A record spending spree by Premier League clubs in the summer transfer market passed the USD 2.2 billion mark before the window closed Thursday with Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool and, belatedly, Chelsea all signing players to conclude the reshaping of their squads. The headline transfer on a typically frantic final day of trading was the arrival of Brazil winger Antony at United from Ajax for USD 95 million, making him the fourth expensive player in Premier League history and soccer's most expensive deadline-day signing.

That took United's total spend in this wildest of transfer windows to about USD 240 million - a figure only topped in the whole of Europe by Chelsea, which finally signed an out-and-out striker in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona. In the club's first transfer window in the post-Roman Abramovich era, Chelsea spent a staggering USD 280 million. Man City's signing of Switzerland center back Manuel Akanji for USD 17.5 million felt low-key by comparison, while Liverpool's only move, the loan signing of Brazil international Arthur Melo from Juventus, was still significant as it strengthened the team's injury-hit midfield.