New signing Andy Delort

The revolving door of football transfers turned rapidly today at the DW Stadium with some significant ins and outs.

After some protracted transfer dealings long time target Adam Forshaw arrived from Brentford for around £4m and striker Andy Delort signed from French Ligue 2 team FC Tours for just under £3m. Welsh international Emyr Huws joined on a permanent deal from Manchester City and a surprise signing came in the form of Denmark international William Kvist from VFB Stuttgart.

On the negative side FA Cup winner and fans favourite James McArthur left Wigan to join Crystal Palace for a reported record club fee of £7m.

Adam Forshaw

22-year-old Forshaw was the 2013/14 League One Player of the Year and joins Latics on a four year contract. Uwe Rosler earmarked the former Everton trainee as a replacement for last season’s Player of the Year Jordi Gomez.

Latics manager told the official website:

“First of all, I want to say that Adam was always my number one target as a permanent replacement for Jordi Gomez. We are all therefore delighted that he is joining us. 

Of course he is a player I know well, I initially loaned him during my time at Brentford and he gained his first regular league football experience there under me. “

Rosler continued:



“Adam will be a big part of our future at this football club; he is the right age, with the right qualities and desire to progress here. 

He will take the Championship in his stride and, like all of our signings, we believe he has the potential to flourish in the Premier League as well.”

Andy Delort

Wigan fought off competition from Wolves, Brentford, QPR and Lille in France to secure Andy Delort’s signature.

The young striker is a former France Under 20’s international and has also represented France Beach Soccer team. Delort was named in the Ligue 2 Team of the Season for 2013/14 whilst playing for FC Tours, and finished second in the Ligue 2 Player of the Year.

Rosler enthused:

“Andy is such an exciting player. He lives to score and from the moment that Tony Coton first spotted him last season playing for Tours, there was a real desire to bring him to our club.

We have managed to bring in a proven goal scorer at the right age for under £3million and that is a testament to our club but especially to the player, his family and his agent.

Despite huge pressure from outside during these last few days, he has never wavered in his desire to join us. “

The 22-year-old had an excellent strike rate with 24 goals in 36 outings for FC Tours last season. He will be expected to provide stiff competition for recent £3m signing Oriel Riera in the central striker role.”

Emyr Huws

Latics fans will be disappointed to see the departure of FA Cup winner James McArthur to Crystal Palace for a club record £7m, but the money received has already been well invested in the permanent signing of Emyr Huws from Manchester City for a fee of around £3m.

The 20-year-old has impressed during his loan and Rosler knows that the Welsh international has the potential to become a top Premier League player.

Rosler was delighted with the move and told the official website:

“Emyr has impressed everyone since arriving at the club, and we feel that he can have a major role to play in the future of the club.

Everybody can see what a very talented player Emyr is, and from the first training session with us leading through to the games he has played, he has been very good.

At just 20 years old he is already with the full Welsh national team and the chance to sign him on a long-term contract was too good an opportunity to turn down.”

William Kvist

Denmark international William Kvist is Wigan’s fourth signing of transfer deadline day.
Kvist joins on a free transfer from Bundesliga team VFB Stuttgart, subject to Football League and international clearance.

The 29-year-old defensive midfielder has represented his country at every level from the age of 16 and will win his 48th full cap if he plays against Turkey this week. He played eight games on loan for Fulham last season in the Premier League on loan from Stuttgart but has not featured so far this campaign for VFB.

Latics manager Uwe Rosler was delighted with the signing of the Dane.

He said:

“William is a player I know from my time in Norway, when Lillestrom faced Copenhagen in the Scandinavian Royal League final. He is a top international midfielder in the prime of his career and we are absolutely delighted to be able to sign him.

He knows the football culture in this country having played here for Fulham last season and we are fortunate that we have been able to get him at this stage of his career. He will add great experience, knowledge of the position and of course competition in our midfield area. We are delighted to bring him on board.”

With only one major departure and four promising new signings transfer deadline day ended with Latics fans in optimistic mood for the rest of the season.