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Players move around in English Premier League

It was the busiest day of the English transfer season, and free-spending Chelsea didn't make a single move. Go figure.

Several stars changed teams before Monday afternoon's summer deadline, taking advantage of a new rule that allows players to jump from one Premier League club to another on loan.

The first major move came when Arsenal sent struggling striker Francis Jeffers to former club Everton for the rest of the season.

Jeffers, once a top prospect, couldn't get past Thierry Henry, Sylvain Wiltord and Dennis Bergkamp at Highbury. He made only four league starts in two years, scoring four league goals.

Jeffers also gained a reputation for diving last season, and he was sent off in Arsenal's loss to Manchester United in the Community Shield earlier this month.

"This is his chance to put right the things what many people have said about him," Everton manager David Moyes said.

But with teen sensation Wayne Rooney, captain Kevin Campbell, Canadian international Tomasz Radzinski and veteran Duncan Ferguson all up front, Jeffers also faces a tough battle to crack the Everton lineup.

"It will give him an opportunity to compete for a position in the team, but there is no guarantee, with Wayne, Kevin, Tomasz, Duncan and Nick Chadwick," said Moyes.

"I felt, though, that we needed to add a little bit more, so as the season goes on, we can have more goals from the squad, and adding Francis should help that."

Everton also signed Irish midfielder Kevin Kilbane from first-division Sunderland on a two-year deal worth ?1 million (US$1.56 million) and got help in goal, getting former England international Nigel Martyn from Leeds for a nominal fee.

With current England No. 2 Paul Robinson at Elland Road, Martyn saw limited playing time last season. He's also expected to backup Richard Wright at Goodison Park, though Wright is currently out with a knee injury.

"He's in the last year of his deal, and he has been a fantastic servant to this club," Leeds manager Peter Reid said of Martyn.

"We've got young goalkeepers -- that's one of the reasons for letting him go. But the other is as a thank you for being so patient. He is a top professional and deserves a first-team place somewhere.''

Reid brought in two players, Brazilian World Cup-winner Roque Junior from AC Milan and French striker Cyril Chapuis from Marseille -- both on loan.

Roque Junior was initially denied a work permit because he didn't play enough international matches in the last year -- he missed Brazil's matches this summer because of an injury.

An appeal hearing Monday overturned the decision.

"He didn't meet the criteria because of injuries," said Reid. "That's why we put the appeal in, and thankfully it was recognized."

French midfielder Stephane Dalmat left Inter Milan for Tottenham on a season-long loan, one of three moves the London club made. Spurs also swapped defenders with Charlton, sending Chris Perry to the Valley on a month's loan while landing England under-21 international Paul Konchesky for the same period.

Portsmouth also signed striker Jason Roberts from first-division West Brom on loan.
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