London: Arsenal signed playmaker Mesut Ozil for a club record 50 million euros ($66 million) on the final day of the summer transfer window Monday, and Manchester United also left it late to strengthen the squad.
Ozil's signing from Real Madrid pushed spending by Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window around 600 million pounds ($932 million).
United's only notable permanent signing since David Moyes replaced Alex Ferguson as manager at Old Trafford has been Marouane Fellaini, with the Belgium midfielder joining for 27.5 million pounds ($43 million) from Everton as the transfer cut-off arrived on Monday night.
Moyes turned to former club Everton, after being unable to mark the start of his reign with a marquee signing, with Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas pursued for several weeks.
The biggest Premier League spenders of the summer were Tottenham, with splurged more than 110 million pounds ($170 million) on seven players in its bid to break back into the top four and qualify for the Champions League.
The spending spree was largely funded by Gareth Bale being sold to Real Madrid for a world-record 100 million euros ($132 million).
But to subsidize that signing, Madrid had to offload players, and Tottenham's north London rival Arsenal was a beneficiary with the capture of Ozil.
The 24-year-old Germany international's signing was American owner Stan Kroenke's emphatic response to the demands of supporters.
Fans had watched in frustration throughout the summer as north London rival Tottenham spent more than $150 million on seven players, while Arsenal's only permanent recruits were the free signings of Yaya Sanogo and Mathieu Flamini.
But after missing out on Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez and Yohan Cabaye, the Gunners have pulled off the big-name signing promised in June when they said there would be an “escalation in our financial firepower.”
Ozil's signing easily outstrips Arsenal's previous largest transfer -- 15 million pounds (then $21.3 million) for Andrey Arshavin in 2009 -- and the club hopes he will help to produce its first trophy since 2005.
“Mr. Kroenke ... has always fully supported Arsene and the club in making significant investments to strengthen our squad and to bring in talented players who fit our style and ambitions,” chief executive Ivan Gazidis said.
Liverpool, the early unbeaten league leader, was the early mover on deadline-day. Chelsea forward Victor Moses also arrived on loan and young defenders Mamadou Sakho and Tiago Ilori were recruited late to increase their number of summer signings to eight.
Moses will spend the season at Anfield after seeing his chances of first-team action at Chelsea plummet following the arrival of forwards Willian and Andre Schuerrle.
Sakho, who can play at center back or left back and has 14 caps for France, joined from Paris Saint-Germain on a long-term contract and the 20-year-old Ilori, who has represented Portugal at youth age groups, moved from Sporting Lisbon. Financial details weren't disclosed but sections of the British media reported that Sakho and Ilori cost a combined 25 million pounds ($39 million).
The trio of signings adds strength in depth to a squad that has won its first three league games for the first time since the 1993-94 season to go top of the standings. Sakho and Moses are likely to challenge for first-team places immediately, with the London-born Ilora set to be one for the future.
Liverpool sent striker Fabio Borini on a season-long loan to Sunderland, while another Italian, former Anfield left back Andrea Dossena, joined the northeast club from Napoli.
While raising money from the sale of Fellaini, Everton signed midfielder James McCarthy from Wigan for 13 million pounds, and brought Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku in on season-long loans.
Stoke signed Austria forward Marko Arnautovic from Werder Bremen on a four-year deal, while Marseille loaned out France midfielder Morgan Amalfitano to West Bromwich Albion.
