Chu-Young Park goes from Arsenal to Watford
Arsenal have loaned South Korean striker Park Chu-young to Championship side Watford until the end of the season, the Premier League club said.
The 28 year old has made seven first team appearances since arriving from Monaco in August 2011 and was loaned to Celta Vigo in La Liga last season when he became the first South Korean to score in Spain’s top flight.
“Everyone at Arsenal wishes Ju the best of luck for his time with Watford,” the club said, adding the move was subject to completion of standard regulatory processes.
Philippe Senderos goes from Fulham to Valencia
Swiss international Philippe Senderos has joined Valencia on a permanent deal from Fulham, the English club confirmed on Friday.
The former Arsenal and AC Milan defender made 68 appearances in three-and-a-half years with the Premier League strugglers.
Senderos becomes Valencia’s fourth signing of the January transfer window, joining former Barcelona midfielder Seydou Keita, Vinicius Araujo and Eduardo Vargas.
However, none of Keita, Araujo or Senderos were signed in time to take part in Saturday’s daunting away trip to Barcelona.
Helder Postiga, Dorlan Pabon, Andres Guardado and Sergio Canales have also left the La Liga side in the past two days.
Hernanes goes from Lazio to Inter Milan
Inter Milan completed the signing of midfielder Hernanes from Lazio on the cusp of the transfer deadline Friday, a day after the Brazilian’s emotional exit from the Rome-based Serie A club.
The 28-year-old Hernanes has joined Inter on a four-and-a-half-year deal, the club announced on its website.
“FC Internazionale would like to welcome Hernanes to the club. The club has filed documents relating to his permanent transfer from Lazio to Serie A officials,” said the statement.
“The player has singed a contract until June 30, 2018.”
No financial details were immediately revealed although Italian media reports said the fee was in the region of 18 million euros (Dh89.12m).
Hernanes becomes Inter’s first major signing under new owner Erick Thohir, the Indonesian businessman who took over the club in November last year.
However Hernanes’ exit from Lazio, where he was hugely popular with fans, was not without emotion.
Hernanes was pictured on television on Thursday in emotional exchanges with fans who had waited for him to leave the club’s training ground.
Sitting at the wheel of his car, Hernanes broke down in tears before turning to the passenger seat, taking his boots and handing them to a waiting supporter.
On Friday around 200 fans were camped outside the residence of Lazio president Claudio Lotito hoping to convince the club chief not to sell the Brazilian international.
However after a full day of talks in Milan, club officials thrashed out a deal that will see Hernanes remain with Walter Mazzarri’s side until the end of the 2018 season.
Hernanes explained on his facebook page earlier Thursday: “I cried, not because anyone is forcing me to leave the club, but because I’m leaving a club, a city and a people I love.”
Hernanes virtually confirmed his departure from Lazio earlier in the day when he added: “The decision is purely mine. I’m leaving because of purely football reasons.
“I told the president I want to leave because I believe it will help my career as a professional footballer.”
Inter currently sit fifth in Serie A, albeit 11 points behind third-placed Napoli who occupy the third and final Champions League qualifying spot.
Lazio sit in 10th, five points behind Inter in the last available league spot offering qualification for the Europa League.
Diego Ribas goes from Wolfsburg to Atletico Madrid
Brazilian playmaker Diego Ribas has joined Atletico Madrid on loan from Wolfsburg for the rest of the season.
The 28 year old has already spent a year on loan at the Spanish side during the 2011/12 season and was a key part in the side that won the Europa League in Diego Simeone’s first season in charge.
“I feel very emotional,” he told Atletico’s website.
“I am returning to a team where I fitted in fantastically well. I am very excited. I am only thinking about working hard to help the team continue winning.”
Atletico are still in the running for three trophies this season as they sit joint top of La Liga, will face Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey and return to Champions League action next month where they will meet AC Milan in the last 16.
Diego will be eligible for the games against Milan as he hasn’t played in European competition this season.
Meanwhile, Atletico have farmed two of their own midfielders out on loan for the rest of the season.
French international Josuha Guilavogui will return to Saint Etienne just six months after joining Atletico for a fee in the region of 10 million euros.
And Spanish under-21 international Oliver Torres will join Villarreal.
Sergio Canales goes from Valencia to Real Sociedad
Real Sociedad have agreed a deal to sign former Real Madrid playmaker Sergio Canales from Valencia on a four-and-a-half year deal, Sociedad confirmed on Friday.
“Sergio Canales has already passed a medical prior to signing and will be officially presented on Monday,” said a statement on the Basque club’s website.
The 22 year old rose to prominence while at now-stricken Cantabrian club Racing Santander.
His talent prompted Madrid to pay 10 million euros to bring him to the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2010.
However, after failing to break into the Real first team, he joined Valencia firstly on loan and then on a permanent basis in 2012.
His time with the club was hampered by injuries, though, as he twice required surgery on cruciate ligament knee injuries.
Sociedad are currently sixth in La Liga and will face Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey next week.
Marquinho goes from Roma to Verona
Roma midfielder Marquinho has moved to fellow Serie A side Verona on loan until the end of the season, Verona announced Friday.
A brief statement on Verona’s website said: “Hellas Verona has acquired Marco Antonio de Mattos Filho ‘Marquinho’ from Roma on a temporary loan deal.”
Brazilian midfielder Marquinho, 27, has been used sparingly by new Roma coach Rudi Garcia, who lured Belgian international Radja Nainggolan to the club from Cagliari recently.
Roma sit second in Italy’s Serie A six points behind leaders and champions Juventus and host Napoli in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final next Wednesday.
Aymen Abdennour goes from Toulouse to Monaco
The Tunisian international was signed on loan by the Ligue 1 title-chasers. Monaco will have the option of making the move permanent after the season.