Chelsea bag David Luiz on billion-pound day

London: David Luiz made a surprise return to Chelsea on Wednesday as English Premier League clubs splashed out on the final day of a record-breaking, billion-pound mid-year transfer window. In late deals, Brazil defender Luiz returned after two years at Paris Saint-Germain, while France midfielder Moussa Sissoko left Newcastle United for Tottenham Hotspur. The two moves took spending for England’s top flight to about £1.17 billion ($1.54 billion) — smashing the record of £870 million for a single transfer window set last year.

Enriched by a new £5.14 billion domestic TV rights deal, 13 of the 20 Premier League clubs broke their transfer records during the two-month window, in a spree that put Europe’s other top divisions in the shade. “This is the world we are in in football,” former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas said. “There is that much money flying around since the TV deal that clubs can afford to break their transfer records. They have to keep up. The Premier League is where it is at, clubs have to spend money.”

The big leagues of Italy, Spain, Germany and France spent far less. Italy’s Serie A, the next biggest spender, parted with £595 million, according to industry website transfermarkt.Com. One beneficiary of the Premier League’s first billion-pound spend was shaggy-haired Luiz, 29, who is back just two years after he became the world’s most expensive defender with a £50 million move to PSG. Luiz was tipped to lose his place to compatriot Marquinhos at PSG, and has returned to Stamford Bridge for a reported fee of around £34 million.

“I’m delighted to return to Chelsea,” Luiz told the Chelsea website after signing a three-year contract on the last day of the two-month window. “We had a fantastic story during my first time at the club and I want to help the team and (manager) Antonio Conte achieve a lot of success.” Chelsea also landed Spanish left-back Marcos Alonso from Fiorentina for a reported £23 million, while their Colombian winger Juan Cuadrado left for Juventus on a three-year loan. Sissoko, 27, looked poised to join Everton for much of the day, only for Tottenham to reportedly pip the Merseyside club with a late bid.