Transfer deals you might have missed this week, from Bellingham’s brother to Salzburg’s latest wonderkid signing
In a week that was dominated by the transfer of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, several other significant deals went through.
Headlines were dictated by that major saga involving England’s teenage superstar and Los Blancos, leaving fans suspended by the noise coming out of the Bernabeu — but not all stood still, with plenty of other clubs across the continent carrying out business as usual.
We’ve had a look at some of those deals below, from Brighton’s new midfield duo, to Red Bull Salzburg’s attempt to find the new Erling Haaland. Oh, and another deal involving a Bellingham — Jude’s 17-year-old brother Jobe, who joined a club on the same day as his older sibling.
Yankuba Minteh
✍️ #NUFC have completed a deal to sign Yankuba Minteh from Danish side Odense Boldklub, subject to approval.
The 18-year-old Gambia forward will officially complete his move to the Magpies on 1st July 2023 before immediately joining Feyenoord on loan for the 2023/24 season.
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) June 12, 2023
To: Newcastle
From: Odense
Fee: £5.8m
A Gambian sensation who had a breakthrough season in the Danish top flight with Odense Boldklub, 18-year-old Yankuba Minteh has joined Champions League participants Newcastle in what is expected to be a big summer for the Tynesiders. One for the future, the teenage prodigy has been immediately loaned out to Eredivisie champions Feyenoord for the 2023/24 season. For teenagers who played at least 900 minutes (the equivalent of 10 full games), Minteh ranked second for attempted take-ons per 90 minutes in Europe’s top five leagues and the Danish Superliga in 2022/23 (6.25).
Kevin Schade
✍ Kevin Schade has signed a five-year deal with Brentford and joins for a club-record undisclosed fee
— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) June 12, 2023
To: Brentford
From: Freiburg
Fee: £21.4m
Secured on loan in January for the second half of 2022/23, Brentford have made the signing of Kevin Schade from Freiburg a permanent one for a club record £21.4m. The two-capped Germany international didn’t grab the Premier League by the scruff of the neck last term, with just the one assist in 18 games, but at 21, he has plenty of room to develop, and looks an archetypal Thomas Frank player; a fluid attacking threat that can form a key relationship with Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo.
Calvin Ramsay
✍️ Welcome to PNE, @CalvinRamsay! ?
We are delighted to confirm Calvin Ramsay will join the club on a season-long loan from Liverpool.#pnefc
— Preston North End FC (@pnefc) June 13, 2023
To: Preston
From: Liverpool
Fee: Loan
There was plenty of clamour for Calvin Ramsay to be given game time by Jurgen Klopp last season, such was the expectation on his shoulders following a standout campaign for Aberdeen the year prior. The 19-year-old burst onto the scene at Pittodrie and garnered the attention of plenty of top clubs. Liverpool won the race for his signature, and he even earned a cap for Scotland in November 2022, such is the fervour around his ability north of the border. He will get a chance to showcase his talents next term, with Klopp sanctioning his loan move to Preston, where Liverpool will hope he can push on and prove his worth.
Joao Pedro
Welcome to #BHAFC, @DeJesusOfiicial! ? pic.twitter.com/M5Un7d8gwg
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 14, 2023
To: Brighton
From: Watford
Fee: £30m
A deal that has been confirmed for a while but officially went through this week, Joao Pedro has joined Brighton with the intention of spearheading the club in their maiden European season. Roberto De Zerbi looks set for a major rebuild job this summer, with Alexis Mac Allister already joining Liverpool and Moises Caicedo also looking likely to depart, but he has not been messing about, already bolstering his frontline with Brazilian sharp-shooter Pedro for £30m.
James Milner
We’re pleased to confirm that @JamesMilner will join us on a one-year deal with a year’s option when his Liverpool contract expires on 30 June. ?
? @FirstTouchGames // #BHAFC ?⚪️
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 14, 2023
To: Brighton
From: Liverpool
Fee: Free transfer
Also through the door is veteran factotum James Milner. Having lost a major presence in Mac Allister, De Zerbi will need an experienced head to come in a stem the flow of uncertainty. A 37-year-old Milner may not have the legs of his former self, but he is an anatomical anomaly, still providing plenty of thrust, zip and energy at a Premier League level, despite his ageing body. Having left Liverpool following the end of his contract, he is the latest Brighton acquisition.
Mahmoud Dahoud
We are delighted to announce that we have agreed to sign midfielder @modahoud8, when his contract with @BVB expires at the end of the month. ✍
? @FirstTouchGames // #BHAFC ?⚪️
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) June 16, 2023
To: Brighton
From: Borussia Dortmund
Fee: Free transfer
Fair play to Brighton, they have not been messing about to try and reinforce their midfield and remedy any voids created by Mac Allister and potential other departures. With such a big season coming up, their first-ever in Europe, they really couldn’t afford to weaken too much. The acquisition of Mahmoud Dahoud on a free represents a seriously impressive piece of business by owner Tony Bloom, but did you really expect anything different? Known as a shrewd operator, with that notion underpinned by the unearthing of unheralded gems like Mac Allister and Caicedo, he has gone and secured another astute signing with experienced Dortmund midfielder Dahoud.
Giovanni Simeone
To: Napoli
From: Verona
Fee: £10.3m
The Italian champions have made their first signing of the summer by announcing Giovanni Simeone on a permanent following his loan move from Verona last term. The club face a major season following the departure of Luciano Spalletti, with Rudi Garcia coming in to try and carry on the Scudetto-winning heroics of his predecessor. Giovanni, son of Diego, started only one Serie A game last term, but he made 24 substitute appearances and scored four goals, providing adequate cover for Victor Osimhen.
Sam Lammers
? #RangersFC are today delighted to announce the signing of Sam Lammers from Atalanta, subject to international clearance on a four year deal.
? https://t.co/vMjqmVK7op pic.twitter.com/YRzNY6SmAx
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) June 15, 2023
To: Rangers
From: Atalanta
Fee: £3m
A product of PSV’s academy, Atalanta snapped up Lammers in 2020 after failing to really breakthrough at the Philips Stadion. It was a similar tale in Bergamo, with the 6ft 3in forward instead spending most of his time out on loan, including spells at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he helped the club win the Europa League last season, and Empoli and Sampdoria in 2022/23.
Dejan Kulusevski
To: Tottenham
From: Juventus
Fee: £25.6m
A major coup this one for Spurs who, somehow, have managed to sign Dejan Kulusevski for less than £30m, an absolute snip for a player of his quality. Having joined the Londoners in January 2022, the scintillating Swede spent a season and a half on loan from Juventus, where he impressed with his creative and attacking qualities. The club have now confirmed his signing on a permanent basis.
Petar Ratkov
Dobro došao, Petar ??? #Ratkov pic.twitter.com/aMF5j3soig
— FC Red Bull Salzburg (@RedBullSalzburg) June 18, 2023
To: Red Bull Salzburg
From: TSC Backa Topola
Fee: £4m
One to keep an eye on for the future. The ‘Red Bull model’ is well-documented, with the franchise’s ability to identify and excavate hidden talent from across the globe, and Salzburg will be hoping to capitalise on the latest teenage wonder to pitch up on their patch. Petar Ratkov is a 19-year-old, 6ft 4in striker who just scored 14 goals in all competitions across 2022/23. They will be hoping he has an impact akin to a certain Erling Haaland when he was donning their colours. Ratkov has a similar frame to the Norwegian and made the same step up to Salzburg as a talented, free-scoring teenager as well.
Jobe Bellingham
? A star in the making.
We can’t wait to see you, Jobe ?#SAFC
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) June 14, 2023
To: Sunderland
From: Birmingham
Fee: Undisclosed fee
On the exact same day that his brother Jude signed for Real Madrid, Jobe completed a move from Birmingham to fellow Championship club Sunderland. Like his older brother, Jobe also came through the academy at St. Andrew’s and made his debut for the club at just 16. He has now taken his talents to the Stadium of Light, hoping to rise to prominence and accelerate his development.
Luis Semedo
He’s here ?#BemVindoHemir?? pic.twitter.com/b7l4EeCDsZ
— Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) June 18, 2023
To: Sunderland
From: Benfica
Fee: Undisclosed fee
Sunderland have made three signings this summer so far, and all three are either 20 years of age or below. Luis Semedo or ‘Hemir’ comes in as the club’s latest teenage swoop, and he joins from an academy who certainly know talent when they see it — Benfica. The 19-year-old stands at an impressive 6ft 4in, which should help him adapt to the hustle-and-bustle nature of Championship football.
If given time and the right system to thrive by Tony Mowbray, The Black Cats could have a real gem on their hands. Patrick Roberts and Alex Pritchard will be licking their lips at the prospect of fizzing balls into the box for ‘Hemir’ to attack.
