The Premier League and Championship transfer windows may have ended some time ago but for the rest of England and Europe, their window only slammed shut last night. It turned out to be a busy day for English abroad transfers so here’s a round-up of all the moves.
The day started with the news of two transfers from the previous evening.
Gboly Ariyibi
Nottingham Forest – Panetolikos (undisclosed)
A pacey winger, Ariyibi represents the USA at international level despite being raised in Oxford. On Sunday night he joined Greek Super League side Panetolikos on a permanent deal for an undisclosed fee, bringing an end to a three year stay with Nottingham Forest. Despite three years with the Tricky Trees, the 24-year-old did not play a single game for the club, spending most of his time out on loan at MK Dons, Northampton Town and Motherwell.
Cy Goddard
Benevento – Pafos (loan)
Like Ariyibi, Goddard also does not represent England at international level, despite being raised in the country – he has played for Japan at youth level. The attacking midfielder became an English abroad last year when he left Tottenham to join Serie B club Benevento. However, he made just two appearances last season so has now headed out on loan to Cypriot First Division side Pafos FC where he will join up with Jason Puncheon. Goddard, 22, will be hoping for some all important senior game time this season.
Then the deadline deals starting coming through thick and fast.
Marcus McGuane
Barcelona B – Telstar (loan)
The 20-year-old became the first Englishman to play for Barcelona last year since Gary Lineker but he has found opportunities hard to come by in Catalonia since making the move in January 2018. Last season he played for the club’s B team in the third-tier just 16 times. He now heads out on loan to second-tier Dutch side Telstar, after turning down a move to Hadjuk Split. At Telstar, the midfielder will link up with his former academy boss at Arsenal, Andries Jonker, who is the club’s manager and Charlie Gilmour who is on loan from Norwich City.
Arvin Appiah
Nottingham Forest – Almeria (£8m)
A huge move this for one of England’s hot prospects. The England U19 forward only signed a new four-and-a-half year contract with Forest in January but has now seen this move and potentially more first team football too good to turn down. The 18-year-old made six appearances in the Championship last season but has decided to accelerate his first team prospects with a big money move to Spain’s second division.
Marcus Edwards
Tottenham Hotspur – Vitória (undisclosed)
The talented winger was tipped for big things at Spurs but despite getting some regular game time out on loan at Dutch side Excelisor last season, the club has decided to let Edwards move to Portugal on a permanent deal. The 20-year-old has signed a four-year deal with the top-flight Vitória but with just a release clause rumoured of just €15m he could be on the move again if he impresses this season.
Bobby Duncan
Liverpool – Fiorentina (£1.8m)
There’s been a lot of noise about Duncan lately after his agent released a controversial statement about Liverpool’s treatment of the England youth international but the deal to take him to Italy was finally done yesterday. The cousin of Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, Duncan has been a prolific scorer at youth level, with 18 goals in 20 league games for Liverpool U18s last season, having joined from Manchester City last summer. After one season, he has moved to Fiorentina for a fee of around €2m.
Yunus Musah
Arsenal – Valencia (free)
The 16-year-old’s move to Valencia was finally confirmed yesterday after months of training with the Spanish side. He’s been involved with the club all summer since leaving Arsenal but even last week he was listed as unattached on the FA’s website when it was announced he had been called up to the England U18 team. It’s good to see this move now finally official.
George Cox
Brighton – Fortuna Sittard (loan)
Young Brighton defender Cox has been through hell of a year but now has the chance to really progress as a professional footballer. The 21-year-old left back had to have heart surgery last year which nearly ended his career so it’s great to see him given the chance to play abroad now. He had a loan spell with Northampton Town last year but now heads to the Eredivisie to join Fortuna Sittard who already have Bassala Sambou and Cian Harries.
Joel Latibeaudiere
Manchester City – Twente (loan)
Latibeaudiere is a serious prospect having led England to the U17 World Cup title two years ago. The 19-year-old centre back now has the chance to make his senior debut out on loan at Eredivisie side Twente, having been a rock at the back for Manchester City’s U23s.
Tom Holmes
Reading – Roeselare (loan)
Holmes is another young defender heading out on loan. He’s joined Belgian second-tier side Roeselare for the season, having made his first team debut for Reading in March 2018. He signed a new deal with the Royals earlier this year to tie him down until the summer of 2022.
Ellery Balcombe
Brentford – Viborg (loan)
Balcombe is highly rated in the England youth setup and recently earned his first call-up to the England U21 side, even though he has just a handful of senior appearances to his name so far, all of which came during a loan spell at National League side Boreham Wood. The 19-year-old now has a chance to add to those appearances out on loan at Danish second-tier side Viborg.
English Players Abroad 