Hot on the heels of announcing the signing of Jermain Defoe from Sunderland, AFC Bournemouth have confirmed another major transfer.
Dutch international Nathan Ake, who spent the first part of last season on loan at the club, has returned on a permanent basis from Chelsea.
The Premier League champions are reported to have received £20m for the 22-year-old, a fee that surpasses the south coast club’s previous transfer record – a £15m deal for Jordan Ibe.
As is the done thing these days, Bournemouth’s social media accounts hinted that they were on the brink of announcing a new signing before official confirmation arrived.
First came this…
👀#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/gtUWEDzIPV
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) June 30, 2017
Then, this…
😊#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/SoYoe5Pxgs
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) June 30, 2017
Clearly, those that saw the tweets had absolutely no idea who the mystery new signing could possibly be.
Wow who is that
— 🇷🇺🇵🇸🇮🇱 (@elmuroo7) June 30, 2017
With very little to go at, they set about guessing…
Some were on the right lines, suggesting the new arrival might have been someone who spent last season on loan at the club…
https://twitter.com/Midnight_Ranter/status/880688733930082304
Whereas others were well off the scent…
Is that john cena?
— happy real madrid fan (@chavandowski) June 30, 2017
https://twitter.com/tobinho4real/status/880699819026731008
Others believed the player’s distinctive hairstyle gave away his identity…
https://twitter.com/RvanL/status/880683955376320515
https://twitter.com/HenryBrunsden/status/880684959245230082
https://twitter.com/Sky_Blue_Ian/status/880686201224794112
Tommy from tots tv?
— Tom (C)lark (@Clarkeyboy12345) June 30, 2017
Although to others it might have appeared obvious, some fans refused to believe it could possibly be Ake…
https://twitter.com/RedAndBlackTV_/status/880681865392402433
Thankfully, a further tweet soon put everyone out of their misery.
🙌 We've completed the signing of 🇳🇱 international @NathanAke for a club record fee from @ChelseaFC!
➡ https://t.co/Z9BJmioJmB#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/PBIkaw1Gmi
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) June 30, 2017
😊#afcb 🍒 pic.twitter.com/SoYoe5Pxgs
— AFC Bournemouth 🍒 (@afcbournemouth) June 30, 2017