Yahoo News Every Championship signing this summer as Stoke and Middlesbrough lead race
Stoke City have made a quick start to their summer transfer business with the key signings of Viktor Johansson and Ben Gibson.
And a quick look up and down the division in the first weekend after the window officially opened shows that most clubs are still waiting for their first deal, let alone have two in the bag. In fact, it took Stoke themselves until July 5 to unveil their first arrival, and July 8 for the second, last summer - and that was when they were bringing in pretty much a whole new squad. They did arrival pretty quickly after that, however, at a rate of one of every three days until the deadline.
Johansson joins from Rotherham United after Stoke triggered a relegation release clause believed to be just under £1m. The 25-year-old has established himself as one of the leading goalkeepers in the Championship in the last couple of years and ends a long wait for the Potters to have a number one of their own, having relied heavily on the loan market.
Gibson, aged 31, joins from Norwich, who he helped into the play-off places in the season just ended. The left-footed centre-back is a free agent penning a three-year deal after coming to the end of his contract at Carrow Road.
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Business has been slow elsewhere in the country, with only two other clubs making two incomings so far.
Oxford United, promoted from League One, have also brought in two signings in so far. Keeper Jacob Knightbridge, aged 20, has signed from West Ham while midfielder Will Vaulks, aged 30, has rejected the offer of a deal at Sheffield Wednesday to sign a "long-term contract" under Des Buckingham.
“I can’t say too much," Vaulks told BBC Sheffield. "The only thing I can say is that Oxford showed massive ambition. They have a structure in place, a budget they’re allowed to spend, and a manager and a head of recruitment that want to get things done.
“I didn’t feel that from Wednesday, but I’m not going to be bitter about it. I can’t go into too much detail about it, but, rest assured, it’s not me being greedy or anything like that, it’s just sometimes you need to feel wanted and that you’re going to be part of something moving forwards."
Middlesbrough have made a loan deal for Luke Ayling permanent, with the 32-year-old centre-back signing a two-year contract. They have also signed 25-year-old forward Delano Burgzorg from Mainz for an undisclosed fee. Burgzorg spent last season on loan at Huddersfield Town, scoring seven times as they were relegated.
Boro boss Michael Carrick said: “(Burgzorg is) a threat and will be real asset because he has different types of attributes to what we already have. He’s a good addition to the squad and being able to get things done early means he will be here for the start of pre-season.”
Norwich City have 23-year-old Levski Sofia's left-sided centre-back Jose Cordoba, a Panama international, to replace Gibson. It is an undisclosed fee which the Pink Un suggests is "likely to be their largest transfer fee of the summer".
Coventry City have gone shopping overseas too, signing 20-year-old right winger Raphael Borges Rodrigues on a four-year deal with an undisclosed fee from Macarthur, in Australia. This is added to left winger Ephron Mason-Clark, who was signed from Peterborough in January and then sent back out on loan.
QPR have ventured Down Under as well to sign Daniel Bennie from Perth Glory. Bennie is a Hong Kong-born 18-year-old who has represented Australia at youth level.
Sheffield Wednesday have signed 36-year-old keeper Ben Hamer from Watford and are completing a rare cross-city deal for Sheffield United left-back Max Lowe, who is a free agent.
Portsmouth, who are up as League One champions, have dived back into the third tier to sign 24-year-old right-back Jordan Williams from Barnsley as a free agent. Blackburn Rovers have brought in left winger Aodhan Doherty from Linfield for an undisclosed fee.
Nathanael Ogbeta is the first signing for Wayne Rooney at Plymouth Argyle. The 23-year-old left-back had been released by Swansea after spending the second half of last season on loan at Bolton.
Corey Blackett-Taylor is officially joining Derby County. The 26-year-old winger signed on loan from Charlton in January with a clause that it would become permanent in the summer. He made 12 appearances, including five starts, for Paul Warne as they sealed promotion from League One, setting up one goal.
And Mamadou Doumbia will become a Watford player on July 1. The 18-year-old forward has been signed from Black Stars FC, who have just been relegated from the Mali Premier Division, on a five-year contract.
