Transfer deadline day: Liverpool sign Arthur on loan, no move for Cristiano Ronaldo

Liverpool signed Brazil midfielder Arthur Melo from Juventus on a season-long loan just one hour before the transfer deadline.

On a final evening of frenzied negotiations, Juve announced Liverpool have an option to buy Arthur for $37.29 million. The 26-year-old has played 63 times for the Turin club since his move from Barcelona in 2020.

"We talked a lot and our ideas and visions were a good fit so I'm sure it was the right choice," Arthur said in a statement.

"Liverpool have a wonderful history in football. I've played against Liverpool, I know what it feels like to be in the stadium with the fans behind them.

"I was with the opposition and now I'm on the right side so I'm really excited. It's a massive club with a great manager, great players. It's a dream to be here."

Arthur, who can play in different roles in central midfield, arrives at Liverpool who are reeling from an injury crisis with midfielders Thiago Alcantara, Jordan Henderson, Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain all sidelined.

Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground in Manchester, England. All photos: Getty Images

Elsewhere, the usual last-minute activity between agents and clubs went to the wire - though there was no move for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo.

Chelsea rounded out their lavish spending spree this summer by bringing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back to the Premier League and taking Juve midfielder Denis Sakaria on a season-long loan.

Former Arsenal striker Aubameyang, 33, only joined Barcelona in January but has fallen behind Robert Lewandowski in the pecking order.

Likewise Zakaria, 25, a Switzerland international, signed for Juve in January from Borussia