaba (FC Bayern) free
Eduoardo Camavinga (Rennes) 30 million euro
FC Barcelona (LaLiga)
The departure of Leo Messi was one of the key summer stories with the Argentine being forced to move to PSG with the ongoing financial complications at the Catalan club. There was a frantic end to deadline day at the Camp Nou offices too as Antoine Griezmann's return to Atletico Madrid was officially confirmed.
Two years after leaving, Griezmann has joined on a season-long loan from Barcelona, with the deal including an option to extend for a further year and a compulsory permanent transfer clause. Luuk De Jong, 31, arrives at the Nou Camp after two seasons in Andalucia, where he helped Sevilla to the 2020 Europa League crown and scored 10 goals in 69 LaLiga appearances. The move capped a busy deadline day for Barca, who sanctioned the departures of Emerson Royal to Tottenham Hotspur, Rey Manaj to Spezia, Ilaix Moriba to RB Leipzig and Antoine Griezmann on loan to Atletico Madrid.
FC Barcelona (LaLiga) Players in:
Sergio Aguero (Man City) free
Eric Garcia (Man City) free
Memphis Depay (Lyon) free
Emerson (Betis) 8 million euro
Luuk de Jong (Sevilla) loan
Premier League round-up
In a busy summer that had earlier seen the return to the Premier League for Lukaku (Inter-Chelsea) and Jadon Sancho (Dortmund-Man United), last week's confirmation of Ronaldo's move back to United being complete was the biggest story of the summer day in England's top flight. It also paved the way for the Red Devils to sell Daniel James, who moved to Leeds United.
Arsenal blocked Everton's attempts to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles, though Hector Bellerin did leave the Gunners to head to Real Betis on loan. Mikel Arteta's Gunners completed their record-breaking transfer window (in terms of overall spend) with the acquisition of Japan defender Takehiro Tomiyasu from Bologna. Earlier in the day, Arsenal loaned out Reiss Nelson and Alex Runarsson.
Their north London rivals Tottenham completed the signing of Emerson from Barca, with Serge Aurier's time at Spurs subsequently being brought to an end by the mutual termination of his contract.
Everton's hunt for a right-back was to no avail. The Toffees did bring in Salomon Rondon on a free transfer, handing the forward a two-year deal with an option for a third. James Rodriguez was involved in a mooted part-exchange deal with Porto for Luis Diaz, but the Colombian star is staying put.
Manchester City rounded off their dealings by sending out seven players on loan. Among them was Patrick Roberts, who was one of three players to join Ligue 1 club Troyes.
Wolves were unable to complete deals for Kieffer Moore or Boubacar Kamara. A late offer from Spurs for Adama Traore was reportedly rejected.
Czech Republic midfielder Alex Kral joined West Ham on loan from Spartak Moscow. He was the Hammers' second signing of the day, with Croatia playmaker Nikola Vlasic having arrived early on.
There were two outgoings at Celtic. Scotland international Ryan Christie signed for Bournemouth, while Crystal Palace bought striker Odsonne Edouard for a reported £15m. The Hoops replaced him with Greece forward Giorgos Giakoumakis.
Premier League (Players in selection)
Ben White: Arsenal (Brighton: 55 million euro)
Lukaku: Chelsea (Inter: 100 million euro)
Saúl: Chelsea (Atletico Madrid: loan)
Konaté: Liverpool (RB Leipzig: 40 million euro)
Jack Grealish: Man City (Aston Villa: 110 million euro)
Jadon Sancho: Man United (Dortmund: 80 million euro)
Cristiano Ronaldo: Man United (Juventus: 20 million euro)
Bryan Gil: Tottenham (Sevilla: 25 million euro)
Emerson: Tottenham (Barcelona: 30 million euro)