LONDON - European soccer's transfer market has closed for business until next year with a lack of the frenzied big-money moves that usually mark the last day of trading.
Everton signed Netherlands defender Johnny Heitinga and Tottenham bought Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar on Tuesday, but the powerhouses of Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal stayed put on a day when English clubs usually bolster their squads with surprise signings.
A new tax rate for high earners has made it difficult for English clubs to match the wages on offer in Spain, and there were no moves announced by the deadline to compare with those of Robinho, Dimitar Berbatov and Roman Pavlyuchenko.
The trio cost Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham a combined 77 million pounds (C$137.3 million) on the corresponding day last year.
Everton paid Atletico Madrid an initial fee of six million pounds (C$10.7 million) for Heitinga, who signed a five-year contract and could cost another one million pounds (C$1.8 million) depending on his performances.
Heitinga follows Sylvain Distin and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov in joining Everton since the end of last season, bolstering a squad reached the FA Cup final and finished fifth in the Premier League for a second straight year but lost Joleon Lescott to Manchester City.
"We are pleased the deal has been completed to get John into Everton," Everton chief executive Robert Elstone said. "He is a very experienced player having played at both Ajax and Atletico Madrid and I know (manager) David Moyes is looking forward to getting him started."
Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar became the third Portsmouth player to follow manager Harry Redknapp to Tottenham, with Pompey one of the busiest clubs on Tuesday.
The southern England club, bought by United Arab Emirates businessman Sulaiman al-Fahim last week and last in the Premier League standings after four straight defeats, borrowed midfielder Hassan Yebda from Benfica.
It had already signed of Israel defender Tal Ben Haim from Manchester City on Monday and tried without success to get another defender, Nicky Shorey, from Aston Villa.
Portsmouth also loaned one-time England striker David Nugent to Premier League newcomer Burnley and considered letting veteran goalkeeper David James move to Spurs.
Tottenham had been interested in swapping Carlo Cudicini for James but the England international is staying with the south-coast club.
The 25-year-old Kranjcar joined Tottenham for a fee that could be as little as two million pounds (C$3.6 million) because he had just one year left on his contract and would be able to leave for free at the end of the season.
"He always said he wanted to go to what he perceived to be a bigger club," Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie said. "He made it categorically clear to us that he was not going to sign a new contract and he wanted to move on."
Aston Villa signed West Ham defender James Collins. Another Wales international named Collins, Danny Collins, transferred from Sunderland to Stoke, but there were few other completed moves in England.
Elsewhere, Ajax captured a ball-juggling Brazilian and Freddy Adu's career took another turn with a low-key move in Portugal.
Kerlon, a 21-year-old player known as "the seal" because of his ability to run past defenders while juggling the ball on his head, joined Ajax on loan. Fans may have to wait to see his skills, however, while he proves his fitness after serious ankle and knee injuries.
"I am sure he can be a valuable addition," Ajax coach Martin Jol said.
Although a regular in the United States national squad, the 20-year-old Adu continues to struggle in his efforts to make an impact at club level.
Former European great Benfica loaned him to Monaco last season and now he's off to Belenenses, Lisbon's third team after Benfica and Sporting, which only just avoided relegation last season.
