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Football Vocabulary: The Language of Transfers (Part 2)

The summer transfer window is now in full swing with Real Madrid and Manchester City having spent most of the cash so far. Here is an additional list of phrases and terms connected with transfers to go along with our earlier post on the topic

VOCABULARY

To be unveiled: When a new transfer has gone through; to be revealed
Example: Kolo Toure was revealed as a Manchetser City player this week.

To be seeking an exit: To be actively looking for a move away from the club
Example: Patrick Viera is seeking an exit from Inter Milan as he wishes to play more football in the World Cup year.

To bolster the squad: To improve the team /squad; to give the squad a ‘shot in the arm’
Example: Arsene Wenger wishes to bolster his squad after losing three players in a week

To hand in a transfer request: When a player wishes to move and officially asks his club (often used with ‘written’
Example: Xavi Alonso has handed in a written request to Liverpool’

Believed to be interested in: Rumours suggest that a club is interested in signing a player
Example: It is believed that Real Madrid are interested in signing Franck Ribery from Bayern Munich.

Keen to add: Wish to sign more players
Example: Rafael Benitez is keen to add some new players to his squad

To land: To sign a player
Example: Manchester City have landed Carlos Tevez from rivals Manchester United.

To rule out: To turn down, to reject an offer, to deny
Example: Bayern Munich have ruled out the possibility of Ribery moving to Real Madrid

Deemed surplus to requirements: When your team decides that they no longer want you
Example: Alan Hutton is deemed surplus to requirements at Tottenham and may move on

Vying to buy: When two or more clubs are interested in buying a player
Example: Spurs and Aston Villa are vying to sign Turner from Hull

Be in line to: To be on the verge of, to be about to (usually collocates with return)
Example: Patrick Viera is in line to return to the Premiership with Arsenal

To monitor: To watch or to keep an eye on a player to see if there is a chance of signing him
Example: Liverpool are monitoring Ashley Young in the hope of signing him

To show interest in: When a club wishes to sign a player, to eye a player
Example: West Ham are still showing interest in signing the Icelandic international

Undisclosed fee: A transfer fee has been paid but we do not know officially how much the player cost, this information was not provided
Example: Birmingham City have bought Christian Benitez for an undisclosed fee.

To be placed on the transfer list: When a club decides it wants to sell a player
Example: Darren Bent has been placed on the transfer list by Tottenham

  • Let us know if you come across any other language connected to transfers
  • What do you think of the transfer window so far? Who should or shouldn’t your team buy?

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