Ghanaian defender Baba Rahman completed his move from Augsburg in Germany to English Premier League champions Chelsea. The talent attracted serious interest from Paris St-Germain, Real Madrid, Juventus and Roma, but Chelsea’s dedication won the 21-year-old over. He has been one of the top performers at his German club, and seems to be Chelsea coach Jose Mourinho’s replacement for Brazilian defender Filipe Luis, who was sold back to former Spanish club Atletico Madrid. The Black Stars full back was a pillar of strength at left back for Ghana during their campaign at the 2015 Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea.
Cameroon striker Clinton N’Jie completed his move from French club Olympique Lyonnais to Tottenham Hotspur this week. The 22-year-old signed a five-year deal to join coach Mauricio Pochettino at White Hart Lane. The Cameroon international contributed eight goals in 33 fixtures in all competitions with his former French side during the last campaign, and is already an established name with the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, where he has scored six goals in 11 appearances, and travelled to Equatorial Guinea in January to represent Cameroon at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Ghana international Andre Ayew left French club Marseille to join Swansea City in the Premier League during the transfer window. The son of Ghanaian football legend Abedi Pele refused to sign an extension to his contract with the Ligue 1 club, and he joined Swansea on a free transfer, signing a four-year deal. The talented winger made an impact at his new club on the opening day of the Premier League season, scoring in his side’s 2-2 away draw against current champions Chelsea, before scoring again in the second matchday to secure a 2-0 win over Newcastle United. His brother Jordan also made a move from the French league to Aston Villa, and they will have a chance to come face to face when their two clubs meet at Villa Park on October 24.
Cote D’Ivoire international Max Gradel agreed to a move to English Premier League new boys Bournemouth from Ligue 1 side Saint-Etienne. The striker’s four-year deal with the EPL club involved an undisclosed fee paid to his former French team. This is not Gradel’s first experience at Bournemouth, as he was twice loaned to the club from Leicester City during the 2007-08 season. The speedy striker contributed 17 goals in 23 starts for Les Verts last season, helping them to secure a fifth-placed Ligue 1 finish, and was a member of the Ivorian squad that emerged victorious from the 2015 AFCON.
Aston Villa managed to entice Senegalese midfielder Idrissa Gueye away from French Ligue 1 club Lille. The player is a major target for numerous English Premier League clubs, including West Ham United, Southampton and Crystal Palace, but the Villains were able to make the right moves in the transfer market to secure his signature. The midfielder is not a regular with his national team, but at Lille he was a stalwart. He was nominated alongside nine other footballers for the Marc Viviene Foe award, which recognises the best player from Africa based on their performances in the French Ligue 1 over the season.
Newcastle United’s defensive record last season was abysmal, and they understood the need to strengthen their back-line. For this reason they jumped at the opportunity to sign Anderlecht defender Chancel Mbemba. The versatile and dynamic player is able to play as a defensive midfielder or in the centre of defence. He will no doubt be a welcome addition to the defensive capabilities of the Magpies.
Ghanaian midfielder Jordan Ayew signed for Aston Villa on a long-term deal from French Ligue 1 side Lorient at the end of July, signing a five-year deal that will keep him at Villa Park until 2020. Les Merlus benefited from the player’s 12 goals and seven assists during the recent French campaign, creating interest for the player from the likes of Everton and Crystal Palace in England, Borussia Dortmund in Germany and Lille in France. Jordan Ayew’s brother Andre recently left French club Marseille to join Swansea City in the Premier League, and so the two brothers have reunited in the same league, but will be rivals for the Premier League title.
Leicester City ended last season’s Premier League campaign in 14th position, and they have opted to strengthen their defence with the acquisition of Tunisian defender Yohan Benalouane from Atalanta in Italy. The former French Under-21 international decided to represent Tunisia at senior international level, and will now have his chance to defend against some of the best strikers in world football in the Premier League. His contribution will no doubt prove vital in the club’s battle against relegation.
Aston Villa coach Tim Sherwood completed the signing of Benin’s Rudy Gestede recently, bringing to the club a talented striker who is hungry for success on the biggest stage. He managed to score 20 goals in 39 Championship appearances last season alongside strike partner Jordan Rhodes at Blackburn, and will be under pressure to replace Belgian Christian Benteke who left Villa for Liverpool a few weeks ago, but was already on target on debut for the club in the opening fixture of the 2015-16 EPL.
