Imbula
Stoke City broke their transfer record to sign Giannelli Imbula from Port on a five-and-a-half-year contract worth £18.3 million. Reuters/John Sibley

Premier League clubs Arsenal and Stoke City completed their deadline day transfers albeit on contrasting moves.

Stoke City broke their transfer record to bring in Giannelli Imbula from Porto to Britannia Stadium. The Potters signed Imbula to a five-and-a-half-year contract worth £18.3 million (AU$37.2 million), breaking the club’s record deal of winger Xherdan Shaqiri, who was signed in the summer for £12 million (AU$24.2 million).

Stoke chairman Peter Coates admitted that the move to sign Imbula was on-and-off for a few days before finally coming to terms with Porto, who signed the French international for £15.1 million (AU$30.7 million) seven months ago.

"If he is as good as we think he is, he'll keep his value,” Coates told the BBC Radio 5 live. “You've got to think of it from a business point of view. We want him to be worth more than we paid for him.”

The club’s chief executive Tony Scholes also revealed that things “accelerated quickly” in signing Imbula, adding that the 23-year-old defensive midfielder is excited about helping Stokes in the Premier League.

"Giannelli is a player we have been trailing for some time and we are delighted to have concluded a deal to sign him,” Scholes said, reports the City’s official website. "At one stage it looked unlikely that we would be able to get the deal over the line but things accelerated quickly earlier today and Giannelli is really excited about the prospect of playing in the Premier League with us."

Imbula, who had appeared in 21 games for Stokes during his a season-long loan, started his career with Guingamp in 2009, then joined Marseille four years later, getting his first action of Champions League football. He also played in both Porto’s Champions League games against Chelsea this season.

Meanwhile, Arsenal also completed a deadline day transfer after sending Mathieu Debuchy to Bordeaux on loan for the rest of the season, reports the Daily Star. The Gunners confirmed the transfer in a statement released in their official website, saying that the move would allow the French international an opportunity to play regular football ahead of Euro 2016.

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