Biggest transfer deadline day signings ever, from Mesut Ozil’s move to Arsenal to Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Man Utd

TRANSFER deadline day always brings the drama. And in the final moments of the summer window, the Premier League’s top clubs are desperate to add to their squads. Mesut Ozil signed for Arsenal in a spectacular deadline day deal Credit: Arsenal FC via Getty Images Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Man Utd in 2021 Credit: Manchester United via Getty Images As the clock ticks towards it closing, we’ve seen some spectacular last-minute moves made by the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and more. SunSport looks at the biggest transfers that have happened before the transfer window slammed shut. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Mesut Ozil The German playmaker was recognised as one of the best No10’s in world football at Real Madrid. So, it presented a major coup for Arsenal when they managed to lure him to the Emirates in 2013 in a £42.5million deal. He claimed an assist on his debut against Sunderland, and registered 53 more in 184 Premier League games for the Gunners. Ozil was also named Arsenal’s Player of the Season in 2015-16. Cristiano Ronaldo It was the homecoming all Man Utd fans wanted. After 12 years, and spells at Real Madrid and Juventus, Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford in 2021. Most read in Sport Ronaldo managed 18 Premier League goals for Man Utd during his return season Credit: PA A brace on his second debut against Newcastle set the tone, while a hat-trick against Spurs was another season highlight. He managed 18 Premier League goals on his return, at 36, which was very credible. However, a fallout with then United manager Erik ten Hag saw Ronaldo bombed out of the club a season later. Wayne Rooney He was the most wanted teenager in world football, thanks to his exploits with Everton. That prompted Sir Alex Ferguson to spend £27million on the then-18-year-old in 2004. Wayne Rooney was a £27million deadline day signing in 2004 Credit: Manchester United via Getty Images And boy was that money well spent. He won 13 major trophies including five Premier League titles, four League Cups and the Champions League, the FA Cup, Europa League and FIFA Club World Cup once. Rooney also became the club’s all-time top scorer with 253 goals, surpassing Bobby Charlton’s longtime record. Ashley Cole One of the biggest, and arguably most controversial, saw England star Cole swap Arsenal for Chelsea in 2006. It was a dragged out saga that eventually saw the Blues pay the Gunners £5million and swap William Gallas. Ashley Cole is paraded by Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho in 2006 Credit: Getty Images The deal was finalised so late that it was officially announced roughly 90 minutes after the midnight transfer deadline had passed. Cole would lift the Premier League with Chelsea, as well four FA Cups, the Champions League, and Europa League. Dimitar Berbatov Back in 2008, United managed to squeeze Berbatov over the line for £30.75million. The languid Bulgarian striker became a crowd favourite at Old Trafford, sharing the Golden Boot during the 2010-11 season with Carlos Tevez. He would go on to score 56 goals for United in 149 games for the club. Better still, he won two Premier League titles, the League Cup and the Club World Cup in his four seasons at Old Trafford. Dimitar Berbatov became a fan favourite at Old Trafford soon after he signed Credit: Manchester United via Getty Images Cole Palmer The most recent standout deadline day signing at the time saw Palmer swap the Etihad for Stamford Bridge. At the time, the £40million fee Chelsea paid Man City in 2023 looked like good business. Cole Palmer was an inspired deadline day signing in 2023 Credit: Chelsea FC via Getty Images But Palmer has now established himself as one of the great mavericks of the Premier League. He scored 22 goals in his debut season, and scooped up the 2023-24 Young Player of the Season award, Claude Makelele A man so good he practically invented the defensive midfielder position. Makelele was a shock signing for Chelsea from Real Madrid in 2003 for around £17million, as Roman Abramovich’s era began to shake up English football. Claude Makelele’s signing from Real Madrid kickstarted the Roman Abramovich era Credit: Marc Aspland The France legend was the midfield conductor for the Blues team that won the Premier League in 2004-05 under Jose Mourinho. His work, sitting in front of the back four, helped Chelsea concede a miserly 15 goals in during that campaign. They would claim back-to-back titles, while Makelele would also add two League Cups and the FA Cup to his medals cabinet. Comment now