Saul Niguez and Eduardo Camavinga both completed big moves on transfer deadline day, as plenty of deals filtered through.
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Niguez arrives at Stamford Bridge on an initial season-long loan deal and Chelsea have an option to make it permanent.
Camavinga, 18, arrives at Real Madrid for a cut-price deal of $47 million (including add ons) as he had just 12 months left on his contract at Rennes and he’s considered one of the top young central midfielders in the world.
Both of these deals worked out very well for all involved on deadline day.
Saul Niguez to Chelsea
Atletico Madrid star Saul Niguez has completed his move to the Blues, right at the end of deadline day, as he boosts the midfield of the reigning European champions.
Saul, 26, has surprisingly become surplus to requirements at Atletico despite being a stalwart for Diego Simeone in recent seasons.
“I am very excited to start this new challenge with Chelsea,” Saul said. “Blues fans, I am one of you now and I can’t wait to wear the shirt, start training and see all of you. See you soon!”
This deal didn’t look likely to happen but the agents of the Spanish international midfielder said ‘they will not give up until the last minute of the window’ and that was exactly what happened.
Per the report, Niguez was very keen on a move to Chelsea and the loan fee will be around $6 million for the season with an option to buy.
Niguez gets up the field with vigor but is no shrinking violet in his own end.
He joins N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, and Mateo Kovacic to give Thomas Tuchel as many quality combination options in the middle of the park as any other in the world. What a team Chelsea have assembled.
Camavinga to Real Madrid
Eighteen-year-old Rennes star Eduardo Camavinga has made quite an impression on many clubs, and Real Madrid has won the day as Camavinga completed his move.
Camavinga has signed a six-year contract at Real Madrid and this is truly a huge coup for Real Madrid for a player who dazzled in recent seasons but lot his way a little last season as talk about his future intensified.
Thrice capped by France and already boasting 88 senior appearances for Rennes, including the second leg of a Group E scrap with Chelsea last season.
Camavinga has been linked everywhere, though one Premier League team has been mentioned more often than the others. The rumors included Manchester United and Arsenal (this summer) and Real Madrid and Manchester United (last Fall).
🆕 Our newest signing! 🆕
🇫🇷 @Camavinga
📋 18 years old
📌 Midfielder#WelcomeCamavinga— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 31, 2021
Real Madrid has made a habit of buying very young stars including Reinier, Vinicius Junior, and more.
Camavinga can grow under the tutelage of Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro while seeing if there’s chemistry with Fede Valverde.
He’s a tough-tackling, very active midfielder with excellent passing and transition skills. He ranks in the 97th percentile for tackles amongst fellow midfielders, according to FBRef.com.
