Bournemouth and Huddersfield broke their transfer-fee records on Friday as two of the smallest English Premier League clubs signaled their ambitions ahead of the new season.
Netherlands defender Nathan Ake joined Bournemouth from Chelsea for a reported fee of 20 million pounds ($26 million), in what appears another astute purchase following the arrival of goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and striker Jermain Defoe this offseason.
Huddersfield, one of three promoted teams, signed Australia midfielder Aaron Mooy from Manchester City for an initial fee of 8 million pounds ($10.4 million) following a successful loan spell last season. The fee could rise to 10 million pounds ($13 million) through bonuses.
Mooy, who was recently playing at the Confederations Cup in Russia, was an ever-present for Huddersfield in its promotion campaign, scoring four goals.
It is the second time Huddersfield has broken its transfer record this summer, having bought Belgium striker Laurent Depoitre from Porto for a reported 3.5 million pounds ($4.45 million).
“We are going to give it a good crack this year,” Huddersfield chairman Dean Hoyle said, “but we are also remembering who we are and where we have come from.”
Huddersfield will be playing in England’s top division for the first time in 45 years, and handed its German-born American manager David Wagner a new two-year contract Friday that tied him to the club until 2019.
“Last season there was interest in David, both domestic and foreign,” Hoyle said, “but David stayed loyal to the football club and that means a lot to me.”
Wagner said Huddersfield would be “the biggest underdog ever to start in the Premier League.”
“Does it change that we are ambitious? Nope,” Wagner said. “We are not in the Premier League to say ’Hello’ and ’Thank you’ after one season. We want to stay there.”
Bournemouth, which is about to start its third season in the Premier League, hadn’t spent more than 1 million pounds on a player before August 2013.
Ake spent the first half of last season at Bournemouth, scoring three goals in 12 appearances before being recalled in January by Chelsea.
“This is another statement of our intent,” said Neill Blake, Bournemouth’s chief executive, “and another player who will help drive the club forward.”
Sunderland, which was relegated from the Premier League, loaned forward Fabio Borini to AC Milan. The Italian club said the deal involves an “obligation to buy” Borini at the end of his loan spell, the length of which wasn’t disclosed.
The 26-year-old Borini scored two league goals for struggling Sunderland last season, and five the season before.
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Steve Douglas is at www.twitter.com/sdouglas80
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