The Best Ever Summer Deadline Day Deals (Top 10)

The Best Ever Summer Deadline Day Deals (Top 10)

The transfer deadline day is one of the highlights of the footballing calendar. It's full of big name moves, rumours galore, and clubs panic buying at the eleventh hour. It really has it all.

This year is no different, as reigning champions Liverpool have reportedly splashed over £150 million on deadline day alone. Meanwhile, other teams have been making big late moves, and fans have been repeatedly refreshing their timelines for the next "Here We Go" from Fabrizio Romano.

In honour of this special footballing day, we take a look at some of the best deadline day deals in recent times.

Wayne Rooney – Everton to Manchester United (£27m, 2004)

Sir Alex Ferguson landed England’s most exciting teenager from Everton in a dramatic late swoop. Rooney announced himself with a Champions League hat-trick on debut and went on to score 253 goals, becoming United’s all-time top scorer. In his 13 years at Old Trafford, he won five Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Europa League, the FA Cup and three League Cups.

United unveil the signing of 18 year old Wayne Rooney (2004) #MUFC pic.twitter.com/yPEbpIQ0ge

— 🇾🇪 (@ManUtdHeritage) July 17, 2025

Gareth Bale – Tottenham to Real Madrid (£85.3m, 2013)

After a summer-long saga, Bale joined Madrid for a then-world record fee. His time in Spain delivered iconic moments: the flying header in Lisbon, the overhead kick in Kyiv, and that dazzling Copa del Rey sprint past Marc Bartra. Across nine years, he won five Champions Leagues, three La Liga titles, and three Club World Cups.

⚪️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 18 years ago today: Tottenham signed a 17-year-old Gareth Bale from Southampton for an initial £5m fee...

He would then be sold for €100m to Real Madrid, which to this day is Tottenham's most expensive departure. 💰 pic.twitter.com/3IGuYLiwv0

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) May 25, 2025

Cristiano Ronaldo – Juventus to Manchester United (£12.85m, 2021)

In one of the most sensational Deadline Day returns, Cristiano Ronaldo rejoined Manchester United after leaving Juventus. At 36, he rolled back the years, scoring 18 Premier League goals in 2021/22 and hitting a hat-trick against Spurs the following season. Though his second stint was brief and turbulent, the goals flowed and his class was still evident.

The second coming.

On this day in 2021, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United ✨❤️ pic.twitter.com/G0ZZPolY8u

— centredevils. (@centredevils) August 31, 2024

Mesut Özil – Real Madrid to Arsenal (£42.5m, 2013)

Arsenal smashed their transfer record late on Deadline Day, signing the German playmaker from Real Madrid. Özil’s creativity lit up the Premier League, and he played a pivotal role in ending Arsenal’s trophy drought. In total, he lifted four FA Cups and was named in the PFA Team of the Year in 2015/16 after registering 19 assists in a single league campaign.

Ronaldo Nazário (R9) – Inter Milan to Real Madrid (£39m, 2002)

The original Ronaldo arrived in Madrid fresh from winning the World Cup and completed his transfer in the final minutes of Deadline Day. He scored twice on his debut at the Bernabéu and went on to net 104 goals for Los Blancos, winning two La Liga titles and an Intercontinental Cup as part of the Galácticos era.

Ashley Cole – Arsenal to Chelsea (£5m + William Gallas, 2006)

One of the most controversial Deadline Day deals, Cole’s switch across London turned into a masterstroke for Chelsea. Over eight years at Stamford Bridge he established himself as one of the best left-backs in the world, winning one Premier League, four FA Cups, the Champions League and the Europa League.

Carlos Tévez – Corinthians to West Ham (free transfer, 2006)

This Deadline Day double swoop, alongside Javier Mascherano, stunned English football. Tévez took time to settle, but his late-season heroics — scoring seven goals in West Ham’s final 10 games — kept the Hammers in the Premier League. His winning strike at Old Trafford (where he would end up the next season) on the final day sealed his cult-hero status. The move was shrouded in controversy, but on the pitch Tevez did all of his talking.

Carlos Tevez joined the Club, 17 years ago today ⚒️ pic.twitter.com/T9xRfYPkbp

— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 31, 2023

Claude Makélélé – Real Madrid to Chelsea (£16.8m, 2003)

Cast aside by Madrid’s Galácticos hierarchy, Makélélé became the heartbeat of José Mourinho’s Chelsea. The Frenchman anchored midfield with unrivalled discipline, laying the foundation for back-to-back Premier League triumphs in 2004/05 and 2005/06, plus two League Cups and an FA Cup. The term “Makélélé role” still defines his legacy.

Dimitar Berbatov – Tottenham to Manchester United (£30.75m, 2008)

In a deadline day tug-of-war with Manchester City, United won the race for Berbatov’s signature. His elegance and composure brought silverware aplenty — two Premier League titles, a League Cup, and the Club World Cup. Berbatov’s four-goal haul against Blackburn in 2010 remains one of the Premier League’s most stylish individual displays. The Bulgarian had a knack for making the game look effortlessly simple.

Cole Palmer – Manchester City to Chelsea (£42.5m, 2023)

Chelsea’s Deadline Day gamble on Palmer has proved inspired. Given more responsibility than he’d ever have at City, Palmer thrived at Stamford Bridge, cementing himself as one of the Premier League's best players. The move would've left many at City wondering "what if" after seeing one of their own flourish elsewhere, but their loss is Chelsea's gain.

Just heard Palmer to Chelsea is done. Gutted.

— Steven (@StevenMcinerney) August 30, 2023

Closed Until January

Deadline Day can often be remembered for panic buys and last-minute loans, but every so often, it delivers deals that redefine clubs, leagues and careers. From R9’s Galáctico entrance to Rooney’s teenage explosion, these transfers prove why Deadline Day remains one of the most anticipated days across the season.