Transfer Deadline Day - No Rumours just Done Deals!

Updated regularly all-day today..............The August transfer window is now officially closed. Here are a list of the 'done deals.'


Paris St Germain have completed the signing of Uruguay captain Diego Lugano from Fenerbahce on a three-year contract.
Juventus have signed Dutch player Eljero Elia from Hamburg SV on a four-year deal, for a fee of €9 million.
Plymouth Argyle have snapped up 28 year-old defender Simon King on a month's loan from Gillingham.
Siena have signed Argentine striker Pablo Andres Gonzalez and Serbian defender Milan Milanovic from Palermo, both on loan.
Hannover have snapped up Austria international Daniel Royer from SV Ried for an undisclosed fee.
West Ham have signed Guy Demel from Hamburg. The full-back has signed a two-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Birmingham have signed former Wrexham defender Jack Deaman on a one-year professional contract.
Peterborough Utd sign striker Emile Sinclair from Macclesfield on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Udinese have signed Uruguay right-back Maximiliano Pereyra on a permanent transfer from River Plate, and goalkeeper Daniele Padelli on a season-long deal from Sampdoria.
AS Roma have completed the signing of centre-back Simon Kjaer on a season-long loan deal from Wolfsburg.
Lille, the French champions have signed Liverpool midfielder Joe Cole on loan for the rest of the season.
Chievo Verona have signed USA midfielder Michael Bradley from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Caglairi have signed 24 year-old Portuguese midfielder Rui Sampaio from Beira Mar.
Newcastle Utd have signed Davide Santon from Internazionale on a 5 year contract, for an undisclosed fee. Last season the the 20 year-old full-back was sent out on loan to Cesena.
Vitesse Arnham have signed Chelsea's 20 year-old midfielder Ulises Dávila for the rest of the season. Dávila only joined The Blues 4 days ago from Mexican side Guadalajara, on a five-year deal.
St Etienne have confirmed the signing of winger Max Gradel from Leeds United on a four-year contract, for a fee of around £2.5 million.
Crystal Palace have extended their loan deal with QPR defender Peter Ramage until January.
Wolfsburg have confirmed that Alexander Hleb has joined the Bundesliga side on loan from Barcelona.
Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of long-term target Scott Parker from West Ham United for a fee of £5 million.
QPR has joined goalkeeper Tommaso Trani on a two-year deal following his release by AC Milan
Évian TG, the French Ligue 1 club have confirmed the signing of Denmark midfielder Christian Poulsen from Liverpool.
Inter Milan have completed the transfer of Diego Forlan from Atletico Madrid for an undisclosed fee. Inter have also agreed a loan deal to take Mauro Zarate from Lazio.
Aston Villa boss Alex McLeish has confirmed that he has lined up a deal for Shamrock Rovers defender Enda Stevens. The 21-year-old is set to join Villa on a three-year deal in January.
Arsenal have signed Brazil defender Andre Santos on a long-term contract from Fenerbahce. The 28-year-old left-back moves to the Emirates for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £6 million.
Swindon have signed West Ham's Saudi Arabian-born striker Ahmed Abdullah, on a six-month loan deal.
Genoa have signed Andrea Caracciolo from Brescia on loan with the view to a permanent deal for €1.6 million.
PSV Eindhoven have signed Slovenian international striker Tim Matavz from Groningen on a 5 years deal.
Scunthorpe have had an undisclosed six-figure bid accepted by Bury for midfielder Damien Mozika.
Watford have completed the signing of Joe Garner from Nottingham Forest on a two-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
Hamburg have announced the signing of Croatian international midfielder Ivo Ilicevic from Kaiserslautern on a four-year deal, for a fee in the region €4 million.
Parma have signed Lazio striker Sergio Floccari on loan with a view to a permanent move.
Liverpool have completed the signing of United States Under-18 striker Villyan Bijev from California Odyssey after the youngster impressed on trial.
Fulham have wrapped up the signing of Juventus' Czech Republic defender Zdenek Grygera on an initial one-year contract.
West Ham have confirmed that Tottenham winger David Bentley has joined the club on a season-long loan.
Millwall have captured the permanent signing of Dany N'Guessan from Leicester.
Rotherham have confirmed that Leyton Orient striker Alex Revell has joined The Millers on a two-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
Port Vale have completed the loan signing of Rangers youngster Andrew Little on loan until January.
AS Roma have signed Bosnian playmaker Miralem Pjanic from Olympique Lyon for €11 million.
Arsenal have agreed terms with Werder Bremen to sign German international defender Per Mertesacker on a four-year deal for a reporteted £9 million.
Scunthorpe have made their second signing of the day, bringing in Everton defender Shane Duffy on loan for a month.
Blackpool have signed 19-year-old West Brom defender James Hurst on a season-long loan deal.
Brentford have captured Mike Grella on a permanent deal, and he will see out the season at Griffin Park after becoming a free agent.
Rennes have re-signed Morocco international Youssouf Hadji from fellow Ligue 1 outfit Nancy for €1.7million.
Cardiff City have confirmed the signing of defender Ben Turner from Coventry City for a fee of £750,000.
Charlton have confirmed that 19-year-old striker Michael Smith has joined them from Darlington on a three-year contract, for an undisclosed fee.
West Ham confirm the signing of Arsenal midfielder Henri Lansbury on an initial season-long loan.
Oldham have signed Norwich City midfielder Tom Adeyemi on loan until 3rd January.
Bury have signed Northampton Town striker Shaun Harrad for an undisclosed fee.
AS Roma have confirmed the loan signing of Argentina midfielder Fernando Gago from Real Madrid.
Aldershot Town have signed 19-year-old left-back Jordan Brown on a one-month loan from West Ham.
Wigan have confirmed the signing of Shaun Maloney from Celtic, for a fee of £1 million.
Ajax have signed Russia striker Dmitri Bulykin from Belgian side Anderlecht on a free transfer.
Atalanta, the Serie A newcomers have bolstered their midfield for the coming campaign with a double loan capture, signing Luca Cigarini and Matteo Brighi.
Preston have signed winger Keammar Daley from Jamaican club Tivoli Gardens on a two-year deal.
AC Milan have signed midfielder Antonio Nocerino from Palermo on a five-year deal.
Wigan have signed Chelsea's 21-year-old Dutch left-back Patrick van Aanholt on a season-long loan deal.
Manchester City have confirmed they have signed free-agent Owen Hargreaves on a one-year contract.
Blackpool have signed Sheffield United forward Daniel Bogdanovic on a one-year deal, for an undisclosed fee.
Rochdale have signed Manchester City midfielder Ahmed Benali on a season-long loan deal.
Celtic have signed Moroccan left-back Badr El Kaddouri on a six-month loan from Dynamo Kiev.
Bolton have completed the signing of Liverpool's French striker David Ngog, for a fee of £4 million.
Bradford have signed former Hull goalkeeper Matt Duke on a two-year deal.
MK Dons have signed Sheffield Wednesday defender Mark Beevers in a loan deal until 31st December.
Bolton have confirmed that they have signed Gael Kakuta from Chelsea on loan until 1st January.
Burnley have signed West Ham striker Junior Stanislas for an undisclosed fee. They have also agreed an undisclosed fee with the Hammers for frontman Zavon Hines, who moved to the Clarets 13 days ago.
Bury have made another signing today, with Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Giles Coke joining on a two-month loan deal.
Hearts have signed midfielder Callum Tapping from Tottenham for a nominal fee. The 18-year-old, has signed a two-year contract with an option of a further 12 months.
Rochdale have signed Peterborough frontman David Ball on a three-month loan deal.
Trabzonspor of Turkey have confirmed the signing of Marek Cech from West Brom for an undisclosed fee.
Leicester City have completed the signing of Everton striker Jermaine Beckford, for a fee which could rise to £4 million.
West Ham have signed Ivory Coast utility man Guy Demel from Hamburg.
Millwall have signed Bournemouth winger Liam Feeney for an undisclosed fee.
Oxford United have completed the signing of Middlesbrough forward Jonathan Franks on loan until 1st January.
Stoke City have announced the capture of midfielder Wilson Palacios from Tottenham, on a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee, believed to be around £8 million.
Lincoln have signed sign 22-year-old defender Mitchell Nelson on loan from Bournemouth until October.
Oldham have signed former Newcastle striker Shefki Kuqi until the end of the season.
Southend United have signed Swindon midfielder Michael Timlin on loan until January.
QPR complete the signing of Shaun Wright-Phillips from Manchester City.
Blackburn sign defender Scott Dann from Birmingham on a four-year deal, for a fee approaching £8 million.
Liverpool announce that Craig Bellamy has left Manchester City and re-signed for The Reds.
Arsenal sign Yossi Benayoun on a season-long loan from Chelsea.
MK Dons have signed Norwich City midfielder Anthony McNamee on a free transfer.
Birmingham complete the signing of midfielder Wayne Elliott from Burnley for a fee of £500,,000.
Southampton have taken Celtic centre-half Jos Hooiveld on loan.
Chelsea have signed Raul Meireles on a four-year deal, for a fee believed to be in the region of £12 million.
Arsenal have signed Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta, for a fee in the region of £10 million.
Sunderland have signed Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner on a season-long loan.
Blackburn sign Sheffield United striker Jordan Slew. The 18-year-old frontman will cost Rovers an initial £1m.
Millwall have signed Hull City striker Jay Simpson on loan until January.
Birmingham have signed West Brom defender Pablo Ibanez for a fee of £1.5 million.
Aston Villa have captured Spurs full-back Alan Hutton, on a permanent deal until 2015, for a fee in the region £4 million. His North London team-mate Jermaine Jenas has also joined Villa on a season-long loan.
Atletico Madrid have agreed to take Brazil playmaker Diego on loan from Wolfsburg.
Stoke have confirmed the signing of Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome on a four-year deal, for a fee of £4 million.
Everton have confirmed the signing of striker Denis Stracqualursi on a season-long loan from Argentinian side Tigre.
Fulham have completed the free signing of former Porto striker Orlando Sa on a three-year deal.
Hull City have signed Leicester striker Martyn Waghorn on loan until January.
Swansea have re-signed their former left-back Federico Bessone from Leeds on a two-year deal deal.
Blackburn have confirmed the signing of Everton striker Yakubu on a three-year deal, for a fee in the region of £2 million.
Everton have confirmed the signing of Real Madrid winger Royston Drenthe on a season-long loan.
West Ham have captured Spurs midfielder David Bentley on a season long loan.
QPR have completed the signing of Sunderland defender Anton Ferdinand, for a fee in the region of £4.5 million.
Fulham have signed FC Twente striker Bryan Ruiz for a fee of £10.5 million
Stoke have completed the £10 million signing of England and Spurs striker Peter Crouch.

The Art of Dating - Things you should never do or say on a first date !

1/ Don’t be late for a date - it’s just plain rude. There is nothing worse than sitting waiting for a first date to show up, not knowing whether they’ve stood you up or are merely running a bit behind. So save everyone the extra stress – since first dates are stressful enough – and make a point of being there on time.

2/ Don't take your kids with you, seems obvious but it happens!

3/ Don’t leave your date to go talk to friends. It’s indecorous. Instead if you run into buddies, introduce them to your date and then politely have them move on.

4/ Don't say you want to meet their parents or start talking about marriage and babies.

5/ Ladies, don’t re-apply make-up at the dinner table. It’s not cute, in fact it’s rather uncouth. Excuse yourself, and go to the washroom.

6/ Keep your super fan status in check. If you love your sports and enjoy watching a game with your mates, fine. If sport is a religion and you have your favourite team or player tattooed on your back, you may have a problem! If you are serious about dating, rattling off football stats, ranting on about unfair refereeing decisions and constantly checking the score while out on a date is a no no. To the uninitiated, sport is boring, and many women interpret the obsession as a total lack of thought, creativity or inspiration. Millions of girls love sports too, and rooting for the same team is great, but making your passion into a one-sided affair is a dangerous game.

7/ Ladies, don't wear those six-inch heels you bought on eBay, thinking they were Louboutins, but actually turned out to be regulation stripper footwear.

8/ Don't check out other people when you're on a date. This is just tacky. You may think you are subtle, but while you're scoping the cutie in the corner, your date will be heading for the door.

9/Don't mention illnesses, defects or injuries. Girls like healthy, strong guys, so if you have some type of illness, defect or injury, don’t go speaking about it. Don’t lie nor hide anything – just don’t bring the conversation that way.

10/ Don't talk about your ex. Discussing your dating past will make your date horribly uncomfortable until he or she knows you better. Girls, you know what, I don't care about your last boyfriend. I'd rather hear about your gynecologist's cold hands!

11/ Girls, even guys know that the friend who calls you exactly 30 minutes into our date isn't really in the hospital with Toxic Shock Syndrome. It means you're not interested. But if you're actually into a guy you're on a date with, put away your damn phone.

12/ When it comes to a date, try to squeeze in some questions about the other person in between excessive uses of 'me' and ' I ' - Not allowing your date to talk about themselves will make them feel like your therapist!

13/Don’t take medication in front of your date.

14/ Avoid Belching, farting, pick your nose, spiting, eating with your mouth open, and chewing gum. It's not clever and it's not funny!

15/ Why let facts get in the way of a good story:
It is tempting to lie about yourself because you want to look understanding, funny, easy going, compassionate, cool and the rest of the more favorable traits. However anything you hide will slowly be unraveled in time. So if you think killing animals and burying them in your garden is a fun activity, you’d best convey that information up front. After all, even a potential serial killer can find love.


What NOT to say on a first date?

"I think my biological clock is ticking."

"Do you mind paying? I'm in between jobs."

"I never said you NEED a nose job. I just said it wouldn't hurt to consider it."

"I've got a gimp suit in the car boot, and it will fit you like a glove"

"No wine for me tonight. My urologist says it's not good to mix alcohol and penicillin."

"I just got out of rehab."

"I really feel that I’ve grown as a person in the past few years. Used to be, I wouldn’t have given someone like you a second look."

"I’ll miss you, until I go out and buy some porn."

"I really like your dress, I have one at home just like it."

.........and for those lads out there who wish to explore the topic in more detail, and find out the truth about what skills and strategies are needed on a first date, then this is a must read! coffee-date-secrets

The Wierd and Wacky World of Football

In 1990, the Football League banned Scarborough from wearing shirts advertising 'Black Death' vodka on the grounds of bad taste.

A Manchester City fan was banned in 1995 from bringing dead chickens into City’s Maine Road ground. He used to celebrate City goals by swinging the birds around his head.

In 1998, the Macclesfield mascot, Roary the Lion (right), was sent-off for making obscene gestures during a players’ brawl in the match with Lincoln City.

A Tanzanian soccer match was postponed in 1978 after the referee was arrested on the pitch and accused of smoking marijuana just before the kick-off.

Barcelona’s Hristo Stoichkov was banned for six months in 1990 for stamping on the referee’s foot after being sent off in a Cup tie against Real Madrid.

Cash-strapped Portsmouth cancelled their weekly order of new jockstraps in 1999, a move which would save £112. Administrator Tom Burton ordered the club to wash them instead of buying new ones.

In 2003, Manchester City's Shaun Goater (right) celebrated Nicolas Anelka's goal at Birmingham by kicking an advertising hoarding, but he injured his knee in the process and had to be substituted.

Up until 2005 Young Boys of Switzerland played their home games at the Wankdorrf Stadium, Bern in Switzerland.

West Ham defender Alvin Martin scored a hat-trick against three different goalkeepers in the 8-1 win over Newcastle in 1986. The injured Martin Thomas was replaced in the Newcastle goal first by Chris Hedworth, then by Peter Beardsley.

Bury players refused to do any more promotional work for the club in 1997 as a protest at the lack of nappy-changing facilities at Gigg Lane for their wives.

In 2004, James Hayter (below) came on as an 84th minute substitute for Bournemouth against Wrexham and scored the fastest Football League hat-trick ever. It took less than 140 seconds.

The Scottish Cup tie between Falkirk and Inverness Thistle in 1979 was postponed no fewer than 29 times because of bad weather.

Fans at Gillingham were subjected to celery searches in 1996. a craze had started for waving sticks of celery while chanting an obscene song. So anyone caught in possession of the vegetable was threatened with a life ban.

Sheffield Wednesday keeper Kevin Pressman has the somewhat dubious distinction of holding the record for the fastest ever red card in English football. He was sent off after just 13 seconds on the opening day of the 2000/01 season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Cameroonian, Roger Milla (right), is the oldest player to play in the World Cup. He was all of 42 years and 39 days when he played against Russia in 1994!
During that game, he also scored, making him the oldest goal scorer in the World Cup!

West Bromwich Albion's 'Hawthorns' stadium is English football's highest ground above sea-level.

In 1950 India withdrew form the World Cup because FIFA refused to let their team play barefoot.

The Anglican church in 2002 in England decided that instead of loosing its parishoners they would try a new approach. A number of parishes held services earlier, then put TV screens on altars and the lawns. One put a sign out front that read "make jesus the center forward of your life" and urged fans to come to church in their jerseys.

The Physio Room - Injury Update

With the new Premier League season only four days away, spare a thought for the English Premier League clubs' physios and medical teams and their 'healing hands.'

However following three nights of rioting in London, England's friendly at Wembley tomorrow night against the Netherlands has been postponed on police advice - which in the light of the seriousness of the trouble is in my opinion the correct decision.

The FA chairman David Bernstein said the FA had consulted with the police, Government and Brent Council, and in a statement said: "We were unable to host the fixture under the terms of our safety certificate or guarantee the safety of the fans."

I am sure there is a peculiar, almost selfish sense of relief on the part of any club manager who had players involved in the England set-up, so close to the opening weekend of the English Premier League season, but no satisfaction in the reason for the postponement.

The English Premier League is littered with 'foreign players' from all over the world, and there are still plenty of international fixtures involving them on Wednesday and Thursday. On that note tonight's game between Ghana and Nigeria at Vicarage Road, Watford has also been postponed for safety reasons. As well as full internationals there are a number of UEFA Under-21 Championship Qualifying games being played tonight and tomorrow.

International teams involved in friendlies with Premier League players on their books include: Scotland, Wales, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, France, Spain, Norway, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Austria, Russia, Belgium, Sweden, Brazil, Argentina, Bulgaria, Australia, Croatia, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Denmark and the USA.

Those managers with players involved will be praying all of them return from international duty injury free.

Meanwhile there is a full programme of English Premier League fixtures this weekend, so here is your chance to catch up on which players are definitely out injured, who is doubtful or struggling, and who will be fit to play for their clubs. Also some players are carrying over suspensions picked up at the tail end of last season, so they will also be unavailable for selection.

There are some Premier League teams who have players that are already out before a ball has been kicked, and other clubs have players that are struggling to be fit for the opening fixtures this weekend.

Some of the more high profile players carrying injuries at the moment include: Arsenal's Thomas Vermaelen and Jack Wilshire, Aston Villa's Darren Bent, Tottenham's Rafael Van Der Vaart (right), Manchester United's Danny Welbeck , Liverpool's Glen Johnson and Chelsea's Frank Lampard.

Click on the 'link' to find out the latest on your Club's injury woes, and how soon it will be before some of your teams players will be back in action.

Those players that are definitely ruled out through suspension include: Chelsea's Daniel Sturridge (right), Manchester City's Kolo Toure, and Everton's Seamus Coleman.

Fantasy Football 2011/12 - The npower Championship

The opening game of 'The Championship' football season kicks-off in just 48 hours, when Hull City host Blackpool, and I have decided to take part in the forthcoming Texaco sponsored Championship Fantasy Football league for the 2011/12 season.

In doing so I shall be pitting my wits against friends and football fans around the country in an attempt to gain some bragging rights, and similarly dent a few egos of those fans who 'believe' they know everything about the second tier of English football.

I shall attempt to keep you updated throughout the season on my progress, good or bad as I suffer like any football manager does by trying to select an initial starting eleven of the best players available, without exceeding my 'fictitious' set budget.

Then as every week passes I will have to cope with injuries, suspensions, players moving clubs, along with 'jettisoning my flops' - those players that promised so much but failed to deliver! Then as the manager of my team I will be responsible for any wheeling and dealing in the transfer market, whilst keeping within my financial means.

Click on this link for the rules on how to pick your team, score points and make transfers.

The 'Team of the Season' for 2010/11 in terms of top points scorers in their respective positions was as follows:

Goalkeeper: Paddy Kenny (QPR).

Defenders - Angel Rangel (Swansea), Ian Harte (Reading, pictured right), Clint Hill (QPR), Ashley Williams (Swansea).

Midfielders - Lewis McGugan (Nottm Forest), Max Gradel (Leeds), Andy King (Leicester), Adel Taarabt (QPR).

Strikers - Danny Graham (Watford), Grant Holt (Norwich).



Here is my team to start the 2011/12 campaign:

Goalkeeper:

Kelvin Davies (Southampton).

Defenders:

Ian Evatt (Blackpool, pictured right), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Anthony Gerrard (Cardiff), Sean St Ledger (Leicester).

Midfield:

Kevin Nolan (West Ham and Captain), George Boyd (Peterborough), Robert Snodgrass (Leeds), Lee Bowyer (Ipswich).

Strikers:

Rickie Lambert (Southampton, pictured right), Rob Earnshaw (Cardiff).


If you fancy playing and you want to prove you know the most about the beautiful game then go head-to-head with your friends, work colleagues or family by logging onto Texaco Fantasy Football and sign up right away.

It's free to play and there's plenty up for grabs including: npower Championship Play-off Final tickets, VIP 'behind the scenes' experiences at your favourite npower Championship club, Texaco fuel vouchers, signed shirts, mini-footballs, and even the chance to meet your club's manager!

If you miss the opening match deadline (the new season gets underway at 19:45 on Friday 5th August), don't worry just join the league as soon as you can. Remember the competition is not won in the first week of the season, but in May of next year.

Good Luck!

Babe Of The Month - Sexy US Soccer Star Alex Morgan

Alexandra Patricia "Alex" Morgan (born 2nd July, 1989) is an American soccer player from Diamond Bar, California. She is a forward for the Western New York Flash in the (WPS) Women's Professional Soccer league in the United States. Alex is also a member of the US Women's National Team. Alex was the youngest player on the US team that finished runners-up at the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup. Alex has made 24 appearances for the national team scoring nine times, including two goals at the World Cup finals held in Germany last month.

Follow Alex on Twitter or Facebook

Read more about Alex on her official website: Alex Morgan Soccer