TRANSFER DEADLINE DAY DRAMA: Chelsea re-sign Luiz, City clear decks

Chelsea agreed terms with Paris Saint-Germain to re-sign Brazil defender David Luiz on Wednesday, while Manchester City allowed five players to leave on season-long loan deals as the transfer deadline approached across Europe.

Luiz was sold by Chelsea to French side PSG for a world-record fee for a defender when he joined the French club for £50 million in 2014.

But the 29-year-old centre-back was in danger of losing his place to compatriot Marquinhos this season and, with new Chelsea manager Antonio Conte desperate for defensive reinforcements, the Premier League club have agreed to bring him back to Stamford Bridge for a reported £32 million.

“Chelsea Football Club and Paris Saint-Germain have agreed terms for the transfer of David Luiz back to London,” a statement on Chelsea’s website read, similar to PSG’s own statement.

“The move is now subject to him agreeing personal terms and passing a medical.”

Chelsea had already landed Fiorentina’s former Bolton left-back Marcos Alonso for a reported £23 million earlier in the day.

The Blues also allowed Juan Cuadrado to rejoin Italian champions Juventus on a three-year loan for an annual fee of five million euros, with the option for the deal to be made permanent for €25 million.

The 28-year-old winger spent last season on loan with the Turin side.

At Eastlands, a host of players were saying their goodbyes, for the moment at least, as City boss Pep Guardiola wielded the axe.

England goalkeeper Joe Hart completed his move to Italian side Torino and French midfielder Samir Nasri joined Europa League champions Sevilla.

Wilfried Bony pitched up at Stoke City, French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala signed for Valencia and defender Jason Denayer joined Sunderland, with all five deals lasting until the end of the current campaign.

“Suddenly (in) my career has been an important turning: it was a sign,” Hart said in a statement on Torino’s English-language website.

“Torino’s offer came in the right moment, with the right manner.”

Spending by Premier League clubs has broken through the one billion pounds barrier in one window for the first time and English sides remained busy on deadline day.

Analysts predict European spending will easily be the highest yet when the two-month transfer window closes.

Champions Leicester City smashed their transfer record with the £29.7 million capture of Sporting Lisbon striker Islam Slimani.

Slimani, who agreed a five-year contract, was allowed to leave Algeria’s training camp to complete a move that surpassed the £16 million Leicester paid for Nigerian forward Ahmed Musa in July.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League and to get the opportunity to do that with the reigning champions was something I simply could not turn down,” Slimani said.

Tottenham signed France Under-21 winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou from Marseille for £11 million, landed Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez on a season’s loan and let Cameroon forward Clinton Njie join Marseille on a season’s loan.

Sunderland signed 22-year-old Gabon midfielder Didier Ndong from French side Lorient for a club record fee of 16 million euros.

Burnley broke their transfer record to sign Derby midfielder Jeff Hendrick for a reported £10 million.

Mario Balotelli’s miserable spell at Liverpool is finally over after he joined French club Nice on a free transfer.

Controversial Italy forward Balotelli scored just four goals in 28 appearances following his £16 million move to Liverpool and spent last season on loan at AC Milan.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere’s fall from grace after a troubled few years on and off the pitch continued as the 24-year-old was sent out on a season’s loan to Bournemouth.

Frustrated by Wilshere’s injury problems and a series of unsavoury off-field incidents, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has allowed the England international to move to Bournemouth after they reportedly agreed to pay a £2 million loan fee as well as his £80 000-per-week wages.

“Jack is a player that needs no introduction and one that, quite rightly, our supporters will be excited to see,” Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake said.

Middlesbrough signed Adama Traore from Aston Villa, Serge Gnabry swapped Arsenal for Werder Bremen and Liverpool sold Luis Alberto to Lazio.

West Bromwich Albion snapped up Watford’s Cameroon defender Allan Nyom for £3 million.

Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko, 27, was given permission to leave France’s Clairefontaine training base in order to complete a transfer, with Tottenham and Everton in the hunt.

Supersport.com