Man City sign Cherki as transfer window closes – latest

Manchester City

Manchester City’s director of football Hugo Viana:

“We’re very happy to have Rayan [Cherki] at City. We want to bring top talent to the club, and he falls into that category.

“He’s a player our scouts have watched for a long time, and we have all been impressed with his skill and creativity. I am convinced our fans will be excited to see him play.

“There’s no doubt that he’s now in the best place possible to develop further under Pep’s guidance and I really believe he can become a world-class player with our support and direction.”

Manchester City

Manchester City’s new signing Rayan Cherki:

“This is a dream for me. Honestly, to be joining a club like Manchester City and have the opportunity to make the next step in my career here is something very, very special.

“I have worked so hard for this all my life. I love this sport, and I can’t wait to develop further here in Manchester with Pep and his backroom staff.

“Everyone knows how good City are – they have been so successful for many years now. The responsibility to help the team continue winning is something I want to embrace.

“I would only leave Lyon for a project I really believe in and everything at City suggests I can develop my game and help the team be successful in the future. I can’t wait to show City fans what I can do.”

Well Manchester City squeezed that one in there, didn’t they?

What do you think folks, not many bells and whistles on the club website for this one.

Happy with this signing City fans?

Get in touch in the usual ways…

Manchester City have announced the signing of Rayan Cherki from Lyon on a five-year contract.

Lyon accepted a £30.45m offer for the French youngster, before he agreed personal terms and completed a medical before today’s transfer deadline (19:00 BST).

Cherki, who made his senior France debut in the Uefa Nations League finals last week, will be available to play for City in the upcoming Fifa Club World Cup.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

The clock is ticking folks, just a couple of more minutes to the 7pm deadline…

Chelsea

Chelsea may still be chasing Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens but they have completed two deals during this transfer window.

Midfielder Dario Essugo, 19, and defender Mamadou Sarr, 20, have joined the club from Sporting and Strasbourg respectively.

In their first interviews for the club, both spoke glowingly about their new side.

Dario Essugo: “Honestly, Chelsea showed big interest in me. When that happens, you can’t turn it down. When my dad told me Chelsea were interested I was very happy and here we are now!

“I want to win as much as possible, as many titles as possible. Obviously, I want to win the Champions League, but also the Premier League because it’s very difficult. I want to win titles, play as much as possible at Chelsea and be part of the club’s history.”

Mamadou Sarr: “For me, Chelsea is the best club in London, one of the best clubs in England. Chelsea have a good project in place for young players. The supporters, the club, it’s history and the stadium are all fantastic. It’s an iconic club with a full history.

“It was a dream come true when I saw the badge everywhere, the badge I used to see playing Fifa before – I realised where I am and who I will train with. I have a good impression of Cobham. It’s very big, a beautiful training centre. The people have been very kind and have welcomed me. It’s just a dream come true.”

Re Mike 17:38, Mbeumo turned down Arsenal and Newcastle but a European cup-winning team like Spurs could turn his head over United. United are failing apart, their ground is falling apart and he knows Spurs’ soon-to-be new boss.

Jake

Chelsea and Manchester City remain the only serious contenders to complete another signing in this current window, with the summer’s main transfer window due to open on Monday (16 June).

That is because they are the Premier League’s two entrants in this summer’s Club World Cup, and this short window, from 1-10 June, was opened so competing teams could sign players before the competition starts on 15 June.

Chelsea have had bids rejected by Borussia Dortmund today for English winger Jamie Gittens

While City are attempting to complete deals for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.

Want to know more about the Club World Cup?

Check out this video explainer…

Ian Wright was around 27/28 when he joined Arsenal and went on to score 128 league goals in the top flight for them, on top of the 28 league goals he’d already got in the First Division for Palace. Viktor Gyokeres might also be a “late bloomer” so his age is pretty irrelevant at this stage.

Shaun

With just 30 minutes to go before today’s transfer deadline, here is a reminder of the main stories and completed deals we have had so far:

• Time is running out for Chelsea to prise Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund – the Bundesliga side rejected an offer of 50m euros earlier today (£42.2m)
• Manchester City are known to be working on deals to sign Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki and AC Milan midfielder Tijani Reijnders, but so far have only got one player deal over the line today – taking goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli from Chelsea for a nominal fee
• City have, however, welcomed two new coaches to their backroom staff – Pep Lijnders and James French – both of whom have previously worked at Liverpool
• In Scotland, Celtic today re-signed Scotland full-back Kieran Tierney following his departure from Arsenal
• While England Under-21 international Jobe Bellingham completed a £30m move from newly promoted Sunderland to Borussia Dortmund
• It was also revealed earlier that Manchester are set to open talks with Brentford for Cameroon forward Bryan Mbeumo and Bournemouth have made a move to sign Rennes Adrien Truffert.

With Rayan Ait-Nouri already through the door and Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki expected to follow imminently [just over 30 minutes to complete] – Manchester City could be fielding a new-look XI when they take on Wydad AC at the Club World Cup on 18 June.

Should Reijnders and Cherki get done in time for the competition getting under way – this could be the starting side that Pep Guardiola fields next week.

What people are not realising about certain transfers not happening before this deadline ends is PSR. For example, Manchester United will look to sign Mbeumo in the next transfer window as it will effectively knock on PSR incomes/losses to the following year. Hence why most of us know Mbeumo is going to United but none of that deal will officially happen until the next deadline as it makes sound business sense to wait. The trouble a club like United have in waiting is that it gives other clubs a chance to hijack a deal. This is why I worry about us getting a no.9 in….there are not many no.9’s out there to be so bold and wait!

Sam

Arsenal have long been admirers of Benjamin Sesko, but interest from Saudi Arabia may drive up RB Leipzig’s asking price for the striker.

Leipzig reportedly wanted 80m euros (£68m), but according to the Telegraph, interest from two Saudi Arabian clubs could increase that.

They say the Slovenian’s current preference is to remain in Europe, and that he is keen to join the Gunners.

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

One thing you can say about Viktor Gyokeres is that he can do it on a rainy night in Stoke.

During his stint in the Championship with Coventry, the Sporting striker – who has been linked with a move to Manchester United – has scored three goals against Stoke in five games.

The Swedish frontman helped Coventry to three wins and one draw in those five games, with just one defeat on his record.

Gyokeres hasn’t played in a top 5 league so it’s quite difficult for him to have scored a goal in one!

Conor

Re Paul 17:56 – he has scored 50 goals this season and has scored 7 goals in the Champions League. 50 goals in any league cannot be ignored. He is also considerably cheaper than Ekitike, Sesko and Osimhen. At just £60m for a goalscoring machine, that’s great value!

Paul

As well as Tijjani Reijnders, Manchester City are hoping to complete the signing of Lyon midfielder Rayan Cherki before tonight’s transfer deadline in less than an hour.

City and Lyon have reportedly agreed upon a £30.5m fee, plus add-ons worth about £4.2m.

Yesterday, Fabrizio Romano reported that Cherki would travel to Manchester today to sign his contract and undergo a medical.

Will City get it done in time?

Craig Nelson
BBC Sport reporter

For anyone who follows cycling, I am imagining this final 60 minutes of the first transfer window of the summer to be similar to a summit finish in the Tour de France.

One by one, riders [clubs] have fallen away, happy to save themselves for another day [the summer’s second, proper transfer window].

But two are left racing for the line.

Both Chelsea and Manchester City know that, if they want to register a new player in time to join their squad for the upcoming Club World Cup, this is the time.

They must submit those squads by the end of today.

• So will Chelsea tempt Borussia Dortmund with a final offer for English winger Jamie Gittens?
• And can City complete moves for Lyon’s Rayan Cherki and AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders?

We should find out in the next hour…

Gyokeres has scored precisely zero goals in a top five league – he is 27! Massively overvalued!

Paul

Real Madrid

One transfer that has got over the line during this window is Spain defender Dean Huijsen’s switch from Bournemouth to Real Madrid for £50million.

The 20-year-old described Madrid as “the club of my life” as he was formally
unveiled today.

He signed his contract at the club’s training ground, alongside president Florentino Perez.

Huijsen, who was born in the
Netherlands but moved to Spain aged five, has earned four senior caps for the Spanish national team following a breakout season.

The defender played 36 times last season for the Cherries, establishing himself in the Premier League and helping Bournemouth finish ninth.

His move to the Spanish capital came after Madrid triggered the release clause in his Bournemouth deal.

“I’ve wanted to be here since day one,” Huijsen said. “Since Madrid called, I’ve had no other
team in mind.”

“I’m coming to the best club in the world and I’m here to give it my all with
humility, and hopefully we can win many trophies together. Madrid is the club of my life.”

It’s been almost a week since Manchester City agreed a 55m euros (£46.3m) deal with AC Milan for Netherlands midfielder Tijjani Reijnders – so why hasn’t he joined yet?

According to multiple reports – including Fabrizio Romano – Reijnders completed a medical with City over the weekend, and has now agreed personal terms.

His transfer should be officially completed tonight, barring unforeseen complications.