Latest transfer news (2024)

Transfer news

• Olise chooses to join Bayern from Palace
• Chelsea pull out of process over finances of deal
• Ratcliffe says multi-club rules ‘unfair’ as Man Utd deal blocked
• PSG forward Baltimore set to join Chelsea

Elsewhere

• Argentina beat Canada in Copa America opener
• England have 'huge amount of work to do' after Denmark draw
• AFCON 2025 to be held in December and January

It’s not difficult to understand the recruiting logic. One of Bayern’s new focusses is to invest in younger players, not just stars. Olise, 22, clearly suits that aim, in being a young, talented player who is only likely to improve and appreciate in value.

It makes sense in finer detail, too. While attacking midfield has long been considered a strength for the side, the department is on the wane. Serge Gnabry’s form and fitness have been questionable for some time. Leroy Sane remains unpredictable. Kingsley Coman has played in just 17 Bundesliga games last season and only 24 the year before.

Thomas Muller is coming towards the end of his career, so the position needs renewal —and Olise would infuse something fresh. As a left-footed ball-carrier and playmaker, he would provide something that Vincent Kompany does not already have. A symmetry, perhaps.

He would also add to what, already, looks like the beginnings of a new era. Jamal Musiala is already becoming a star of the game. Mathys Tel will surely climb to that level over the next few years. Add in Aleskandar Pavlovic, emerging midfielder Lovro Zvonarek, and potentially Olise too and there is a group of similar-aged players who can stay together and evolve over a long period of time.

And this is a great time for him to make the move. Kompany is a native French speaker, of course — his ability to communicate in several different languages was one of the reasons why he got the job — and his record with younger players will no doubt have encouraged Bayern to see this as a smart investment.

Michael Olise is gifted with game-changing qualities that would benefit any top club – and Bayern Munich are now set to benefit from them next season.

The Crystal Palace winger, 22, had attracted interest from Manchester United, Chelsea and Newcastle United after a fine end to the season under Oliver Glasner, but, as revealed by The Athletic, it is the German club who have won the race to sign him.

The France Under-21 international scored 10 goals and provided six assists last season, despite missing large chunks of it through injury, but it was his performance in the 4-0 victory over Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United last month that cemented Olise’s reputation as one of the most exciting talents in the Premier League.

He scored twice that night and was a threat that United simply could not contain. The difference to when he has been in Palace’s team, and when he has been missing, has been stark.

Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise has decided to join Bayern Munich.

Bayern are now expected to agree a deal with Palace for the 22-year-old France youth international to put an end to speculation over his future this summer.

The Athletic revealed that the German club had contacted Palace, while Chelsea were given the go ahead to speak to Olise before decidingthe finances involved were beyond reach and chose not to proceed.

Newcastle United also approached the Selhurst Park club while Manchester United and Manchester City have long retained a strong interest in the player.

Olise was close to completing a move to Chelsea last summer but he opted to stay in south London, signing a new four-year deal.

Olise, who joined Palace in 2021, scored 10 goals and provided six assists in 19 appearances during a standout 2023-24 campaign under new manager Oliver Glasner despite his campaign being disrupted by a hamstring injury.

His star further rose ​​when he was named in France Under-23 head coach Thierry Henry’s preliminary squad for this summer’s Olympic Games.

The men’s football tournament runs from July 24 to August 9, when the gold medal match is scheduled to take place in Paris. If France make it to the final, Olise would have just two weeks to recover before the opening day of the 2024-25 Bundesliga campaign.

Chelsea have pulled out of the process to sign winger Michael Olise from Crystal Palace.

The west London side contacted Palace last Thursday to express an interest in Olise and request permission to speak with his camp.

That was granted and Chelsea indicated they wanted an outcome by the end of this week.

Chelsea made what they believed to be their strongest offer but felt the finances involved were beyond reach and chose not to proceed.

The Stamford Bridge hierarchy are aiming to create a more disciplined wage bill than in the past and if a transfer target does not fit into that they would rather reward existing players who out-perform over time or invest in new elite talent on more reasonable salaries.

More details below

Nottingham Forest are close to completing the signing of Eric da Silva Moreira from St Pauli in a deal worth around £1.25m ($1.57m) with potential add-ons.

The 18-year-old right-back, who can also play as a right winger and as a wing-back, is scheduled to fly into England next week to complete his move to the Premier League club.

Da Silva Moreira is a client of agent Jorge Mendes, who also represents Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo and has a close relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The teenager made 15 appearances in all competitions last season, scoring four goals and providing one assist.

He made just one appearance in the 2. Bundesliga, as his side finished top of the league and earned promotion back to the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years.

Da Silva Moreira was also part of the Germany side that won both the under-17 World Cup and European Championship in 2023.

Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of Marko Stamenic from Red Star Belgrade.

The New Zealand international, 22, will spend the 2024-25 season on loan at Olympiacos in Greece, a club also owned by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis.

The Athletic previously reported that the Premier League club were working on a deal to sign Stamenic who has signed a five-year deal that will keep him at the City Ground until at least 2029.

Full story below

Barcelona has confirmed the extension of Marc Casado's contract.

The midfielder has extended his stay at the Catalan side until June 2028.

Casado, born in Sant Pere de Vilamajor in 2003, joined Barcelona in 2016 from Damm. He started with the Under-14s A side and progressed through the youth ranks, captaining the Under-19s A team to Liga and Champions Cup victories in the 2021-2022 season.

In the 2022-23 season, Casado transitioned to Barca Atletic, where he made 36 appearances. He added another 30 games in the 2023-24 campaign, bringing his total to 66 appearances for the development side, starting in 64 of them. His versatility and leadership have made him a important player, featuring both as a central midfielder and right-back.

Casado's performances earned him a debut with the first team during the 2022-23 season in a Champions League match against Viktoria Plzen. He has since made four more appearances for the senior side.

Real Madrid captain Nacho is in talks with Saudi Pro League side Al Qadsiah.

Nacho is out of contract at the end of this month had been in advanced talks with fellow Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad. That move, though, now looks unlikely to advance due to difficulties with the deal. Al Ittihad are aware of the talks between Nacho and Al Qadsiah and acknowledge they are likely to lose out on the 34-year-old defender, who is currently with Spain at the European Championship.

Al Qadsiah are not one of the Saudi Pro League teams controlled by the country’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), which took over at four clubs ahead of last season, but do have the financial power of being owned by Aramco, the state-owned oil company.

Their sporting director, Carlos Anton, is a former Real Madrid scout and their head coach, Michel Gonzalez, is a legend at the Spanish club having made 557 appearances for them in the 1980s and 90s.

Al Qadsiah won the Saudi First Division League last season to win promotion to the Pro League for next term.

Barcelona Femeni have appointed Pere Romeu as their new head coach.

Romeu has signed a two-year contract to keep him at the club until 2026.

The 30-year-old succeeds Jonatan Giraldez after he departed the club at the end of the 2023-24 campaign to take charge of Washington Spirit. Romeu was one of Giraldez’s assistants and is a former Barcelona men’s youth team coach.

Amario Cozier-Duberry is set to leave Arsenal at the expiration of his contract this month.

Cozier-Duberry, 19, has turned down the offer of a new deal with the club with the lack of a clear pathway to the first team considered a key reason.

Arsenal recognise the increased standard of the first team has made it harder for academy players to bridge the gap, but believed Cozier-Duberry could do so in time.

Full story below

Wolves have confirmed that teenage striker Leon Chiwome has signed a new four-year contract.

The Athletic reported this week that the 18-year-old had agreed the new deal, which includes an option for a further season, and Wolves have now announced that the contract has been signed.

Chiwome made his Premier League debut at the end of last season as Wolves grappled with an injury crisis. He made three appearances in total.

More details below

• Why are the same clubs involved in multiple deals?
• How does it help with PSR?
• Is it allowed?
• Has it happened before?

Phil Buckingham explains why clubs like Chelsea, Aston Villa and Everton are plotting unusual transfers

Jack Harrison is close to joining Everton on another season long loan from Leeds United.

The winger, 27, spent last season at Goodison Park, scoring three goals and assisting the same amount in 29 Premier League appearances.

Although a deal is not done, it is expected that a new loan will not include a loan fee and Everton will cover Harrison’s wages. The player was keen on a return to Merseyside this summer and is under contract with Leeds until 2028.

Full story below

Manchester United are unlikely to sign Nice defender Jean-Clair Todibo this summer due to UEFA rules on multi-club ownership.

United and Nice, the Ligue 1 club owned by Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s company INEOS, have qualified for the Europa League and are waiting to learn whether they will both be allowed to play in the competition next season.

UEFA’s regulations do not allow any organisation or individual to have “decisive influence” over the operations of more than one club in the same competition. Ratcliffe also owns a 27.7 per cent stake in United.

Both clubs had until 3 June to supply evidence to UEFA to demonstrate that they satisfy the rules, and are now awaiting the verdict of an independent panel on the matter.

More below

It is easy to see why Chelsea made an offer for Atletico Madrid striker Samu Omorodion.

He is one of several forwards the club are looking at, but their bid of €32.5million (£27.4m) plus add-ons was turned down.

The 20-year-old joined Atletico from fellow Spaniards Granada in August but is yet to play for them, having spent last season out on loan at another La Liga side, Alaves.

More on the striker below

When Chelsea reached an agreement to sign 17-year-old winger Estevao Willian from Palmeiras, it was significant for a couple of reasons.

First is that the fee — £28.7million (€34m, $36.5m) up front, potentially rising to £48.1million with performance-based incentives — took Chelsea’s guaranteed transfer fee commitments on teenagers under Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly above £150million.

Second is that it provided the clearest signal yet of where Chelsea’s recruitment strategy is heading: not back towards the established international signings that powered much of the success under Roman Abramovich, but doubling down on an aggressive, coordinated attempt to assemble the best young talent.

Our Chelsea writers Liam Twomey and Simon Johnson have more

Chelsea have opened talks with Boca Juniors over the signing of defender Aaron Anselmino.

The 19-year-old, who can also play in midfield, has played just 10 times for the senior Boca Juniors side so far having come through the Argentine club’s youth ranks.

Despite his career being at such an early stage, Anselmino’s performances has led to speculation over interest from European clubs in recent months.

Full story below

Aston Villa have agreed a deal with Chelsea to sign left-back Ian Maatsen.

With a £35million release clause in Maatsen’s contract specific only to Borussia Dortmund and now expired anyway, Villa and Chelsea have compromised on a fee just above that figure. Personal terms are also in place on a six-year contract, which Villa are working to finalise.

Villa manager Unai Emery is a huge admirer of the 22-year-old and wants to recruit him ahead of next season, when the West Midlands side will contest Champions League football for the first time.

Full story below

Good morning and welcome back to our live transfer news blog.

It is set to be another busy day of negotiations and completed deals across the Premier League, MLS and around Europe.

Stay tuned with us throughout the day and you won't miss a beat.