[TRANSFER WATCH] Europe's summer transfer market ended with a whimper, not a bang. There were few major transfers on the final day of activity because the market closed Tuesday afternoon. Most of the activity was in England, where several moves were of interest to several Americans.

Tim Howard got help for the backline in from of him at Everton, which signed Dutch defender Johnny Heitinga from Atletico Madrid for $9.6 million. Last week Frenchman Sylvain Distin signed with the Toffees from Portsmouth. Everton's defense needed reinforcements after Joleon Lescott left for Manchester City and Phil Jagielka out until November with a knee injury.

Aston Villa, whose goalies are American Brad Friedel and Brad Guzan, signed Wales defender James Collins from West Ham for $8 million.

Fulham's late signing of Swedish striker David Elm to a one-year deal from Kalmar FF could jeopardize Eddie Johnson's chances of regaining a spot in the Cottagers' rotation up front. After a strong preseason, Johnson, who spent last season on loan to Cardiff City, saw his first action for Fulham Saturday in a 2-0 loss at Villa.

Zimbabwean veteran Benjani Mwaruwari will join Jozy Altidore on the Hull City frontline after a deal was struck to sign him from Manchester City. The Tigers' third striker, Algerian Kamel Ghilas, is also in his first season at the KC Stadium.

Other major EPL moves:

-- Portsmouth signed Watford defender Mike Williamson for $4.8 million, Israeli defender Tal Ben Haim on a free transfer from Manchester City and Algerian midfielder Hassan Yebda on loan from Benfica.

-- Stoke City signed Uruguay midfielder Diego Arismendi from Nacional for $5 million and defender Danny Collins from Sunderland for $4.4 million

-- Loan deals sent Croatia striker Ivan Klasnic from French second division club Nantes to Bolton, Finland midfielder Teemu Tainio from Sunderland to Birmingham.

-- West Ham and Italian club Fiorentina exchanged players with Ugandan-German forward Savio Nsereko headed to Italy, and center back Manuel Da Costa, born in France to a Portuguese father and Moroccan mother, moving to London.