Robinho joins AC Milan, Huntelaar moves to Schalke

Although financial details were not disclosed, it was the highest profile deal on a quiet final day of trading before the transfer window shut until January.

Other big moves included Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar leaving Milan for Schalke 04 and Premier League Sunderland smashing their transfer record to sign Ghanaian striker Asamoah Gyan from Stade Rennes for a reported fee in excess of 13 million pounds ($20.03 million).

The 26-year-old Robinho, who cost City 32.5 million pounds from Real Madrid and has played 80 times for his country, never settled in Manchester and spent six months on loan at Brazilian club Santos last season. Milan hope Robinho, who has signed a four-year contract, will be a key element in helping them regain the Serie A title they last won in 2004. “AC Milan annnounce the permanent signing of Robinho from Manchester City. The Brazilian player has signed a four-year contract,” Milan said in a statement.

Huntelaar left the San Siro to join Schalke and the German club also recruited Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Manuel Jurado. Schalke's Bundesliga rivals VfB Stuttgart signed Italian midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, a 2006 World Cup winner, from Juventus for one year.

Konchesky link

In England, Fulham full back Paul Konchesky moved to Premier League rivals Liverpool on a four-year deal where he will link up again with his former manager Roy Hodgson. Liverpool's Argentine defender Emiliano Insua left Anfield on a season-long loan deal for İstanbul side Galatasaray. Another player who headed to Turkey was Everton defender Joseph Yobo, who joined Fenerbahçe on loan before the Turkish transfer window closed on Wednesday.

Arsenal left back Armand Traore joined Juventus on loan and Croatia goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa moved from Spartak Moscow to Tottenham Hotspur on a season-long deal.

Stoke City bolstered their squad with two signings, Iceland striker Eidur Gudjohnsen arriving from AS Monaco and Senegal midfielder Salif Diao rejoining the club on a two-year deal.

Birmingham City recruited Spartak Moscow captain Martin Jiranek, Belarus midfielder Aleksandr Hleb and Chile striker Jean Beausejour, while Dutch striker Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink left English Championship (second division) side Hull City to sign a two-year deal with Rapid Vienna. London Reuters/AP

Premier League transfer spending dips to three-year low

Premier League clubs spent less than they did in 2007 in the summer transfer window as cash-strapped clubs sought to balance their books, according to business consultancy Deloitte.

Overall spending by English clubs was around 350 million pounds ($539.2 million), 22 percent below the levels of 2009 and the lowest after three years of record growth, Deloitte said in a report released after the English deadline closed on Tuesday. “In general, an absence of new owners and clubs striving to improve their financial balance has diminished the vibrancy of the transfer market,” Dan Jones, partner in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said in a statement.

Gross transfer spending by top clubs in France, Germany, Italy and Spain was down 25 percent to 40 percent compared with 2009, widening the gap with their English peers. “Premier League clubs generated more revenue and income on aggregate than the other leagues and they can afford to spend more in the transfer market,” Paul Rawnsley, director in the Sports Business Group at Deloitte, told Reuters. Clubs from Italy's Serie A and Spain's Primera Liga have reportedly spent around 260 million pounds and 240 million pounds respectively during the window.

Spain striker David Villa moved to Barcelona from Valencia for 40 million euros in one of the biggest deals. Premier League Manchester City, the world's wealthiest club, dominated transfer activity with acquisitions of around 125 million pounds accounting for 36 percent of total spending. “Despite improved economic conditions and enhanced values from international media rights that kicked in for the 2010-11 season, without further significant capital injections from owners, transfer spending is unlikely to exceed the high watermark achieved in 2008,” Rawnsley said. Milan Reuters