Transfer Deadline Day Live!
Coverage of every incoming EFL deal on Transfer Deadline Day, 30 August 2024.
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Join Ali, George, and the team as we cover every single signing across the 72, capturing the top lines, bringing you the insights, and delivering the greatest package of EFL transfer goodness since the last time. We’ll be chatting all day, so please get stuck in, share your thoughts, and drop us a question.
Quick — the boss is coming: Customer Information 📈
00:37 - Ali Maxwell
Well, that’s been Deadline Day. It’s been simply wonderful. 104 signings written-up, bringing our Summer Transfer Window coverage to over 750 Done Deals.
14,000 words down, we’ve not got many left, so as I sit here in a cab home, I’d like to say thanks for reading along - today and all summer long. George and I are so grateful for the companionship and magnificent work of Sam, Huw, Craig and Matt. Thanks for your company in the comments.
We would love it if you considered joining NTT20.COM as a paid subscriber, so that you can enjoy our unrivalled EFL content all year round.
00:33 - Ali Maxwell
Milan Aleksic (CM) - [Radnicki 1923 - Sunderland] - Undisclosed
Sunderland have picked up a genuine Serbian wonderkid who has just been called into their senior squad. An all-action box-to-box midfielder that turned 19 on Deadline Day, Aleksic fits the model of what Sunderland look for in a young player, and will likely come straight into the first-team squad at a club who have no issues blooding youth.
00:32 - Ali Maxwell
Hakeeb Adelakun (W) [Free agent - Salford City]
After a few difficult seasons, Adelakun was laughably good on loan at Doncaster earlier this year, with 9 goals and 7 assists in 18 starts. Surely he wasn’t expecting to land back in League Two?
If he responds to Karl Robinson and Salford in the same way he did with Grant McCann and Donny, Salford have an excellent wide forward for the level.
00:12 - Ali Maxwell
Mihailo Ivanovic (ST) - [Vojvodina - Millwall] - Undisclosed
Millwall have broken their transfer record.
Neil Harris wanted a striker. Today, he’s got two! Josh Coburn and now Mihailo Ivanovic to join Macaulay Langstaff.
The tall, 19-year-old Serbian striker that scored 9 goals in the Serbian top flight last season. Truly a fitting way to end a ridiculous Championship window, packed with signings from overseas and all the risk and reward it comes with!
00:04 - Huw Davies
Salis Abdul Samed (CM) - [Lens - Sunderland] - Loan
RC Lens have confirmed it, and that’s good enough for us…
*Sigh* Sunderland signing another kid who isn’t ready to play Championship league football, is it? Nope! Salis Abdul Samed is a 24-year-old defensive midfielder with European experience, who started all six of Lens’ Champions League group-stage games last season. He does potentially look a little lightweight for a Championship midfield but he’ll keep things tidy in possession, and Sunderland always have Alan Browne to stand next to him and look threatening.
00:02 - Ali Maxwell
Chris Mepham (CB) - [Bournemouth - Sunderland] - Loan
This feels premium, doesn’t it? A 26-year-old CB that’s started 50 Premier League games in the last five years, and always looked more than comfortable at this level. As impressive as Dan Ballard and Luke O’Nien have been for the most part, central defence hasn’t been an area of much depth for Sunderland in the last season or two. With Ballard returning from injury, and Alese suffering one, Mepham could feasibly go straight in.
This is just a straight loan, and represents a slight removal from Sunderland’s recent transfer policy. Has the winning start to the season given confidence to those in charge that there’s a realistic chance of promotion?
23:44 - George Elek
Zian Flemming (AM) - [Millwall - Burnley] - Loan + obligation to buy
Burnley fans have been tracking a helicopter on the journey from their training ground to London and back again, with speculation rife as to who could be the precious cargo. It turns out to have been from Amsterdam via south-east London in the form of Zian Flemming, the shot-heavy Millwall attacking midfielder tasked with the job of firing Burnley back to the Premier League.
It’s a bit puzzling as to how Scott Parker will wedge Josh Cullen, Josh Laurent, Han-Noah Massengo, Josh Brownhill and Flemming into three midfield spots, but this does feel like a much better stylistic fit for the technically gifted Dutchman. Maybe now he will see more of the ball in dangerous areas he will be less adamant that shooting is the best option — 30 goal involvements in two seasons for a poor side bodes well.
23:42 - Huw Davies
Kaide Gordon (RW) - [Liverpool - Norwich] - Loan
Out goes one left-footed wide forward, in comes another. The winger was Liverpool’s youngest ever FA Cup goalscorer, also featured in the Premier League and started a League Cup semi-final – all in 2022, when he was just 17. Now he’s 19 and hasn’t played a huge amount of football in between, due to severe growing pains, but after extensive rehab with his parent club and a handful of appearances last season, he’s getting a full run on loan. With Jon Rowe and Abu Kamara gone, Gordon should get minutes cutting in with speed onto his favoured left foot.
23:41 - Huw Davies
AJ Bridge (CM) - [Middlesbrough - Norwich] - Undisclosed
Busy day for Norwich’s academy mob: AJ Bridge joins Brandon Forbes and Billy Gee at Carrow Road to link up with the development squad. He’s 19 and likes to collect the ball from deep, create chances and go for long walks on the beach.
23:40 - George Elek
Antwoine Hackford (ST) - [Sheff Utd - Port Vale] - Loan
Last season Hackford joined a Burton Albion squad stacked with attacking options and struggled to get a game, and this time around he’s joined a Port Vale squad stacked with attacking options where he might struggle to get a game. This stinks of a side who are yet to score a goal from open play pressing the panic button on a player that they may not need.
George Elek - 23:38
Abu Kamara (RW) - [Norwich - Hull] - Undisclosed
A reported £4.5m is a pretty penny for a player who has had one good season in League One, but anyone who saw Kamara’s sparkling displays off the right for 23/24 Champions Portsmouth will know just how exciting a player Hull are buying.
Lacking stardust in the final third after losing Jaden Philogene, Fabio Carvalho and Liam Delap, it’s no surprise to see Hull spend big on a player who should provide a big goal threat and creative spark off the right-hand side and has the potential to play at the top level. Eight goals and 10 assists in a first loan is some achievement and a repeat trick this season will have Premier League clubs circling.
However, having just added Mohamed Belloumi - a left-footed right winger - Kamara has instant competition walking through the door at the same time!
23:36 - Ali Maxwell
Anthony Scully (LW) - [Portsmouth - Colchester] - Loan
Scully scored 22 goals across two seasons for Lincoln City in League One between 2020 and 2022. His last two seasons, at Wigan and Portsmouth, have been mostly wiped out through injuries.
Having always played above League Two in his career thus far, he drops back down to find his mojo. At his best, he’s an excellent goal threat and hard-worker off the left of attack.
23:32 - Huw Davies
Mohamed El Bachir Belloumi (RW) - [Farense - Hull] - Undisclosed
Just as we thought Hull were being oddly quiet, this is a big signing sneaking under the radar. Belloumi reportedly had a release clause at Farnese of £12.5m; we can’t say whether Hull have paid that sum or indeed anywhere near it – if accurate, that would be potentially the biggest fee ever paid in the Championship (if not in League One, apparently) – but we can certainly assume he hasn’t come cheap from the Portuguese top flight. The 22-year-old Algerian is a left-footed right-winger who had been wanted by Leeds in this window, and his dad, Lakhdar Belloumi, was arguably one of the greatest African footballers of all time. No pressure, then.
23:27 - Ali Maxwell
Jay Stansfield (ST) - [Fulham - Birmingham] - Reported £15m + £5m + 20% sell-on
This is like when Manchester City signed Robinho! This takes Birmingham’s summer spending close to 30m. They’ve spent more on Stansfield than Liverpool did on Federico Chiesa!
Stansfield was Birmingham’s Player of the Season in 2023/24, scoring 12 goals and looking sharp even as the team crumbled. He’s an England U21 international with 21 goals and 9 assists across spells with Exeter and Birmingham. It seems clear that Fulham weren’t that keen to let go of a talent that they’ve nurtured since 2019, but a reported £15m + £5m + 20% sell-on in add-ons has swung it.
Why would Stansfield drop down to League One? Well, according to those in the know, Stansfield’s partner lives in the Midlands, and his brother works for the club. The Birmingham City project is undeniably exciting. Per the bookies, they’ve around a 65% chance of being a Championship club next season, and given the way they are operating, you would expect them to make a splash once they get there.
Where will he fit? With target man Lyndon Dykes having signed this week, Alfie May having scored three in three to start the season, and an array of wide forwards as well, there’s certainly a question around how Chris Davies keeps his attacking players satisfied with their game-time. Stansfield isn’t really a ‘lone striker’ profile, anyway – while his speed and finishing are impressive, his physicality and hold-up play is less stand-out. He could certainly perform in an inside left role, or as a second striker, but it’s hard to imagine him and May being natural attacking bedfellows.
How are Birmingham funding it? Well, you never quite know from the outside. But the owners have made some serious improvements to the way the club operates. They appear to be very rich. The club has brought in around £7m in player sales, including from academy graduate Jordan James, and the transfer fees for incomings will be amortised over multiple years, which helps with the book costs.
It’s still an obscenely large fee for a third-tier side. A record-breaking fee for a talented player. It destroys any semblance of equality in the division. It makes Birmingham City the team to beat, and Stansfield League One’s leading man, whether he likes it or not.
The pressure is on, for player and club. Love it or hate it… this is nuts!
One lovely consequence of the deal? Exeter are likely to be benefitting from a sell-on clause. Lovely, lovely job from one of the best academies around.
23:22 - George Elek
Shaq Forde (RW/ST) - [Watford - Bristol Rovers] - Undisclosed
Gasheads weren’t over the moon with the signing of striker Gatlin O’Donkor this morning due to the perceived lack of proven quality, but in Forde they’ve signed a player who showed in his first EFL loan that he is more than capable of having a positive impact in League One.
Capable of playing up front, Forde is best used off the right-hand side where he can cut inside onto his stronger left foot. He’s a modern-day inside forward whose goal-scoring ability from wide is his biggest threat, and I would be surprised if he didn’t break into double figures this season after scoring nine league goals for Orient last campaign.
23:19 - Ali Maxwell
Tomoki Iwata (DM) - [Celtic - Birmingham City] - Undisclosed
A tidy number 6 who was the J League’s MVP in 2022 before joining Celtic, Iwata might not be Jay Stansfield, but I think it’s still worth saying: this guy should not be playing in League One.
A classy operator at the base of midfield, energetic and skillful, he was kept out of the Celtic team by Callum McGregor and Matt O’Riley - no shame in that! He joins compatriot Ayumu Yokoyama in the Second City, and will complete an absurd central midfield squadron including Marc Leonard and Paik Seung-ho.
23:17 - Sam Parry
Lamine Fanne (CM) - [AIK - Luton] Undisclosed + loan back
A regular in the AIK XI this season, the tough-tackling 20-year-old signs for the Hatters before returning to AIK on loan for the rest of their campaign. One for the future perhaps.
23:10 - George Elek
Jay Benn (RB) - [Lincoln - Bradford] - Loan
The young Lincoln full-back impressed on loan last season at Solihull, so a move to a decent League Two side looks like a good next stop in his progression. Brad Halliday has been a regular and dependable player for them there so Benn may struggle to get into the side and it isn’t a position Bradford fans were hoping to be filled when they are so short on midfielders.
23:04 - Ali Maxwell
George Edmundson (CB) - [Ipswich - Middlesbrough] - Loan
When George Edmundson started his career in Oldham’s academy, he’d have dreamt of playing Premier League football. Stepping onto the pitch in the 89th minute at the Etihad last Saturday, he fulfilled that dream…
Now Ipswich have sent him back to the Championship! Boro need CBs urgently with van den Berg joining Darragh Lenihan and Dael Fry on the treatment table — Luke Ayling played CB against Portsmouth. 10 starts last season for Edmundson, he should be a solid addition for Boro, but if all CBs are fit it’s hard to see him starting.
22:59 - Craig Bradley
Bradley Ihionvien (ST) - [Colchester - Peterborough] - Undisclosed
Peterborough know potential. Bradley Ihionvien has plenty of development still to do. He’s rough around the edges and very raw. But he has the physical profile that makes him the envy of many. Where better to further learn his trade than with a Posh side that are renowned for buying the best young talent in the lower divisions and turning them into gold? Ihionvien has been on my radar for a while, you can read more of my thoughts here…
22:58 - Ali Maxwell
Tyler Roberts - [Birmingham - Northampton] - Loan
Tyler Roberts will be playing in League One for the first team since a loan with Walsall in 2017-18 when he was a highly-rated West Brom academy graduate. A talented player who’s struggled to consistently impact games in the last few seasons, his best spell came at Leeds under Marcelo Bielsa, who managed to get some strong performances out of him, at times in midfield as well as attack. In Roberts and Tariqe Fosu, Cobblers have added some technical skill above the level of the existing squad. But Jon Brady demands full buy-in, and Roberts needs to prove that he’s able to stay fit and motivated to provide that.
22:56 - Huw Davies
Oluwaseun Adewumi (AM) - [Floridsdorfer - Burnley] - Undisclosed (then loaned to Dundee)
In an otherwise quiet window, Burnley have signed this teenage attacking talent from the Austrian second tier and immediately sent him on loan to Dundee, who had four Clarets on loan at various points last season. Meanwhile, Burnley fans anxiously await the announcement of one particular signing who could make a more immediate impact…
22:54 - Sam Parry
Mason Holgate (CB) - [Everton - WBA] - Loan
WBA lost Cédric Kipré earlier in the summer and with only 3x CBs on the books, bring in another body. Whether Holgate is of the requisite quality is questionable. He didn’t perform well in a Sheffield United team that also didn’t perform well in the top-flight last season. But he knows West Brom. He’ll encounter a friendly face in fellow CB Kyle Bartley, the only face remaining from his previous stint in 2019. Not sure what I’d make of that partnership in a starting XI.
22:52 - Huw Davies
Jadel Katongo (RB) - [Manchester City - Peterborough] - Loan
The 19-year-old right-back (though more commonly a centre-back in Manchester City’s academy) played 43 times in all competitions for Peterborough last season, starting 33 of those games, so Darren Ferguson knows what he’s getting. Katongo was a prolific and accurate passer, as well as being strong defensively for such a young player – not to mention fit, in playing so often – and if he can just be a little more ambitious in attack this time around, he’ll be a real asset for Posh in his second loan.
22:51 - Craig Bradley
Tatsuki Seko (CM) - [Kawasaki Frontale - Stoke] - Undisclosed
Stoke have manoeuvred some room in their midfield, selling Josh Laurent to Burnley and releasing Daniel Johnson, so they can bring in Tatsuki Seko from Japan. Seko is a blend of tenacious and technical; he brings an intriguing element to Stoke’s engine room that will soon have a new look with Bosun Lawal already added and Wouter Burger, seemingly, staying.
22:49 - Ali Maxwell
Davis Keillor-Dunn - [Mansfield - Barnsley] - Undisclosed
Keillor-Dunn absolutely loves to shoot: he took the most shots per 90 in League Two last season and has taken the second-most total shots in League One this season.
He’s not going to lead the line, but will get on the ball behind a front man and will get shots off, as well as link well with teammates if the shot’s not on. Barnsley are going to carry a ridiculous goal threat from 15+ yards with DKD and Adam Phillips.
22:46 - George Elek
Jake Young (ST) - [Bradford - Stevenage] - Undisclosed
Move over Liam and Noel, you’ve just been pipped to the biggest reunion story of the week, the month and even the year.
Jake Young and Dan Kemp will return to each other's warm embrace, this time at Stevenage, having been cruelly ripped apart in January after a blossoming bromance at Swindon.
Kemp provided the bullets for Young’s 16 League Two goals in 25 appearances and Stevenage boss Alex Revell will hope that they can pick up where they left off. Young struggled to force a move away from Bradford in January, and then to get into their side at the backend of last season, so this is a bit of a gamble on him being able to replicate a purple patch of form, but it’s a chance worth taking for a side who need some attacking quality in their quest for survival.
22:43 - George Elek
Isaac Schmidt (RB/LB) - [St Gallen - Leeds] - Undisclosed
When you need depth at full-back on both sides, why not buy a right-footed full-back who has played the majority of his football on the left? That is the attitude that Leeds have taken in Schmidt, who looks to be a good one-on-one defender and decent attacking outlet. How that translates from St Gallen to the Championship is yet to be seen, but this looks another good bit of recruitment for a Leeds squad that now looks stacked in quality and depth.
22:39 - Ali Maxwell
Marcus Harness (AM/W) - [Ipswich - Derby] - Loan
Harness was an excellent League One player for five seasons with Burton, Portsmouth and Ipswich, and offered plenty off the bench for Ipswich last season in their promotion. A versatile player who can play in all positions behind the striker, he has excellent work-rate and can contribute goals from the left, right or as a #10. He’ll offer a little more on-ball finesse than Derby’s other attackers, many of whom are runners or dribblers.
22:27 - Huw Davies
Billy Gee (CB) - [Chelsea - Norwich] - Free (with add-ons)
Gee whizzkid! Norwich will hope so, anyway, having signed the 19-year-old ball-playing defender for their development team.
22:23 - George Elek
Chem Campbell (LW/AM) - [Wolves - Reading] - Loan until 05/01/25 (random)
Reading released a statement this evening confirming that their takeover is yet to go through, which itself has severely impacted what they are able to do in the transfer market, but in Chem Campbell, they’ve brought in a versatile attacking player who has shown real promise in League One at both Wycombe and Charlton in loan spells.
The Royals lost Femi Azeez to Millwall earlier in the window, and Campbell is someone who should carry that goal threat from wide while also being an effective dribbler, although he didn’t kick on last season as he’d have hoped after a good first loan at Wycombe.
22:20 - Ali MaXwell
Manni Norkett (ST) - [Nottingham Forest - Cheltenham] - Loan
Cheltenham’s sixth loanee of the summer, Manni Norkett, joins their front line from Forest. Norkett spent some time in the Manchester United academy. He’ll be competing for two striker spots with Ryan Bowman, Matty Taylor, George Miller and Liam Dulson.
22:16 - Ali Maxwell
Ronnie Stutter (ST) - [Chelsea - Burton Albion] - Loan
Mark Robinson is bringing a hint of SW6 to Burton. The former Chelsea U23 manager has Charlie Webster, Dylan Williams and now Ronnie Stutter. The striker scored 11 in 14 PL2 games last season under Robinson. Danilo Orsi’s start to life up top for Burton has been tough, so there should be a chance for Stutter (or Jake Cooper Love) to make an impact.
As an aside, is there a better EFL player/manager lookalike in the EFL right now? Let us know in the comments.
22:11 - Huw Davies
Funso Ojo (CM) - [Port Vale - Shrewsbury] - Loan
Third-tier Shrews recruit a midfielder from the fourth tier for the second time today. Funso Ojo isn’t quite as fun as his name suggests, but he does the essentials well. Even so, it’s hard to see the 33-year-old having a big impact on Shrewsbury in their bid to avoid relegation.
22:09 - Craig Bradley
Ben Doak (RW/LW) - [Liverpool - Middlesbrough] - Loan
Middlesbrough have beaten Hull to the signature of Ben Doak. Just 18, but already in the full Scotland squad and with a spattering of Premier League and Europa League minutes to his name. This is a high-end loan. Doak can play on either flank, attacks inside and out and has a mix of electric skill and furious pace. Boro fans are going to love him, EFL fans are going to love him — he’s a bums off seat type of player. One of Isaiah Jones or Delano Burgzorg is gonna need to step to one side. Ben Doak moves the Boro needle!
Marcus Dackers (ST) - [Salford - Morecambe] - Loan
Dackers is a striker who is very tall. Since signing for Salford from Brighton he’s struggled to break into their first team, but has been on several loans meaning that Morecambe will be, staggeringly, his 11th club at just 21 years of age. Jefferson Louis, Marcus is coming for you.
22:04 - Craig Bradley
Rico Richards (RW/LW/AM) - (Aston Villa - Port Vale) - Loan
One of the West Brom to Villa academy lot. Rico Richards is fondly thought of, at Villa and elsewhere. The youngster followed in Louie Barry’s footsteps and went on loan to Stockport in January. At first look, you’d think the loan wasn’t great. But that was down to circumstance rather than anything Richards did wrong. Stockport’s promotion challenge just called for players who already had the manager’s trust. Stockport get little wrong, and the fact that they wanted Richards on board in the first instance, speaks volumes. Richards and Villa will be looking for more production at Vale.
22:04 - Ali Maxwell
Maleace Asamoah (W) - [Fleetwood - Wigan] - Undisclosed
Son of former Ghana international Derek Asamoah, 21-year-old Maleace has had some journey — Cheshunt, Kalamata F.C., Olympiacos Volos F.C. and New Salamis F.C. are all on his footballing CV. But it was on loan at Waterford in the first half of the year where he made a big impact. League of Ireland expert David Judge described him as “arguably the best player in the league for the first half of the season”.
He’ll challenge Dion Rankine and Silko Thomas for minutes in wide areas.
22:00 - Sam Parry
One hour to go…
Just sixty minutes until the summer transfer window ends, or is there? In the January window, more than 25% of deals went through after 11 PM. 🤯
21:58 - Ali Maxwell
Jamie McDonnell (CM) - (Nott’m Forest - Colchester) - Loan
20-year-old Northern Irish midfield moves to Essex looking for his first taste of senior football, and will compete with Alex Woodyard, Arthur Read, Teddy Bishop and Jack Payne for minutes.
21:53 - Craig Bradley
Ben Waine (ST) - [Plymouth - Mansfield] - Loan
Ben Waine came to the UK from the A-League with a reputation for good movement and top finishing. That hasn’t been on display at Argyle. Waine has struggled to break into the team and when he has had chances he hasn’t been able to make an impact, often asked to play a lone forward role that doesn’t suit. He’s looked physically weak and easy to defend against. It may be the suitability of the role that has made Waine look below the level. It’s also possible that playing a front two with a partner that can control dominant defenders will see him in better a light. It’ll be fairer to cast judgment after this loan.
21:47 - Ali Maxwell
Sonny Finch (ST) - [Boro - MK Dons] - Loan
Mike Williamson completes his strikeforce: Callum Hendry, Ellis Harrison, Matthew Dennis and now 19-year-old Sonny Finch. He’s made three league appearances for Boro, and is talked up as one of their most exciting young players.
Someone on NTT20 Squad (not a Boro fan) watched him play in 2023 and said “reminds me of Michael Owen”. Hopefully, that’s 1998 Michael Owen.
21:32 - George Elek
Festy Ebosele (RWB) - [Udinese - Watford] - Loan
It’s finally happened. Two years after signing for Udinese from Derby in a move us cynics just assumed was an inventive way to get Ebosele to Vicarage Road, he is finally boarding the Pozzo Express from Udine to Watford.
He should fit in well with Cleverley’s 3-4-3, although he may have a tough time usurping the impressive Ryan Andrews. Searing pace and an unquenchable thirst for taking players on, Ebosele is a direct threat suited for moments of attacking need, rather than shoring up a flank given he isn’t the best defensively.
21:25 - George Elek
Ben Nelson (CB) - [Leicester - Oxford] - Loan
An imposing young centre-back who has never looked out of place when called upon by Leicester, this looks an especially smart bit of business given Nelson’s ability to play as both the left and right-sided centre-back in a four.
He impressed in a loan spell at Doncaster in 22/23 but this is a step up in quality and Nelson will likely come straight into the side with Oxford captain Elliott Moore currently out injured. In time though expect him to compete with Ciaron Brown for the spot alongside Moore.
21:23 - Huw Davies
Pat Jones (RW/LW) - [Huddersfield - Exeter] - Undisclosed
On paper this is a very exciting addition for Exeter: Pat Jones was highly rated when pushing through at Huddersfield a couple of years back after signing from Wrexham, and justified the hype in several cameos as a substitute – quick, ambitious and with a decent shot on him. Unfortunately, a couple of injury-hit seasons have limited the winger’s progress with the Terriers and that presumably has contributed to Exeter giving him only a one-year deal with the club having an option of a second, despite Jones being just 21. But Demetri Mitchell’s fitness is a doubt, so Jones could fit in straightaway at St James Park – especially with Gary Caldwell tending to love a winger who can double up as a wing-back.
21:18 - George Elek
Rami Al-Hajj (AM) - [OB - Plymouth Argyle] - Undisclosed
Argyle are the latest Championship looking to the continent to find some good-value attacking players and Al-Hajj looks an exciting find.
A creative no.10 who can hurt teams with both his dribbling and passing ability, the reported €1m for the 22yo could prove to be a steal, but Argyle does look to be a difficult environment for an attacking player to showcase their ability at the moment.
He doesn’t look to be much of a goal threat, so it would be a surprise if the Swedish youth international is seen as a direct replacement for Morgan Whittaker, although that doesn’t mean Argyle fans can rest easy yet…
21:15 - George Elek
Jevani Brown (AM) - [Bristol Rovers - Notts Co] - Loan
Brown hasn’t looked the same player for a while now, and we will leave the speculation as to why to others. Either way, Bristol Rovers will have hoped that a reunion with his former boss Matt Taylor might lead to him rediscovering his previous form, but it hasn’t happened. Notts County have started the season well and this looks like a good stylistic fit for a player who has shown that he is capable of scoring a lot of goals playing no.10, but it’s a bit of a punt from County that Brown is still able to perform, with little recent evidence.
21:14 - Ali Maxwell
Reuben Egan (GK) - [Unattached - Tranmere] - Free
19-year-old Irish keeper who has impressed on trial. Tranmere have specified that he’ll provide back-up to Luke McGee and will work under goalkeeper coach Joe Murphy, who is the current second choice.
21:13 - Ali Maxwell
Romelle Donovan (AM/W) - [Birmingham - Burton] - Loan
The 17-year-old is very young and very exciting. In 219 minutes across 10 appearances for Birmingham, he showed some breathtaking dribbling ability, leading to an England U18 call-up. It’s a small sample size of senior football so far, and to perform well for Burton he’ll need to do more than dribble, but there’s a lot to be excited about. If Birmingham weren’t acting like the League One Real Madrid, he’d surely be in their plans this season. Instead, he’ll hopefully be getting senior minutes with Burton. Looking at Burton’s currently wide options, there should be plenty of opportunity if he can demonstrate that X Factor.
21:12 - Ali Maxwell
Stephen Humphrys (ST) - [Free Agent - Barnsley] - Free
Stephen Humphrys has been a free agent all summer after leaving Wigan. This feels like a logical landing spot for a player who looked dangerous last season (9 goals for Wigan, often playing off the right), but who probably hasn’t shown enough consistency to get a Championship move. As a striker, he likes to run the channels. He’s a dangerous dribbler and has a powerful shot, albeit has an individualistic streak. Necessary firepower for Darrell Clarke.
21:10 - Craig Bradley
George Cox (LB) - [Volendam - Swindon] - Free
George Cox becomes the second Volendam defender to return to these shores this summer. Crawley have had early success with Josh Flint, with some teams wondering why they didn’t take the left-sided centre-back on board. Swindon can expect similar from George Cox who has been a consistent Eredivisie performer for the last four seasons.
21:05 - Craig Bradley
Before we enter the crazy final hours of the window it feels right right to pay homage to some of the players that have moved out of our beloved EFL over the last couple of months. How better to do it than a build a XI? Don't be sad. Part of loving them is allowing them to move on and spread their wings.
GK - Asmir Begović
RB - Archie Gray
CB - Wesley Hoedt
LB - Crysencio Summerville
CM - Jean Michael Seri
CM - Pierre Ekwah
RW - Jonathan Rowe
AM - Yaser Asprilla
LW - Jack Clarke
ST - Georginio Rutter
ST - Sammie Szmodics
We're lining up in a 3-2-5 in and out of possession, shoehorning Summerville in at left-back because Garth Crooks has made things like that acceptable, and using Asmir Begović in nets because, you know, we need a goalkeeper.
Stop press!
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21:01 - Oliver Bradley, aged 11
Lewis Shipley (LB) - [Norwich - Cheltenham] - Loan
He's a left-back. He played 2084 minutes for Accrington. He's good at heading. He's not good at celebrating.
20:51 - Matt Watts
Tom Cannon (ST) - [Leicester City - Stoke City] - Loan
When John Percy says that at least half of the clubs in the Championship want to sign a player on loan, you sit up and take notice. In his spells at Preston and Leicester, Tom Cannon has shown that he likes to run in behind and he knows where the back of the net is. In just over 2000 Championship minutes, Cannon has scored ten goals. The 21-year-old has the potential to be a genuine difference-maker for the Potters this season.
20:49 - Matt Watts
Caleb Taylor (CB) - [West Brom - Wycombe] - Loan
Son of Martin, Caleb Taylor heads out on loan to League One for the third time. The 6ft 6 defender impressed during his season at Cheltenham, but he had limited game time at Bolton last season. Now 21, the Albion Academy graduate needs regular minutes to fulfill his potential.
20:43 - Huw Davies
Nat Phillips (CB) - [Liverpool - Derby] - Loan
The burly centre-back – either the oldest young player around or the youngest old one – is inexplicably still contracted to Liverpool at the age of 27, and having taken in the sights of Bournemouth, Glasgow (Celtic) and Cardiff in recent seasons, he now adds Derby to his loan tour. It isn’t hard to see why he’d appeal to Paul Warne: Phillips is a big lad who throws his head at things. But there’s nothing wrong with simplifying things sometimes. Phillips is experienced, reliable and in his prime; if Derby are going to continue having less than 40% of possession in games then they’ll have to do a lot of defending, and that’s where he comes in.
20:41 - George Elek
Justin Obikwu (ST) - [Coventry - Grimsby] - Season long loan
Normally a second loan is greeted with adulation from the fans as a returning hero decides that once was not enough. This is not that. Obikwu had a decent enough first loan at Town, scoring three league goals in 16 appearances, but it did not have the Blundell Park faithful begging for more.
Manager David Artell has said that they’ve “done unbelievably well to get him back because his progression has been so rapid since he was here,” which translates as understanding that he wasn’t amazing first time round, but give him a chance to impress again. Watch this space.
20:35 - Huw Davies
Roko Simic (CF) - [RB Salzburg - Cardiff] - Undisclosed (then loaned to Kortrijk)
Cardiff have a striker!… and he’s gone. As they did with Ryotaro Tsuonda last summer, the Bluebirds sign a player and immediately loan him out to Kortrijk, who are also owned by Cardiff big man Vincent Tan. Simic is a tall, 20-year-old Italy-born Croatian youth international who arrives from Austria to join this Welsh club in the English Football League having spent 2022-23 in Switzerland, and if his head isn’t spinning too much at the end of his loan spell then he could be a good buy, but a rumoured £1.5m-£2m fee isn’t exactly insignificant. Isaak Davies scored a dozen goals on loan at Kortrijk last season and Cardiff are clearly hoping for the same effect here, while Erol Bulut is no doubt thrilled by the money going on a player he can’t use yet.
20:32 - Matt Watts
Todd Cantwell (AM) - [Rangers - Blackburn] - Undisclosed
A year is a long time in football. It wasn’t so long ago that Todd Cantwell was the apple of Rangers fans’ eyes. The former Norwich man excelled under Mick Beale, but Cantwell’s relationship with Philippe Clement deteriorated to the point where he handed in a transfer request earlier this summer. On the pitch, Cantwell’s ability is there for all to see. He’s a versatile attacking player who likes to travel with the ball and he’s not short of end product. Off the pitch, Cantwell’s spells at Rangers and Norwich have both ended fairly acrimoniously. Now 26, it feels like it’s time for Cantwell to knuckle down and find a home. Can Ewood Park be that place for Todd?
20:24 - Sam Parry
And it was all yellow…except one.
Each of us has brought in a favourite yellow jersey, except me who doesn’t own one. Tough question — maybe the toughest of the day — which kit is best?
20:02 - Matt Watts
Odel Offiah (RB) - [Brighton - Blackpool] - Loan
Nephew of Martin ‘Chariots’ Offiah, Odel Offiah made a handful of appearances for Brighton at the backend of last season. Roberto De Zerbi used Offiah as a flying right back, but the 21-year-old is capable of playing all across the back four. At present, Blackpool have conceded nine goals in three league games, so it wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to suggest that defensive reinforcements are in order.
19:55 - Huw Davies
Shamal George (GK) - [Livingston - Wycombe] - Undisclosed
Livingston announced that Wycombe triggered “the relevant release clause” (smart – don’t want to trigger the wrong one) to sign the 26-year-old goalkeeper, who played regularly for Livi over the past two Scottish Premiership seasons. His shot-stopping record in the Scottish Premiership was only so-so, albeit in a team often under the cosh, but he previously did well for Colchester in League Two and he has a big old kick on him so his distribution is reliable as long as you aren’t passing out from the back. You aren’t passing out from the back, are you, Matt Bloomfield?
19:48 - George Elek
Francis Okoronkwo (ST) - [Everton - Salford] - Loan
We don’t know much about Salford’s second striker signing of the day, but the fact that Everton bought him for £1m back in 2021 from Sunderland shows just how highly rated he was in youth team football.
We’re told he is a very physical, mobile centre-forward, who is good with both feet and runs the channels. Salford have been impotent up top this season so this injection of physicality and quality is needed. However, I still worry if it’s Elliott Watt’s creativity in midfield that they are lacking.
19:40 - Ali Maxwell
Jack Currie (LB) - [Oxford - Leyton Orient] - Loan
League Two to the Championship is a big step up in any position. Is the leap biggest for full-backs? All of a sudden the erratic, inconsistent wingers they are defending against in League Two are Jack Clarke, Tom Fellows, Morgan Whittaker.
Jack Currie hasn’t even had the chance to play in the Championship since joining Oxford from AFC Wimbledon, but Des Buckingham has clearly decided he is happy with Joe Bennett and Greg Leigh as his left-back options.
Orient feels like a nice spot to land for Currie, and it’s an excellent pick-up for a team with only one natural left-back, Jayden Sweeney. Currie is tenacious, strong in the tackle, and motors up and down the flank all game. His final ball is not a strength, but has been improved over the last few seasons.
19:14 - Ali Maxwell
Dan Nlundulu (ST) - [Bolton - Cambridge] - Loan
The 25-year-old has been in League One for the last three seasons with Lincoln, Cheltenham and Bolton – 8 goals at a rate of 0.20 per 90 doesn’t leap off the page, but Cambridge could use some physical presence. Nlundulu’s a big lad, but he could use his frame better.
18:56 - Ali Maxwell
Harrison Ashby (RB) - [Newcastle - QPR] - Loan
Right back depth was a need for QPR. Jimmy Dunne has performed well after being converted from a CB, and 23-year-old Brazilian Hevertton Santos is in the building, but this addition will give Marti Cifuentes some peace of mind. Ashby was solid if unspectacular on loan at Swansea last season, and looked more comfortable defending than going forward — playing in a back four at QPR will suit him better than playing as an attacking wing-back at Swans.
18:21 - Huw Davies
Quick CM2 break!
18:12 - Huw Davies
Alex Gilliead (CM) - [Bradford - Shrewsbury] - Undisclosed
It doesn’t say great things about Shrewsbury’s position in League One that they’re thrilled (their word) to sign a player who lost his place in a League Two side. Gilliead didn’t even make the substitutes’ bench for Graham Alexander in the early weeks of this season, the Bradford manager instead gently suggesting he might be better off looking elsewhere – and why not, because as it turns out, ‘elsewhere’ was one division higher. Gilliead returns to Salop after a couple of years with Scunthorpe and three with Bradford, who converted him from a winger into a tough-tackling central midfielder, and he’ll be a good dressing-room lieutenant for Paul Hurst (his former team-mate at Scunthorpe), but his potential impact on the pitch is another question entirely.
18:09 - Ali Maxwell
Kane Thompson-Sommers (CM) - [Halifax - MK Dons] - Undisclosed
A nice rise up the leagues for this former Birmingham City academy player, who has jumped from Hereford (National League North) to Halifax (National League) into League Two in consecutive seasons.
A central midfielder who will play in MK Dons’ deep midfield pivot, he offers something different to Liam Kelly, Tom Carroll and Luke Offord. He’s a tall, physical, box to box ball-carrier that gives off strong Josh Da Silva vibes with his dribbly, lefty midfield profile. As does this strike, his only goal of last season.
18:03 - Craig Bradley
Saxon Earley (LB) - [Plymouth Argyle - Lincoln] - Loan
Beyond injuries, it’s difficult to understand why Saxon Earley’s Plymouth career has never taken off. Over a couple of pre-seasons, he’s looked good enough for a shot at a starting berth, but it’s never materialised into game time, and he was farmed out to Wycombe for the back end of the season where injury stopped him in his tracks. However, I’m convinced there’s a player to persevere with and I love this move for him. Lincoln needed somebody at left wing-back and I can foresee Earley inverting into midfield, vacating space for Sean Roughan to move forward into. It’s all very exciting in my minds-eye, I just hope he can keep his fitness together in order to do his ability justice.
17:51 - Ali Maxwell
Kasey Palmer (AM) - [Coventry - Hull City] - Undisclosed
Remarkably, Palmer is now playing for his seventh club in the Championship, and has spent the last 9 seasons at this level. That probably reflects the two truths of Kasey Palmer:
Truth #1: Palmer is a very good footballer. Smooth on the ball, and with good vision, an eye for a forward pass or through ball.
Truth #2: Palmer has never been a key player at this level. Issues with fitness and consistency haven’t helped, and for a #10, could his goal output (0.19 per 90) and/or assist output (0.15 p90) be a little better?
However, Hull need bodies in attacking areas, and one with some experience of this division can’t hurt, given their recent predilection for South American wonderkids…
17:46 - Craig Bradley
Harrison Biggins - (AM) - [Shrewsbury - Carlisle] - Loan
There are a few summer transfer bulletin jigsaw pieces to rearrange here. Biggins only joined Shrewsbury from Doncaster on June 10th, he was joined shortly afterwards by Aston Villa loanee Tommi O’Reilly and we questioned how both would fit into the same team. Shrewsbury have since signed Leo Castledine too, further raising doubts about how and where Biggins would feature. We’ve also raised the prospect of a change of shape incoming at Carlisle who have been chronically short when it comes to creativity. Yes, there are question marks around Shrewsbury’s squad planning, but this move actually makes sense for all parties.
17:43 - George Elek
Jasper Moon (DC) - [Burton - Harrogate] - Loan
NTT20.com’s first-ever worldwide exclusive, the football world ground to a halt when we broke the news that Jasper Moon was heading to Harrogate. David Ornstein even slid into our DMs to congratulate us on the scoop while Fabrizio Romano @’d us in his own post on Deadline Day’s biggest deal.
Will Jasper Moon be any good? Who knows, Harrogate certainly need to tighten up defensively but Moon only wins 50% of his headers which isn’t ideal for a centre-back. Either way, there is no doubt that this is the biggest scoop of the day.
17:39 - Ali Maxwell
Brandon Forbes (W/ST) - [Dundee United - Norwich] - Reported £300k + sell-on
The 18-year-old has never played a league game for Dundee United, but has clearly impressed in early-season cup appearances. He’d only been at Tannadice for a year, signing last summer after a second-half hat-trick in the Scottish FA Youth Cup Final for Renfrewshire-based boys' club Thorn Athletic.
Having started to break into the first team this season. Forbes has already had one major moment in senior football, with this wonderful free-kick in the Scottish League Cup last month.
Norwich have form for this type of singing, having nabbed Gabe Forsyth from Hamilton in 2023, the 18-year-old who has already started in the Championship this season.
17:36 - Craig Bradley
Sonny Aljofree (CB) - [Manchester United - Accrington] - Loan
Plymouth born of good EFL stock. Sonny is the son of former Bolton, Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham and Swindon defender, Hasney Aljofree. Sonny had a ‘flexible’ loan at Altrincham last season but this will be his first taste of the football league. Comfortable with both feet, composed on the ball and of good size, he has a chance of having a career every bit as good as his dad.
17:33 - Huw Davies
Josh Bowler (RW) - [Nottingham Forest - Preston] - Loan
If Blackpool fans weren’t already saddened by Josh Bowler’s lack of progress since leaving them for Nottingham Forest in 2022 – and they were – then this move to their rivals is an extra kick to the shins. Preston are getting themselves a very shot-happy inside forward who never really shone on loan at Cardiff last season, winning worldie against Watford aside, but the 25-year-old should add a bit of Championship-proven spice to a PNE attack that lacks it. The problem is that Paul Heckingbottom likes a 3-5-2 and Bowler is neither fish nor fowl, striker nor wing-back.
17:31 - Huw Davies
Luca Ashby-Hammond (GK) - [Fulham - Gillingham] - loan
Luca is one of two goalkeeping brothers who came through at Fulham; Taye (25) has since moved to Stevenage, but his younger brother remains on the Cottagers’ books and now pops out for a sixth loan spell. Last season he posted terrible shot-stopping stats while on loan at Crawley and the butterfly wings of his flapping led to the tornado that was Corey Addai taking League Two by storm, but after being recalled and reassigned to Notts County, Luca fared much better behind an equally busy defence. He comes into a top-of-the-table Gillingham side that has conceded only once in three league games, although the underlying stats paint a less pretty picture – Ashby-Hammond will have to force out Jake Turner, who has impressed so far.
17:26 - Craig Bradley
Chris Popov (ST) - [Leicester - Barrow] - Loan
It’s a first senior loan for Wales U21 international Chris Popov. Formerly on the books of Cardiff and Man Utd, Popov, is a pacy forward of a busy and aggressive nature with a strong left peg. He’s featured in both the EFL Trophy and the Carabao Cup for Leicester this season.
17:20 - Ali Maxwell
Jeremy Sarmiento (W) - [Brighton - Burnley] - Loan
The tricky 22-year-old Venezuelan international winger joins to fill the gaps left by… *gestures at Burnley’s outgoings*.
On loan at TWO top six Championship teams last season — West Brom and Ipswich — he was mostly used off the bench (12 starts in 40 apps) but did score one of the most memorable goals of the season to win a huge game for Ipswich against Southampton.
He’s very exciting on the ball, capable of slicing through the opposition and carrying the ball into dangerous areas. Learning from Carlos Corberan and Kieran McKenna is not bad education at all. Time for this starlet to prove himself as a star of the division.
17:17 - Ali Maxwell
Ben Thompson (CM) - [Stevenage - Bromley] - Loan
Joshua Thomas (ST) - [Swansea - Bromley] - Loan
The Bromley boys have arrived, on loan.
Box to box midfielder Thompson has played over 200 games, all of them in the Championship or League One. Although his best seasons were for Millwall as a whippersnapper in 2015-17, this still feels like an excellent addition for EFL debutants Bromley.
Joshua Thomas is the second cygnet to head to Bromley, joining Cameron Congreve on loan from Swansea. No league goals in 440 League One minutes with Port Vale last season, but that was a tough place to thrive. It’s fair to say that Michael Cheek has the #9 shirt locked down for Bromley, so Thomas will have to work hard to impress off the bench in the main.
17:02 - Craig Bradley
Haji Mnoga (CB/RB) - [Portsmouth - Salford] - Free
Released by Pompey in the summer, Tanzanian international full back Haji Mnoga has a new club with Salford. Tall and athletic, will he play right back or centre back? There’s plenty of competition at right-back for Salford with Tom Edwards and Dan Chesters already taking game time there this season. Plenty of Mnoga’s minutes have come on the outside of a back three, but rarely as a CB in a back four. Low risk, simple deal to do even if it’s not immediately apparent where he’ll fit in.
16:45 - Sam Parry
Timothy Taylor (PT) - George, Huw, Sam - London prices
We’re at the pub! Our order was one cider, one Camden Pale, and three pints of the most consistent pints in the world of ale.
16:26 - Matt Watts
Kian Harratt (ST) - [Huddersfield Town - Fleetwood Town] - Loan
The latest chapter in Kian Harratt’s stop-start career sees him join Charlie Adam’s Fleetwood Town on loan. An old-fashioned No.9; Harratt scored four goals in less than 800 minutes for Port Vale back in 2022. Just don’t ask about his extra-curricular activities.
16:22 - Ali Maxwell
Ibane Bowat (CB) - [Fulham - Portsmouth] - Undisclosed
21-year-old Bowat is a left-footed centre-back born in Kingston, London, who plays for Scotland U21s. He spent last season on loan in the Austrian Bundesliga with TSV Hartberg. If everyone was fit, Portsmouth probably wouldn’t need a CB. But Conor Shaughnessy missed the last game, while Regan Poole and Tom McIntyre are still out with long-term injuries.
16:14 - Ali Maxwell
Billy Crellin (GK) - [Everton - Accrington] - Loan
The 24-year-old Crellin played for England youth teams from U17-U20, without ever breaking into the Fleetwood side. He was the ‘keeper told to ‘man up’ by Ian Evatt, when on loan at Bolton in 2020/21, and was signed by Everton in January 2022. This is his first loan for a while, and it’ll be interesting to see what level he is at. Accy keeper Michael Kelly has had a tough start, so the gloves could be his immediately.
15:59 - Ali Maxwell
Ken Aboh (ST) - [Norwich - Stevenage] - Loan
This is a well-trodden path, Stevenage’s fourth Norwich loanee in the last two years. Aboh has been regularly scoring goals for Norwich’s U18s and U21s in the last few years and is likely champing at the bit for some senior minutes. He’ll be competing with Tyreece Simpson and Louis Appere for minutes up top, and will likely get some minutes in a wide attacking role, too.
15:55 - Matt Watts
Josh Keeley (GK) - [Tottenham - Leyton Orient] - Loan
Following a difficult start to the season for Boro loanee, Zach Hemming, Richie Wellens has strengthened his goalkeeping department with the signing of Spurs youngster Josh Keeley. The 21-year-old Irishman had a successful loan spell at Barnet in the National League last season. Keeley is confident with his feet and is very highly thought of at Spurs.
15:53 - Matt Watts
Mikey Johnston (LW) - [Celtic - West Brom] - Undisclosed
There was a four-week spell in February and March where Mikey Johnston was a Championship cheat code. Cutting in from the left and firing into the top corner with his right foot, wee Mikey was verging on unplayable. While this run didn’t last (it was never going to last, was it?), Johnston scored seven times in 20 games for Corberan’s side and was a key factor in the Baggies reaching the play-offs. With the fee believed to be in the region of £3m, the signing of the Republic of Ireland International is West Brom’s biggest outlay since the arrival of Daryl Dike back in January 2022.
15:42 - Ali Maxwell
Will Swan (ST) - [Mansfield - Crawley] - Undisclosed
23-year-old Swan’s numbers are strong: 20 goals at 0.55 per 90 in League Two, somewhat boosted by the number of bench appearances against tired legs -- 73 apps of which 41 were off the bench. Swan is direct, quick and seems to be able to sniff out chances. In this Crawley side, the striker is there to press and poach -- Danilo Orsi fulfilled the role well last season, and Swan seems like a smart signing, with Rushian Hepburn-Murphy the only fit striker currently.
If Keillor-Dunn leaves as well, Mansfield will have lost two attackers today who scored 31 league goals last season. They are still left with Lee Gregory, Will Evans, plus full-back/strikers Lucas Akins and Jordan Bowery, but you can’t but feel a little something is missing.
15:37 - Ali Maxwell
Myles Peart-Harris (AM) - [Brentford - Swansea] - Loan
Peart-Harris had a full season at Forest Green in their 22/23 League One relegation campaign, performing relatively well in a poor team. Last season, he pitched up at Portsmouth in January and started 10 games to help them get over the line in League One. It’s probably not his performances on loan that have led to a Championship loan — Peart-Harris has had some nice moments and matches without being super consistent. But a Chelsea upbringing, followed by Brentford University, reflects his talent. A silky, smooth #8 or #10 with good size, there’s a player in there…
15:20 - Sam Parry
Correction: I can’t count…
We had actually written up 20, not 18 transfers at 14:39. Hudlin makes it 21. Here’s the list so far!
Mo Faal (ST) - [West Brom - Wrexham] - Undisclosed
Scott Wright (W) - [Rangers - Birmingham City] - Undisclosed
Saidou Khan (CM) - [Swindon - Tranmere] - Loan
Jayden Luker (W/AM) [Luton - Grimsby] - Loan
Gatlin O'Donkor (CF) [Oxford United - Bristol Rovers] - Loan
Daniel Jebbison (ST) - [Bournemouth - Watford] - Loan
Balázs Tóth (GK) - [Fehérvár - Blackburn] - Undisclosed
Luke McNally (CB) - [Burnley - Bristol City] - Undisclosed
Daniel Butterworth (ST) - [Carlisle - Swindon] - Undisclosed
Ao Tanaka (CM) - [Fortuna Düsseldorf - Leeds United] - Reported €4m
Cheick Diabate (CB) - [Exeter - Bradford] - Loan
Dan Barden (GK) - [Norwich - Swindon] - Loan
Jenson Metcalfe (CM) - [Everton - Chesterfield] - Loan
Carl Rushworth (GK) - [Brighton - Hull] - Loan
Kylian Kouassi (ST) - [Blackpool - Salford] - Loan
Anis Ben Slimane (CM) - [Sheffield United - Norwich] - Loan
Josh Coburn (ST) - [Boro - Millwall] - Loan
Amario Cozier-Duberry (RW) - [Brighton - Blackburn] - Loan
Brandon Cover (CM) - [Leicester - Port Vale] - Loan
George Hall (CM/AM/W) - [Birmingham - Walsall] - Loan
Kyle Hudlin (ST) - [Huddersfield - Newport) - Loan
15:12 - Ali Maxwell
Kyle Hudlin (ST) - [Huddersfield - Newport) - Loan
Well, Anthony Driscoll-Glennon has a hell of a target for his crosses. Hudlin is a 6ft9 striker who, unsurprisingly, has a lot of passes and crosses slung towards his airspace. Nelson Jardim clearly has a thing for giant strikers — QPR loanee Hamzad Kargbo has already signed on loan but dislocated his shoulder on debut.
After an eye-catching year or so with Solihull Moors, he was signed for Huddersfield, but the last two seasons haven’t been kind, with loans at Wimbledon and Burton offering no game-time. 5 starts in two seasons, 0 goals. He needs confidence, and a run of games, but may have to to bide his time.
14:39 - Sam Parry
…18
We have covered eighteen transfers so far today. That may not sound like a huge number, but consider how, at the same time on January Deadline Day, we had only covered 11 and we ended up with 94 write-ups overall. Loads to come.
14:21 - Ali Maxwell
George Hall (CM/AM/W) - [Birmingham - Walsall] - Loan
Hall is a versatile player who’s played in various attacking and midfield positions for Birmingham’s academy, first team and the England U18 and U19s. In his own words, he’s a box-to-box midfielder, saying: “I like to win the ball, drive with it and I feel like I’m quite athletic.” In Matt Sadler’s 3-1-4-2, there’s space for a player of this profile to challenge Jamie Jellis, Charlie Lakin, Ronan Maher and Jack Earing for minutes.
A hamstring injury kept him out for most of last season but I would be excited about this from a Walsall point of view. If Hall is fit and raring to go, he’s a young player with great potential.
14:19 - Matt Watts
Brandon Cover (CM) - [Leicester - Port Vale] - Loan
Heading out on loan for the first time, 20-year-old Brandon Cover joins Darren Moore’s Port Vale. The Jamaican International is a versatile, combative midfielder who enjoys getting on the ball. Will Brandon be a regular starter for the League Two side or will he provide… cover?
14:17 - Huw Davies
Amario Cozier-Duberry (RW) - [Brighton - Blackburn] - Loan
Brighton needed to shed some young, attacking skin (Christ, that sounds disturbing) and Blackburn are only too happy to help. Amario Cozier-Duberry joined the Seagulls from Arsenal this summer with a view to leaving on loan; that the teenager has landed in the Championship shows how highly he is valued. He’s a left-footed right winger with the potential to be seriously exciting, although he’ll have to push his way past a number of forward options at Blackburn to show that.
13:50 - Craig Bradley
Josh Coburn (ST) - [Boro - Millwall] - Loan
Although he’s yet to fully convince at Championship level, Coburn is very much worthy of the opportunity to prove that he is. At Millwall, he’ll get that chance. The Lions have a need at the top end of the pitch, hastened by an injury to Tom Bradshaw. Coburn has competition from Macaulay Langstaff for a starting berth and Langstaff is yet to gain the trust of Neil Harris. Coburn is of a completely different profile. He’s able to handle the physical side of the game - that alone could put him a top of the depth chart. Unless - RUMOUR ALERT - a club record deal for Vojvodina’s teenage striker, Mihailo Ivanović comes to fruition.
13:45 - Sam Parry
Anis Ben Slimane (CM) - [Sheffield United - Norwich] - Loan
Brought in last summer for a Premier League season, Slimane departs now for Norwich after a strange and unimpressive spell at Bramall Lane. There was the odd flicker when on the ball; a good touch here, a neat turn there. The problem was, he never seemed to know where stand on a football pitch when his side were in or out of possession. Will be surprised if he takes off at Norwich, but Canaries need some attacking bodies and he’s a body.
13:40 - Ali Maxwell
Kylian Kouassi (ST) - [Blackpool - Salford] - Loan
Kouassi was signed by Blackpool from Sutton last season, and had the feeling of a development signing, but then ended up playing a fair few games in September and October. His goalscoring record is meagre at best, with three goals in 1,600 league minutes so far in his career, but he has an impressive physical profile and wins a lot of aerial duels. Salford have been playing very direct football, so it makes sense for them to sign someone of this profile.
13:10 - Craig Bradley
Carl Rushworth (GK) - [Brighton - Hull] - Loan
The first of our morning rumours becomes a done deal. It’s difficult to think Hull forward-planned for this. It means Ivor Pandur is endangered. They are low on Lo-Tutala. Cartwright is Cartwrong. And Racioppi is impossible to find a pun for, even a bad one. It’s surely a case that Hull have had this move presented to them and they think it’s too good a deal to not go through with. Rushworth is, after all, one of the hottest, young English goalkeepers around.
Jenson Metcalfe (CM) - [Everton - Chesterfield] - Loan
Paul Cook has been supplementing his Chesterfield promotion core with Premier League loanees - two from Fulham (Araujo and Tanton) and now Metcalfe from Everton. A passing midfielder, he has a tough job to break into a strong midfield, with Ollie Banks, Darren Oldaker and Tom Naylor - currently playing CB - already senior players.
Dan Barden (GK) - [Norwich - Swindon] - Loan
Swindon bring in much needed competition for current number one, Jack Bycroft. Bycroft mixes the sublime with the ridiculous and now faces a fight for the gloves off someone who, at the very least, can keep him on his toes. 22 year old Barden arrives from Norwich having not played any senior football since a 2022/23 loan at National League, Maidstone.
12:24 - Sam Parry
…Lunch!
Round my way call it dinner: breakfast, dinner and tea. We’re nipping out for a Fat Hippo — don’t ask. Won’t be long!
BTW, if you think Ali says some annoying words and phrases on the podcast, just check out this menu at the place George chose for lunch… “Wachos” ffs. Sure it’ll be delicious!
12:23 - Craig Bradley
Cheick Diabate (CB) - [Exeter - Bradford] - Loan
After 76 appearances and a League Two promotion, Exeter academy graduate, Cheick Diabate moves on to fresh pastures having dropped down the pecking order in Devon following the loan signing of Tristan Crama. Diabate is an uncomplicated, bread-and-butter defender, strong in the air and in the tackle, not dissimilar to the recently departed Sam Stubbs who coincidentally made the same journey from Exeter to Bradford in the January 2023 window. Diabate can slot in on the right or in the middle of Bradford’s three centre-backs.
12:20 - Ali Maxwell
AO, LET’S GO…
Ao Tanaka (CM) - [Fortuna Düsseldorf - Leeds United] - Reported €4m
Tanaka is a 25 year-old midfielder that’s viewed as an important players for the Japan national team. He has played as a 6, 8 and 10. Ampadu, Gruev, Rothwell and Tanaka feels like a lovely quad for Farke to work with in central midfield.
12:01 - Ali Maxwell
Pete O’Rourke is reporting Brighton interest in Sheffield United’s favourite son Oliver Arblaster. Our resident Blade Sam Parry is ABSOLUTELY FINE ABOUT THIS. FINE!
11:54 - Ali Maxwell
Daniel Butterworth (ST) - [Carlisle - Swindon] - Undisclosed
I’ve always thought Butterworth has potential beyond what he’s shown so far in his career, but there’s no doubt he needs to prove himself soon. He can shoot well off both feet and has good technique, but he’s soon to turn 25 and only has around 30 league starts to his name. Is it fitness, athleticism, or intensity that he struggles with? Is he a striker, is he a #10, is he a wide forward?
In Paul Glatzel and Sean McGurk, Swindon already have some smaller, technical attackers, and with #9s Aaron Drinan, Kabongo Tshimanga and Harry Smith in the building, too, there’s plenty of competition for places.
11:20 - Andy Watson
Here’s another nugget from permitman Andy Watson.
The Championship clubs have certainly kept the Home Office busy in this summer 2024 window. Only Millwall and Sheffield United haven't had to apply for a work permit for a new player this summer. This is an illustration of the depth that recruitment teams are going into now to improve their group of players.
11:05 - George Elek
Luke McNally (CB) - [Burnley - Bristol City] - Undisclosed
A tall, mobile centre-back who is comfortable on the ball, this is McNally’s third loan from Burnley since signing from Oxford in 2022. He was very good at Coventry but struggled to replicate that form at Stoke last season. He joins an ex-Oxford posse at Ashton Gate alongside Rob Dickie, Rob Atkinson, Mark Sykes, Marcus McGuane and Liam Manning, who has a good record working with technically sound centre-backs.
BLACKBURN HAVE BLAST OFF!
Sorry… make that Balázs Tóth.
10:55 - Craig Bradley
Balázs Tóth (GK) - [Fehérvár - Blackburn] - Undisclosed
Turns out Blackburn were in the market for a new stopper. It’s not Carl Rushworth. It’s Hungarian, Balázs Tóth. Tóth is yet to make his international debut but it was considered a surprise that he was overlooked for his country’s Euro 2024 squad as he was the highest performing keeper in last season’s Hungarian top flight. Blackburn’s previous recent visits to the continental keeper market have mixed results, Thomas Kaminski and Leopold Wahlstedt have both passed through Ewood Park but Aynsley Pears still holds the gloves. Competition for the #1 spot was needed.
Friend of the Program Andy Watson is a Football Recruitment analyst and an expert on Brexit/GBE/work permits expert in football recruitment. He had this to say on the addition.
Balázs Tóth joins Blackburn from the Band 5 Hungarian Nemzeti Bajnokság I league. Despite playing in Conference League qualifiers this season, Tóth will have earned nowhere near enough points for a GBE from the FA as Band 5 players need to acquire big points through UEFA competition to reach that total.
However, the process for an ESC pass is fairly straightforward. Blackburn have been fairly prolific users of this route as Tóth follows Yuki Ohashi as an ESC signing in this window. Rovers were also an early adopter of the ESC slots last season with Arnor Sigurdsson and Leo Wahlstedt two other players who used this route to sign for the Lancastrian club.
10:47 - Sam Parry
You be the judge: should I walk up the escalator?
Okay, so this blog is mostly football, most of the time. I’m on the way to the stoffice. It’s two tubes away via an underground station with a Greggs on the platform, so the trip should be pasty, brutish and short (...hmm, more likely a sausage roll). There are many escalators to navigate on this journey, and I believe that escalators are nothing more than stairs that move quickly. That is to say, you should walk up and down them if you can – I always do.
If I’m with friends or family, they perceive this act – let’s call it exercise – to be lunacy, bordering on arrogance. Today, I’m heading in alone. There’ll be no arguments. But who’s right here? If you find yourself at the top or the bottom of an escalator, how do you approach it? You be the judge…
10:45 - George Elek
Daniel Jebbison (ST) - [Bournemouth - Watford] - Loan
An NTT20 EFL 21 U21 alumni from early 2022, having just been recalled from a seven-goal loan spell at Burton Albion, he’s only started six league matches since then, playing just 750 minutes.
Part of the reason for this was a serious injury that kept him out last season, and his clear promise was enough for Bournemouth to vulture Blades’ relegation and add him to their ranks. A Championship loan always felt likely, and in Watford, he arrives at a club absolutely desperate for a striker with neither Vakoun Bayo nor Mileta Rajovic convincing. Given his lack of minutes, this feels like something of a gamble, albeit with a clear upside given his pedigree and what we saw from him two years ago.
10:31 - George Elek
Are those floodgates opening?
Gatlin O'Donkor (CF) [Oxford United - Bristol Rovers] - Loan
A left-footed striker with a great goal-scoring record at youth team level, O’Donkor often cut a forlorn figure when he broke into the senior side at Oxford. He was a success in a much-needed loan spell at Barnet last season and has all the attributes to be a good striker given both his strength and eye for goal. This looks a big step up though and it would be no surprise if he struggled to cement his place in the side, although he has looked lean and sharp in pre-season.
10:26 - Sam Parry
Jayden Luker (W/AM) [Luton - Grimsby] - Loan
An academy graduate, Luton’s Luker looks like he’ll get a proper run of games in League Two after getting a few top-flight minutes in 23/2 and 17 games for Woking in the National League where he attracted good reviews. A niggling injury meant he missed most of pre-season; Dave Artell will be hoping he gets up to speed quickly given Jordan Davies’ injury absence.
10:25 - Ali Maxwell
Saidou Khan (CM) - [Swindon - Tranmere] - Loan
Khan is a somewhat mercurial player. On the ball, he looks lovely and smooth and can carry the ball nicely through midfield. When it comes to passing and tackling, he’s not so strong. For Tranmere, he certainly offers a different central midfield profile. For Swindon, this move means that their 11 top minutes-makers from last season have all left the club.
09:55 - Huw Davies
A Huw Journey…
“Why do clubs leave important business to the last minute?” I wonder despairingly, as I begin to pack my bag 10 minutes before leaving the house for two days. It’s Transfer Deadline Day, I’m about to run for the bus that’ll take me to the train that’ll take me from Cardiff to London, and I am shaking my head with wry amusement at these clubs scrabbling around in hurried haste. Fools! They should have been ready ages ago. Now why can’t I find any pants?
It’s the strange, unique nature of football transfers that drives everybody’s favourite trolley dash: clubs do not operate in a vacuum. Every signing hinges on a signing happening elsewhere, like the ongoing chain on a house purchase except more expensive and less stressful (or possibly the other way around). Players sit in waiting rooms, metaphorical and literal, unable to move until the club they’re leaving has secured their replacement and the club they’re joining has sold yesterday’s news. Everybody has their own interests to protect first and foremost. Sometimes you’re dealing with the enemy. And so there’s this waiting game, pitched somewhere between a game of chicken and a cockfight.
Then the flurry comes, feathers flying and Jim White squawking as transfer begets transfer begets transfer. Last time we did this, there were more deadline-day signings announced after 9pm than before 9pm. Are you not entertained? But our goal at NTT20.COM is deeper still — are you not enlightened? We want to tell you everything you need to know, and more that you don’t, about every single signing today.
In the words of the BBC and Public Service Broadcasting: ‘Inform. Educate. Entertain.’ And in the words of William Morris, which have long applied to football writing in the 21st century as aptly as they did to his textile industry in the 19th, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.”
I know NTT20.COM’s live deadline day coverage is useful. I believe it to be beautiful.
09:30 - Sam Parry
…Wow
John Percy of the Telegraph is reporting that Birmingham have bid for Jay Stansfield. The sums involved would make this a historic EFL deadline day. Thoughts, feelings, shock and awe on this transfer if it happens?
09:21 - George Elek
Today will see five of us (Ali, Sam, Huw, Matt and me) wedged into our very modest office for the majority of the day, frantically tapping away as deals get done up and down the country.
Food is, therefore, our only opportunity for some relief and it’s my job to plan our two meals. Today that looks like burger for lunch and pizza for dinner. Diet starts tomorrow…
With such a calorific day ahead, I thought I’d better warn the lads not to carb load this morning.
Too late it seems… Although a 09:02 Red Bull for Huw should give you an insight into the man, the myth, the legend. As should the fact that it’s only number one of….? NRG.
09:13 - Ali Maxwell
🚨 First signings of the day klaxon 🚨
Scott Wright (W) - [Rangers - Birmingham City] - Undisclosed
The 27-year-old wide player joins for a reported £300k, taking Birmingham’s spending to around £13.5m (bringing in around £7m in sales). Wright has spent four seasons being a Rangers backup, suffering from injuries and lack of consistency – he’s never played more than 1,200 minutes in a league season. He scored against Birmingham in pre-season, and gives them some depth in wide areas, filling gaps left by Siriki Dembele and the expected departure of Koji Miyoshi.
Mo Faal (ST) - [West Brom - Wrexham] - Undisclosed
Across loans at Doncaster and Walsall last season, Faal scored 13 League Two goals at 0.44 per 90, an impressive return for his first senior EFL season. Once again, we’re seeing Wrexham’s tweak in recruitment strategy, with Faal joining Arthur Okonkwo, Lewis Brunt and Seb Revan as U23 permanent signings. He’s very tall and wins a lot of headers for such a young striker, and a skilful and unpredictable dribbler who’s proved he can finish. There’s a rawness to Faal that’s common in players of his age and playing profile, but it’s not hard to imagine him adding plenty to Wrexham off the bench, to begin, and having a high ceiling if he continues to develop.
Thoughts on the first two Birmingham and Wrexham fans? 👇
09:05 - Craig Bradley
The grist of the rumour mill
At NTT20.com we pride ourselves on covering done deals, NOT entering into the murky waters of unsubstantiated, click-baity rumours. However. It’s deadline day morning. The murky water depths are clearing up — I may even have a sip.
Here are my thoughts on three bits of Championship speculation…
Carl Rushworth (GK) - [Brighton - Hull]
It’s an open transfer window. Of course, Carl Rushworth is going to climb through it. The impressive young goalkeeper has already excelled in each EFL division, at Walsall, Lincoln and Swansea. So where next? A return to Swansea? That avenue looks closed with Lawrence Vigouroux taking the gloves. He’d be a lovely upgrade for Blackburn… Oh hang on, it’ll be Hull. Because Hull are in dire need of a new shiny keeper — or maybe not. Rushworth would become the fifth(!) senior GK on the books: January signing Ivor Pandur, summer signing Anthony Racioppi, and two youngsters who had nice League Two loans last season, Thimothée Lo-Tutala and Harvey Cartwright. In a moment of seriousness, I hope loan moves are found for the pair — they’ve too much promise to be left on the sidelines.
Morgan Whittaker (RW) - [Plymouth - Burnley]
Shambolic. Chaotic. Exciting. Necessary. Unnecessary. Use whatever word you choose to describe Burnley's current state of affairs. How many players will they sign in this great defragging of the hard drive? How much are they going to spend? All answers will be revealed. One player heavily linked is Argyle’s xG denier Morgan Whittaker. Can a deal be done? Why are Burnley messing about with apparent loan with obligation offers? Plymouth turned down big bucks from Lazio in January. Surely they aren’t going to allow themselves to be low-balled a few months later. Is this a test of how ‘well run’ Plymouth are? Lots of questions.
Gustavo Hamer (CM) - [Sheffield United - Leeds]
Sheffield United thought they’d held out onto their prize asset. I mean, why wouldn’t they? Hamer had a release clause, reportedly around £13M, which has expired — but the interest hasn’t. Nobody would dare come in for him at a higher price a couple of weeks later would they? Wrong. At least, probably wrong. Leeds have gone in once. They may or may not have gone in again. There’s more to unpack in this potential deal too. Why sell a player under a long contract to a division rival? If Leeds pull this off it elevates them to an even higher level and soothes the hurt of selling Rutter, Summerville and Gray. As for Blades, this would not only put a serious dent in their ambitions but also lead to Sam smashing up the stoffice.
08:20 - Ali Maxwell
Morning routines are important even on a day like today. Nettle and Mouse just took me on a walk to help me clear my head.
Naturally, these Jack Russell Terriers are huge Huddersfield fans. As you can see, they’re relaxed about Town’s squad situation but that doesn’t mean they aren’t open to more treats…
07:58 - Matt Watts
I’m heading up to London — partly to cover Deadline Day, but also partly to see my NTT20 brethren!
My relationship with Deadline Day? It’s complicated.
Prior to social media, I have some wonderful memories of following Deadline Day on Teletext and, of course, Sky Sports News. Fan sites/messageboards were also a big part of the day. If someone says that they’ve seen Dave Nugent in Sainsbury’s car park, then who am I to disagree? Of course, it wasn’t Dave Nugent. It was probably just some bloke who looked like him but, back in the day, that one post would have been enough to send hundreds or thousands of delirious Championship fans into meltdown.
Back to the present day and, if I had my way, I would have been making this journey a week before the start of the season. Wouldn’t it be nice if the global summer transfer window shut on 31st July? After all, the start of the new season should be about the football, shouldn’t it? None of this playing a couple of games for one club before joining another club malarkey. Whether you agree with me or not, the noise surrounding the transfer window will have had a negative effect on numerous clubs’ starts to the season.
With a whopping three league games gone, there will also be certain clubs who will be quite reactive today. “What do you mean we’re 14th? We should be in the top half!” Or, more to the point, “Our young winger hasn’t set the world alight yet. Maybe we need to get another one in?” I hate waste and I really hate short-termism. Deadline Day can be the place where long-term strategies and joined-up thinking come to die.
Of course, this won’t be the case at all clubs — far from it. Some will be patiently waiting for certain pieces to fall into place. I like these clubs. They will get their chequebooks out (does anyone pay for anything by cheque anymore?), but only if it’s right for them. If it doesn’t feel right, then don’t do it. However, if you’ve waited all summer for that one player to become available and, finally, they are, then Deadline Day can provide the most satisfying climax to months of squad-building.
NTT20.COM is the place to be for analysis of every single incoming transfer in the EFL today — the ones that scream short-termism, the ones that represent joined-up thinking and everything in between.
My relationship with Deadline Day? It’s complicated.
07:19 - Sam Parry
You may be interested to learn that the last time we live blogged on transfer deadline day, we wrote up 94 transfers. Now, each member of the team has taken a stab guessing the number of transfers we’ll write up today, plus the club they think might be busiest. Those guesses:
George - 127 + Hull
Ali - 82 + Leeds / Crawley tied
Sam - 101 + Sheff United
Matt - 118 + Burnley
Craig - 144 + Notts County
Huw - 113 + Burnley
How many signings do you reckon EFL clubs are going to make? Who is your club and how many players will they sign? And which club will make the most?
07:14 - The Gang Write Up The Final Transfers From Last Night
Kévin Keben (CB) - [Toulouse - Watford] - Undisclosed
Not Kevin Kilbane. Not Kevin Keegan. Kévin Keben. The 20-year-old defender hasn't played much senior football - 11 league starts for Toulouse over the last two seasons, half of them at right back. The Watford Observer's headline - "Watford sign Toulouse defender despite slight knee injury" - makes you wince a bit. Andrew French reports that Keben had to "undergo a second medical after the first showed he had a minor knee issue." He won't be available right away. It feels like a bit of a punt, at a reported £850,000.
Amani Richards (RW) - [Leicester - Exeter] - Loan
Richards has been signed to add speed and 1 v 1 threat to Exeter's attack. The 19-year-old has had a hot start to the season, scoring twice in two PL2 2 matches, as well as this incredibly fun goal in the EFL Trophy against Burton.
Jensen Weir (CM) - [Brighton - Wigan] - Undisclosed
"Do you think about me now and then? / Do you think about me now and then? / 'Cause I'm comin' home again". This former England U20 international, son of David, was sold to Brighton in 2020 as part of administrators' plan to secure Wigan's survival along with Joe Gelhardt and Alfie Devine. He's picked up 85 League One games across four loan spells, the best of which was with Morecambe - 10 non-penalty goals and 5 assists was an excellent return. He's a quality footballer, perhaps a little lacking in physicality, but hopefully, this return home will see his confidence flow.
Rhys Bennett (CB) - [Manchester United - Fleetwood] - Loan
Bennett was on loan at Stockport last season, but only made one appearance in a team that was tough to break into. He has a bit of old-school aggression to his play, but is well-versed in the modern-day 'playing out' stuff needed for CBs. For Fleetwood, this makes sense following Zech Medley's injury, and their fans will hope it doesn't signal a departure for talismanic CB Brendan Wiredu.
George Abbott (CM) - [Tottenham - Notts County] - Loan
Tottenham Hotspur’s Under 21s captain makes his first steps into the big wide world of senior football. The 19-year-old can play in midfield or at right back, and has represented England’s U19s and U18s
Gavin Kilkenny (CM) - [Bournemouth - Swindon] - Undisclosed
Oh my God, it's Kilkenny! "The Big Switch" finally makes a permanent switch away from Bournemouth. Scott Parker gave him some valuable minutes early in his career, starting 11 of the first 20 Championship games of the 21/22 season. Kilkenny held his own, and showed off a good passing range and some tenacious qualities despite a lack of natural physicality and athleticism. It's not gone well since then. A loan at Stoke. A loan at Charlton. A loan at Fleetwood. Kilkenny turns 25 in February and needs to play regularly. Fellow Irishman Mark Kennedy will look to coax quality out of him - he should be more than comfortable technically in League Two, but Swindon's now-direct style of play doesn't seem an obvious fit.
Lewis Baker (CM) - [Stoke - Blackburn] - Loan
This season, Lewis Baker has scored one goal in two games, representing 50% of his output last season and 10% of his appearances. The central midfielder has scored 18 goals in 86 league appearances for Stoke, and with returns like that, you wonder why they are getting rid. Baker has lost the shirt under three consecutive managers; time for a change. Blackburn are getting a dead-ball specialist with the quality to shoot from range and make key passes in the final third.
07:03 - Ali Maxwell
Here we are again. Transfer Deadline Day in the EFL. Good God, I’m excited.
Our team of six will bring you every single transfer deal completed in the EFL today. In January, we wrote up 94. Today, it feels like it will be more. The Championship, in particular, feels like it is going to explode. Leeds, Burnley and Hull City are all carrying Main Character Energy.
How busy will League One and League Two be? With less capacity to spend fees, and less likelihood of shopping overseas, for many of those teams, it’s mostly about keeping hold of their key players. For others, it’s about the last-minute frees or loans that could paper over the early-season cracks.
In January, 30,000 people read this live blog. In the EFL, only Sunderland and Leeds regularly pack more fans in their home stadium than that. So, naturally, I want to beat 40,000 today. It would prove to us, once again, that the effort we put into providing unprecedented EFL coverage is completely worth it on many levels.
And I don’t see why we couldn’t achieve a 33% increase. Because, let’s be honest, the Summer Window is MILES better than the January Window. This isn’t the bargain bucket stuff of January. This isn’t Scrapheap Challenge — relegation-threatened clubs pinning their hope on a loanee that’s missed the first 5 months of the season through injury, or promotion candidates buying ‘depth’ players that will make three starts max.
The Summer Window, by contrast, is Antiques Roadshow meets Bargain Hunt meets Moneyball. There is treasure to be acquired. There are assets that no-one wants to lose… but everything has a price.
A bit like the President and Vice-President never travelling on the same plane, we couldn’t afford for all of us to be in the same room. So, Craig is in Devon, while Ali, George, Sam, Huw and Matt are in the stoffice in Soho. And our fingers are twitching. The live blog entails meticulous spreadsheets, precise roles, writing, sub-editing, social media and, most crucially, someone to remind us all to stay hydrated. It’s all been meticulously planned, and George and I are so grateful for the team of talented, hard-working legends who have worked on our transfer coverage all summer.
There are plenty of reasons for the mainstream media (ugh, I need a less cringe phrase for that) to broadly ignore the EFL on days like today. It’s all to our benefit. We love that we get a free run at it, and we know we can do it better than anyone. We’re both rag-tag in our nature, and professional in our approach… for the most part. We will be going to the pub for a few hours late afternoon. We will get increasingly tired, hysterical and scatterbrained post 9pm.
But we will see it through. We will do it all with passion and determination. And we’ll have fun. Hopefully, you will too. If this intro is over-dramatic, I’m afraid I cannot help it. I’m so passionate about what we do at Not The Top 20, and I am fuelled by the fact that, if we didn’t do it, I’m not sure who else would.
You can help us thrash our January numbers. Please share the link to this blog — on a WhatsApp group or, even better, a club forum. On days like today, club forums are like Piccadilly Circus on a sunny Saturday: teeming. And we want people to walk into NTT20.COM to rest their weary legs and quench their thirst.
If you’d like to become a paid subscriber to NTT20.COM off the back of this live blog, I won’t put you off. You will get a lot of bang for your buck.
Really hope Ipswich's interest in Latte Lath is cursory and they're put off by whatever ridiculous price tag we inevitably quote (hopefully we don't quote a price at all). Although we are dealing with fresh Premier League money here and an Ipswich that seems desperate to assemble the Championship infinity gauntlet.
Morning all - as a Notts fan I hope Craig is wrong! A striker and wing back in would be great, but the most important thing is keeping hold of our best players.