Few dates in the soccer calendar capture the imagination as much as the Premier League transfer deadline day.
A summer full of contradicting reports, rumors and speculations comes to a climax on Thursday when the transfer window slams shut.
With clubs prevented from signing players from Thursday afternoon until January next year, the next 24 hours promise to be even more chaotic than usual.
Here's everything you need to know ahead of the deadline day.
When is the Premier League transfer deadline?
The transfer deadline falls at 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET) on Thursday, August 8. This year marks the second consecutive season the transfer window shuts on the eve of the opening fixture, while in previous years it wouldn't close until the end of August.
That meant Premier League clubs could buy and sell players for the first four weeks of the season.
What about other European leagues?
While Premier League clubs can only buy until Thursday afternoon, their European counterparts have plenty of time left to do business. The transfer window in Italy closes on August 23, while clubs in Spain, France and Germany have until September 2 to complete their business.
That means some European teams could buy a Premier League player, leaving the selling club without the chance of replacing them.
What are the major deals so far?
The top six clubs have all been busy. Manchester City signed Spanish midfielder Rodri from Atletico Madrid for a club record fee of $76.6 million, as well as Spanish left-back Angelino from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for $13.1 million.
Across Manchester, United has spent $176 million on three players, including paying $97 million for Harry Maguire to make him the world's most expensive defender.
Tottenham Hotspur spent a club-record fee $66.8 million to sign Tanguy Ndombele from Olympique Lyon, while Arsenal splashed a club record $87.6 million on Lille's winger Nicolas Pepe, after spending a combined $40.1 million on Saint-Etienne defender William Saliba and Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli.
Chelsea signed Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund and Mateo Kovacic from Real Madrid for a combined $117.8 million shortly before a season-long transfer ban came into effect.
Liverpool has been the notable exception, with Dutch teenager Sepp van den Berg so far the Reds' only signing.
Liverpool's local rivals Everton, on the other hand, have been really busy. The Toffees have spent a combined $94.8 million on four players, including highly-rated Juventus forward Moise Kean.
Aston Villa and Norwich City, two of the three newly promoted clubs, have undergone a major overhaul signing 11 players each.
Can we expect some deadline day fireworks?
It is difficult to say, but if there's one thing past transfer windows have taught us, it is that nothing should ever be ruled out.
Tottenham has been linked with a move for Juventus striker Paulo Dybala, who was on Manchester United's radar until earlier this week, and Real Betis' midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.
A move for either would in all likelihood have to be financed by the sale of Christian Eriksen. The Dane reportedly fancies a change of scenery but considers Real Madrid a more appealing destination than the red half of Manchester.
Spurs were also linked to Barcelona's midfielder Philippe Coutinho, but according to Sky Sports neither the Brazilian nor Barcelona were happy with the loan terms proposed by Tottenham.
Manchester United could also be in the mix on deadline day, depending on whether they can offload Romelu Lukaku. The Belgian has attracted interest from Italy, with Juventus and Inter Milan both keen to land the striker.
A swap deal with Juventus involving Dybala was derailed when United deemed the Argentine's financial demands too onerous, while Inter Milan's two bids have so far failed to meet United's $100 million price tag.
With Chelsea under a transfer embargo, Arsenal could look to make a late move to bolster its shaky defense, while Jurgen Klopp has repeatedly stressed he's happy with the options at his disposal.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Dan Cancian is currently a reporter for Newsweek based in London, England. Prior to joining Newsweek in January 2018, he was a news and business reporter at International Business Times UK. Dan has also written for The Guardian and The Observer.
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