Deadline day: Barça's wonderkid and the big sagas

The Barcelona signing everyone will be watching

Mikael Baza is 16, he's from Hamburg, and he's now heading to Barcelona's academy. That's the kind of move that gets filed under 'wonderkid to watch' and then, four years later, everyone pretends they knew all along. Barcelona have a track record of pulling these off, and Baza arrives with a reputation that clearly convinced the club's scouts this was worth moving on before anyone else did.

For Hamburg, it's the kind of departure that stings quietly. A homegrown teenager heading to one of the biggest clubs in the world before he's played a senior minute is a familiar story in European football, but it doesn't get easier to absorb.

The loan market ticking over

At the other end of the scale, Manchester United youngster Jayce Fitzgerald is joining Rotherham United on loan, with Rotherham having confirmed the deal. Exactly the kind of move that deadline day is built on: a young player who needs minutes, a Championship club who needs bodies, a deal that gets done without much fuss. United have been active in shifting fringe players out on loan this window, and Fitzgerald's move to Rotherham fits that pattern.

Gakpo and Balogun

The Guardian's live blog has flagged Cody Gakpo and Folarin Balogun as names to follow as the day develops. Neither deal has been confirmed at the time of writing, and the details are still thin. Both players have been linked with moves throughout the window, and deadline day has a habit of resolving exactly these kinds of drawn-out situations.

Gakpo's situation at Liverpool has been the subject of speculation for weeks. Balogun, meanwhile, has had no shortage of reported suitors. The window closes tonight, and both situations remain live.