Africans on the move

3 February 2011

It has been the biggest spending January transfer window in history, boosted by record-breaking numbers in the English transfer window on the last day on Monday.

There have been a host of African players involved in movement and MTNfootball.com has focused on its 10 best deals of the window. See what you think.

EMMANUEL ADEBAYOR:

The surly Togolese had proven a sulking flop at Manchester City, even after a bank-breaking transfer. A loan deal to Real Madrid came after Jose Mourinho had complained about the lack of a proper striker at the Spanish giants, a strong signal of his lack of faith in Karim Benzema.

Adebayor is only a temporary solution, but if he can prove a positive force at Real there might be a permanent move in the off-season.

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG:

Gabon’s great hope for next year’s African Nations Cup finals is likely to get more game time at St Etienne than Monaco, where her has not had much chance to play this season.

Aubameyang moves on loan from Italian club AC Milan, who own him but have loaned him out to several clubs over the last three years.

ANTHONY ANNAN:

The hard working Ghanaian midfielder has slowly seen his profile improve with his exploits over the last year in the national side have finally paying proper dividends.

His move from Rosenborg in Norway to the German Bundesliga puts Annan now into the elite spotlight and gives him a new stage to display his hard working approach to the game. Schalke 04 paid 2,5-million Euros for his services.

MAHAMADOU DIARRA:

Mali’s inspirational, but injury afflicted, captain has gone to struggling Monaco as they bid to stave off the possibility of relegation from France’s Ligue 1.

Diarra has barely featured at Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho, coming on only as a substitute in three games and playing just 30 minutes in total. But straight after signing for Monaco, the defensive midfielder was thrust into the line-up for a debut in the 0-0 draw with rivals Olympique Marseille.

JEAN MAKOUN:

The hard working Cameroon midfielder has been a long standing feature in France’s Ligue 1, playing six seasons at Lille and two and a half at Olympique Lyon. His move to Aston Villa has earned the club a 7-million Euro transfer fee.

OBAFEMI MARTINS:

‘Obagoal’ has been much the opposite since he first burst onto the scene at Inter Milan and his recent spells in England, Germany and Russia have been disappointing setbacks.

It is now potentially a final chance for the pocket battleship-looking striker to restore his reputation as he moves to Birmingham City for the rest of the season. He will be happier also to have left the frigid conditions of Kazan, where he has been on the books of Rubin Kazan for the last six months.

SULLEY MUNTARI:

A Champions League winner last year but a peripheral influence at the World Cup has the jury undecided on the exact extent of the talents of the mercurial Muntari. Even his proposed move to Sunderland struggled to get off the ground but after several weeks, the English side agreed a loan deal with Inter Milan.

It will be a second spell in the premier league for Muntari, who won the FA Cup with Portsmouth.

STEVEN PIENAAR:

The contract of the nippy South African international had just six months to run at Everton and he was headed to Tottenham Hotspur anyway.

But with affection from the fans at Goodison Park waning and the prospect of a bigger pay day on the horizon, pressure was put on Spurs to take him earlier and they eventually paid R2-million for the privilege of having the midfielder in their side from now until the end of the season, plus the years to come.

STEPHANE SESSEGNON:

The Benin international had a falling out at Paris St Germain and was pleased to get away to English premier league outfit Sunderland, who paid 6-million pounds for his services.

Sessegnon clashed with PSG coach Antoine Kombouare and wanted a move but the French club was not prepared to let him go out on loan. Sunderland were persuaded a permanent move would be just as beneficial.

JOHN UTAKA:

The Nigerian winger’s frustration at his spell with Portsmouth was evident from the moment he joined French club Montpellier on the weekend, speaking of his delight at going to a ‘ball-playing club”.

This was obviously a dig at the hurly-burly style of football in the championship that never suited Utaka’s silkier style. Discarded by the Super Eagles, Utaka has signed at two and a half season deal and will be only can now fight his way back into the national team

And the one that got away…

ERIC CHOUPO-MOTING:

The planned transfer of the Hamburger SV player to FC Cologne fell through when the Bundesliga clubs failed to meet the deadline because of a broken fax connection.

Now, the clubs are hoping the German football league will allow the deal to go through when they make a ruling this week.

The contract between the Cameroon international and Cologne arrived at the league 12 minutes after the transfer window closed Monday at 6 pm.

Choupo-Moting had picked Cologne over West Bromwich Albion with half-hour to spare. But when his father and agent tried to fax the contract before the deadline, the connection broke down. The documents eventually arrived 12 minutes late.

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