STOKE completed the biggest deal of deadline day when they signed 23-year-old midfielder Giannelli Imbula from Porto for £18.3million - with less than half an hour left of the window last night.
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| Pep Guardiola and Giannelli Imbula got their Premier League moves but Saido Berahino stayed put |
It was a massive statement from manager Mark Hughes on the day it was announced that Premier League spending had burst through the £1billion barrier for the first time.
Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam said: "He is a Patrick Vieira type - a strong and powerful midfielder, a real driving force in there and perfect for the Premier League."
Imbula, above, who has only been at Porto since last summer when he signed from Marseille, is a France Under-21 international but has not played for the senior side. He hopes to represent Belgium, the country of his birth.
Stoke midfielder Charlie Adam said: "He is a Patrick Vieira type - a strong and powerful midfielder, a real driving force in there and perfect for the Premier League."
Imbula, above, who has only been at Porto since last summer when he signed from Marseille, is a France Under-21 international but has not played for the senior side. He hopes to represent Belgium, the country of his birth.
Hughes said: "Giannelli is a good young player. He has great power, good ability on the ball and a great range of passing and there's no doubthe will add to the quality that we already have at the club. He played against us in pre-season and although I was already aware of him, seeing him at first hand resonated with me."
A record £965m was spent last year, but accountants Deloitte's calculated that figure had been eclipsed this season, even before the final deals yesterday.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez splashed the cash with the signing of Lokomotiv Moscow striker Oumar Niasse for £13.5m.
A record £965m was spent last year, but accountants Deloitte's calculated that figure had been eclipsed this season, even before the final deals yesterday.
Everton manager Roberto Martinez splashed the cash with the signing of Lokomotiv Moscow striker Oumar Niasse for £13.5m.
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| Newcastle bought Andros Townsend and Jonjo Shelvey for £24m combined |
West Brom's Saido Berahino took to Twitter to rule out the possibility of a deadline -day move away from the Hawthorns.
In a reference to a previous deadline-day tweet, he wrote: "Everyone waiting once again for the silly little spoilt boy to make same mistake so here you go. Goodnight all and thanks for the support."
Newcastle made a £21m bid for the 22-year-old but the Baggies refused to sell.
The Magpies were the biggest spenders during the January transfer window, splashing nearly £30m on Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend and Henri Saivet.
In a reference to a previous deadline-day tweet, he wrote: "Everyone waiting once again for the silly little spoilt boy to make same mistake so here you go. Goodnight all and thanks for the support."
Newcastle made a £21m bid for the 22-year-old but the Baggies refused to sell.
The Magpies were the biggest spenders during the January transfer window, splashing nearly £30m on Jonjo Shelvey, Andros Townsend and Henri Saivet.
In second place was Watford who spent nearly £25m on Abdoulaye Doucoure, Adalberto Penaranda (both out on loan), Costel Pantilimon and Mario Suarez.
A stunning statistic is that the Hornet's net seasonal spend on players is now around £56m - more than Arsenal, Tottenham, Southampton, Swansea, Norwich and Aston Villa combined (£55m). Spurs' net spend impressively stands at nothing.
Norwich are the top-flight's third biggest spenders largely due to Steven Naismith's £8.5m move from Everton.
A stunning statistic is that the Hornet's net seasonal spend on players is now around £56m - more than Arsenal, Tottenham, Southampton, Swansea, Norwich and Aston Villa combined (£55m). Spurs' net spend impressively stands at nothing.
Norwich are the top-flight's third biggest spenders largely due to Steven Naismith's £8.5m move from Everton.
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| Stoke paid £18.3m for Giannelli Imbula - labelled the 'next Patrick Vieira' |
Stoke are fourth after Imbula's signing, with Sunderland and Bournemouth next. The Black Cats bought Lamine Kone (£5m) and Wahbi Khazri (£9m) while the Cherries landed Benik Afobe (£10m) and Lewis Grabban (£8m).
Everton complete the top seven spenders after their Niasse move, but no other club in the Premier League spent more than £10m.
Leicester paid £3.5m for Demarai Gray and £5m for Daniel Amartey to just fall short of eight figures. And Swaneaa shelled out £8m for Alberto Paloschi.
But Liverpool spent £5.1m on Marko Grujic, Arsenal £5m on Mohamed Elneny, Southampton £5m on Charlie Austin and West Ham £3.7m on Sam Byram. Chelsea bought Matt Miazga for £3.5m.
Everton complete the top seven spenders after their Niasse move, but no other club in the Premier League spent more than £10m.
Leicester paid £3.5m for Demarai Gray and £5m for Daniel Amartey to just fall short of eight figures. And Swaneaa shelled out £8m for Alberto Paloschi.
But Liverpool spent £5.1m on Marko Grujic, Arsenal £5m on Mohamed Elneny, Southampton £5m on Charlie Austin and West Ham £3.7m on Sam Byram. Chelsea bought Matt Miazga for £3.5m.
West Brom, Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and surprisingly Manchester United spent absolutely nothing in the January window.
And while Manchester City acquired Australian Anthony Caceres they certainly paid the price to land their next manager.
Pep Guardiola was finally announced as Manuel Pellegrini's summer successor yesterday, with reports suggesting he will rake in £45m over his three-year deal.
And while Manchester City acquired Australian Anthony Caceres they certainly paid the price to land their next manager.
Pep Guardiola was finally announced as Manuel Pellegrini's summer successor yesterday, with reports suggesting he will rake in £45m over his three-year deal.
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