From fax machines to motorway diversions – what it’s like transferring on Deadline Day

The chaos of Transfer Deadline Day [1] isn’t so fun for the players involved. It’s become one of the most eagerly-anticipated days on the calendar for football [2] fans. Jim White donning his yellow tie, Peter Odemwingie being refused entry to Loftus Road and Harry Redknapp [3] leaning out of his car window – so many iconic images have been born from the final hours of the window.

But what’s it like being on the other side of the television screen? Andrea Orlandi knows all too well having moved not once but twice on Deadline Day. The first saw him leave his native Spain and head to England to join then-League One Swansea City [4] in 2007.

Orlandi was left relying on borrowing a friend’s fax machine – fortunately having more luck than David de Gea [5] when he was set to join Real Madrid [6] from Manchester United [7] in 2015. “I signed for Swansea on Deadline Day and it was funny because we didn’t have the technology [8] we have nowadays,” he recalled to Mirror Football.

Sky Sports fans can save GBP216 on their bill, here’s three other reasons you’ll want to pick it [9]Gary Lineker claim made as fears arise over future of Match of the Day [10]

“It was not that long ago, but you had to do it through fax. I didn’t have a fax at home, so I went to one of my friends who was an optician. I went to the shop and I was waiting for that fax to go through.

“She left and said, ‘if you close, just set the alarm off, I’ll give you the keys’. I stayed there until 11:30 at night and the fax came finally, signed, sent it back. I did the right thing, I set the alarm and left the shop, and that’s how I signed for Swansea.”

The winger enjoyed back-to-back promotions with the Swans but found his Premier League [11] minutes limited under boss Brendan Rodgers [12]. So he made the step back down to the Championship to join Brighton [13] under Gus Poyet.

Orlandi’s first Deadline Day move relied upon his friend’s fax machine (SSPL/Getty Images)

He continued: “With Brighton, it was true, I’d been speaking with Gus a week before the deadline. So I kind of knew it was happening but I had to sort some things with my Swansea contract.

“It is nerve-racking, especially when I went to Swansea because it was a difficult decision to make. But with Brighton, I was a little more relaxed and I was actually excited because I was really looking forward to it.” Now working as an agent in retirement, 40-year-old Orlandi still gets a taste of transfer dealings – but he much prefers being removed from the uncertainty that Deadline Day can bring.

He added: “As fans I think you enjoy it more now, sitting down and relaxing to watch on TV. “It’s much better than when you’re involved as a footballer because sometimes players have different options and they’re in the car waiting to see, ‘where should I go? Should I take the M1 or the M4?’ It’s a good day.”

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References

^ Transfer Deadline Day (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ football (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Harry Redknapp (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Swansea City (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ having more luck than David de Gea (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Real Madrid (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Manchester United (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ technology (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Sky Sports fans can save GBP216 on their bill, here’s three other reasons you’ll want to pick it (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Gary Lineker claim made as fears arise over future of Match of the Day (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Premier League (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Brendan Rodgers (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Brighton (www.mirror.co.uk)
^ Join our new WhatsApp community (chat.whatsapp.com)
^ Privacy Notice. (www.reachplc.com)