The summer transfer window has closed its doors in most major leagues, and has been punctuated by many transfers but few crazy sums. The biggest coup is obviously the signing of Mbappé at Real Madrid, but without other prestigious transfers.
Like the “free” arrival of Kylian Mbappé at Real Madrid, the European transfer window was lively but few crazy sums were spent, while Saudi Arabia still made some great catches.
Spain: Real bets big on Mbappé, Barça cuts fat
In Spain, the summer attraction was obviously the signing of Kylian Mbappé by Real Madrid, after seven seasons at Paris Saint-Germain. While Real did not have to pay compensation for a player at the end of his contract, the French world champion will cost them 15 million euros in annual net salary and a signing bonus of over 100 million.
Real’s great rival, Barcelona, still in a critical financial situation, underwent a massive downsizing with 13 departures. This allowed them to bring back to the fold the Spanish revelation of Euro 2024, Dani Olmo, trained at La Masia but left to shine as a pro at Dinamo Zagreb then at RB Leipzig, for 55 million euros.
Antoine Griezmann’s Atlético have strengthened with the Argentinian striker Julian Alvarez and Norwegian Alexander Sorloth, the Franco-Spanish defender Robin Le Normand, the French international Clément Lenglet (on loan) and the English midfielder Conor Gallagher. Real Sociedad have also strengthened well, with the arrivals of Sergio Gomez, Nayef Aguerd, Orri Oskarsson and Luka Sucic.
England: Chelsea the great entertainer
Chelsea have once again won the prize for the most expensive transfer window with over £200 million (around €240 million) to attract a dozen players, including Pedro Neto and Joao Felix, while perhaps waiting for the arrival of Jadon Sancho from Manchester United. The Londoners have sold Romelu Lukaku to Napoli and have also re-housed Raheem Sterling on loan at Arsenal.
Brighton, abandoned by its coach Roberto De Zerbi, seduced by Olympique de Marseille, has also increased its arrivals, including that of the Frenchman Georginio Rutter (Leeds), as has West Ham with Jean-Clair Todibo, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Carlos Soler and Niclas Füllkrug.
Conversely, the reigning champion Manchester City was content to buy Savinho and bring back his ex-captain Ilkay Gündogan, while letting Julian Alvarez go to Spain and Joao Cancelo to Saudi Arabia. For its part, Arsenal, in addition to the loan of Sterling, proceeded in small steps by recruiting in defense (Riccardo Calafiori) and in midfield (Mikel Merino). Liverpool only offered one recruit to the new coach Arne Slot, the Italian winger Federico Chiesa (Juventus).
Italy: Juventus and Naples in force
After a disappointing 2023-24 season, Juventus Turin has entrusted Thiago Motta with a deeply revamped squad, including the most expensive transfer in Serie A, for Brazilian international Douglas Luiz, from Aston Villa (€51.5 million). Juve has also recruited Képhren Thuram, Teun Koopmeiners and Pierre Kalulu for a bill that will easily exceed €100 million, just like Naples, tenth last year, who recruited Alessandro Buongiorno, for Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) and Scott McTominay (Manchester United).
Napoli had hoped to partially offset the outlay by selling Nigerian Victor Osimhen to Saudi side Al Ahli for over €75m, but the deal has stalled as the Jeddah club appear close to reaching an agreement with Brentford to sign England international striker Ivan Toney.
AC Milan seemed almost reasonable with 20 million euros for Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), 15 million euros for Emerson Royal (Tottenham) or 13 million euros for the captain of the Spanish European champions Alvaro Morata (Atlético). Inter, the reigning champion, kept a low profile with the signings of Piotr Zelisnki (Napoli) and Mehdi Taremi (Porto), at the end of their contracts.
Germany: Olise to Bayern, Guirassy to Dortmund
Far from the hustle and bustle of the 2023 summer transfer window and the arrival of Harry Kane at Bayern for more than 100 million euros, the summer was quiet in Germany. Michael Olise, from Crystal Palace, joined Munich for the most expensive operation in the championship (53 million euros).
For his part, Serhou Guirassy, second best scorer in the Bundesliga last year (28 goals), joined Dortmund for 18 million euros even though he is recovering from a knee injury discovered during the medical.
France: Marseille turns everything upside down
In a Ligue 1 with dry bread after the drop in TV broadcasting rights, Marseille has multiplied its signings with the English striker Mason Greenwood, the Argentinian goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli, the Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg or the French Elye Wahi and Neal Maupay. To put all this into music, OM recruited the Italian Roberto De Zerbi with a flattering reputation as a follower of the beautiful game.
A major upheaval that makes the Paris SG transfer window, despite the arrivals of Joao Neves for 70 million euros or Désiré Doué for 65 million euros, bonuses included, almost reasonable, especially after having been deserted by its last huge star, Kylian Mbappé.
