Football Features

    Forgotten ex-Man City ‘keeper joins Villarreal and six other deals you may have missed this week

    By Mohamed Moallim

    Published: 16:12, 6 September 2020

    As football starts to be played competitively again, business in the market is picking up with Manchester United and Chelsea making high-profile acquisitions this week.

    The Red Devils parted with £35m to bring Dutch midfielder Donny van de Beek from Ajax, their first major signing this summer, while Chelsea added German playmaker Kai Havertz (£71m) to Frank Lampard’s burgeoning squad.

    He’s the sixth big name to join London’s only Champions League winners, but for every headline-grabbing transfer, plenty go under the radar. Here are seven from this week alone.

    1. Pione Sisto

    From: Celta de Vigo

    To: FC Midtjylland

    They say never go back but Danish winger Pione Sisto returns to Midtjylland this autumn after spending four seasons at La Liga outfit Celta Vigo, where he produced 18 goals and 14 assists in 135 matches.

    Sisto’s initial performances at his boyhood club (31 goals and 11 assists in 113 matches) — where he lifted a league title — earned him rave reviews as well as being linked with a host of sides across Europe, most notably Ajax, though ultimately opting for life in Galicia.

    Can he do it again back in his homeland?

    2. Ritsu Doan

    From: PSV Eindhoven

    To: Arminia Bielefeld

    There was much fanfare when PSV beat off competition for Ritsu Doan’s signature last summer. The 22-year-old Japanese forward had electrified the Eredivisie with stellar wing play, subsequently leading to a host of clubs reportedly keeping tabs on him, but in the end, Doan opted to remain in the Netherlands, but his Eindhoven adventure never really took off.

    After mustering just two goals across 19 league outings, it was decided the 18-time international should continue his development outside the city. Bundesliga outfit Arminia Bielefeld is where Doan will play this forthcoming season, he’s also linking up with former Swansea City centre-back Mike van der Hoorn, who joined after seeing out his contract in south Wales.

    3. Gerónimo Rulli

    From: Real Sociedad

    To: Villarreal

    For the second consecutive summer, Argentine goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli is on the move. The former Manchester City man, albeit never making a single Premier League appearance, has swapped Real Sociedad — where he kept 42 clean sheets across 149 league outings — for La Liga rivals Villarreal and joins compatriot Ramiro Funes Mori, as well as being expected to provide competition for number one Sergio Asenjo.

    4. Ben Gibson

    From: Burnley

    To: Norwich City

    Having failed to make a single Premier League appearance for Burnley last term, being injured throughout, it made sense for Ben Gibson to seek pastures new. The former Middlesbrough academy graduate — whose most recent league outing came on Boxing Day 2018 — could be facing his old side as he’s joined Norwich on a season-long loan.

    5. Adil Rami

    From: Sochi

    To: Boavista

    The only headlines Adil Rami was making in recent years involved his facial hair and who he was dating, lost underneath was collecting a World Cup winners’ medal as part of France’s squad at the 2018 finals. Since then, the centre-back — after leaving Marseille — plied his trade at Fenerbahçe and Sochi before signing for Portuguese outfit Boavista this week.

    6. Kevin Volland

    From: Bayer Leverkusen

    To: Monaco

    Monaco have enjoyed their fair share of lethal forwards down the years. Thierry Henry, George Weah, Jürgen Klinsmann and Radamel Falcao all represented the club with great distinction. Hoping to follow in their footsteps is 10-time Germany international Kevin Volland, who leaves Bayer Leverkusen after registering 44 goals across 115 league outings.

    7. Gianluca Lapadula

    From: Genoa

    To: Benevento

    The much-travelled Gianluca Lapadula ended a two-year association with Genoa by joining Benevento, who’ll subsequently become the 16th different club he will represent. Affectionately dubbed Lapagol, due to his scoring prowess, the former AC Milan striker ended last season on 11 goals — the most he’s ever produced in a single Serie A campaign.

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