{
  "id": 4656669,
  "title": "Ronaldo, Rooney, Cole: The biggest deadline-day transfers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/ronaldo-rooney-cole-the-biggest-deadline-day-transfers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T14:30:37.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/ronaldo-rooney-cole-the-biggest-deadline-day-transfers-1.500658392"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As the summer transfer window drew to a close, footballing clubs worldwide engaged in feverish negotiations to finalize their final deals. Among the most notable transfers that took place on the deadline day was Cristiano Ronaldo's return to Manchester United. Having seemingly headed towards rivals Manchester City from Juventus, United swiftly acted to secure the Portuguese superstar's services. The £94 million deal saw Ronaldo rejoin the club where he had first blazed a trail as a global icon.\n\nIn 2013, Mesut Ozil's £42.5 million move from Real Madrid to Arsenal represented another epoch-making deadline-day transfer. The German maestro shattered the club's transfer record and electrified the Emirates Stadium with his arrival. Fans overflowed onto the pitch, celebrating the unprecedented coup that changed the club's fortunes overnight.\n\nWayne Rooney's £30 million transfer to Manchester United in 2004 remains one of the most controversial deadline-day signings in Premier League history. The young striker, born and raised in Liverpool, joined United despite the intense rivalry with Everton. Rooney's move was a bold statement of intent from United, catapulting the then 18-year-old into the most expensive teenager in football history.\n\nIn 2008, the Brazilian prodigy Robinho's deadline-day transfer from Real Madrid to Manchester City sent ripples across the Premier League. Reports suggested the player was still considering a move to Chelsea when City pulled off a stunning coup. The arrival of Robinho, who had previously been linked with Chelsea, marked a bold shift in City's fortunes just days after the club's takeover by Abu Dhabi United Group.\n\nThe most bitter and controversial deadline-day transfer involved Ashley Cole, who swapped Arsenal for Chelsea on the final day of the transfer window in 2006. The left-back's decision to join one of his club's fiercest rivals left many Arsenal fans disillusioned. The £8.25 million move also saw William Gallas swap the other way, fueling allegations that Cole had flouted loyalty for a more lucrative contract. The bitterness surrounding the transfer ensured Cole's name became synonymous with one of the most controversial Premier League deadline-day moves.",
  "summary": "Dubai: With just one day to go until the summer transfer window closes, club officials will be scrambling to get their final deals over the line. From record-breaking moves to last-minute surprises, here are some of the biggest deadline-day deals in football history. Cristiano Ronaldo to Man United There can be no other place to start then Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United in 2021. With the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}