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John Molyneux Carter, Senior Editor
Once again, despite the global financial crisis, men’s football clubs across Europe spent an incredible amount of money signing players in January, and this summer could be no different.
In fact, clubs spent a record $1.57bn (£1.27bn) on transfers in the January transfer window, according to FIFA, with the Premier League doing most of the heavy work itself at 57.3% of the total. But with two giants in the game Cristiano Ronaldo (victory) f Lionel Messi (Inter Miami) are now taking their career outside of Europe, who will go up?
Some big deals have already been agreed before the various transfer windows open. Here are the scores for all the major summer transfers in the men’s game, with each ranked in order of highest fee.
All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk
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July 5th
Inter Miami: A+
When the secondary MLS window opens on July 5, Messi will be an Inter Miami player. It sounds incredible, but the 35-year-old GOAT has made it clear why he doesn’t want to return to Barcelona or head to Saudi Arabia after leaving PSG this summer. America is a new challenge and he will enjoy it. It was a complicated deal, but David Beckham-owned Miami did it with a little help!
Inter Miami: A-
He plays
2:07
Is Jude Bellingham a guaranteed starting player in Real Madrid?
After signing for $110m, Alex Kirkland is eyeing what a potential starting XI at Real Madrid next season might look like.
July 1st
Dortmund: C+
Real Madrid: A+
Well, Dortmund signed him for 30 million euros and made huge profits in three years as he became one of the best midfielders. But the fee still seems small for a 19-year-old with such potential. An extra clause of 30% brings the total outlay to just €134m, which puts him fifth on the all-time list. Dortmund could certainly have earned at least a starting fee of around €120m, with add-ons of up to €150m.
A great deal for Madrid, who beat Man City, Liverpool and every other big club in Europe. Their midfield is primed for the next decade, and they’ve got a generational talent who is sure to become a world-class star in LaLiga.
RB Leipzig: B+
Chelsea: A-
Leipzig did what they did best: sign a player for cheap wages and transfer him for a huge profit. Nkunku reportedly had a release clause in his contract, so that’s the fee Leipzig got. But they signed him for just €13m from Paris Saint-Germain in 2019 and turned him into a superstar.
Nkunku is not the No. 9 striker that Chelsea desperately needs, but he is a fine agent up front who can fill a number of positions. His 23 goals in 36 games last season show he can hit the net and is a more capable replacement for Kai Havertz should he leave for Arsenal. Although this deal was agreed upon as early as last September.
Pedro Burrow
€45m (£39.5m, $48.7m)
Sporting Lisbon: a
Tottenham: B+
Sporting fired Boro’s €8.5m release clause after a two-year loan from Manchester City last summer and have now made huge profits, sticking to their new €45m release clause. It’s a classic piece of work from one of the best clubs in the transfer market.
Tottenham have spent a lot to sign the 23-year-old right-back, having been on loan since January, but a little advance planning could have avoided such a big outlay. However, he has impressed as the season continues and should do well under Ange Postecoglou.
FC Salzburg: b
Leipzig: A-
Salzburg is a nourishing club. They sign young talent, then take them to Leipzig for a bigger fee when they impress. Sisko’s 18 goals in 41 appearances have shown the teenage striker is capable and has the potential to go far.
Leipzig confirmed that deal was finalized last year, with Man United and others moving in. It’s a good move and the 20-year-old should settle in nicely given the similarities between the two clubs.
Espanyol: D-
Real Madrid: a
For some reason, Espanyol included a clause in Joselo’s contract that would allow him to go on loan to another club if relegated. Then they landed. Now they have lost their top scorer and have no transfer fee to make up for his departure.
The 33-year-old striker played for Real Madrid Castilla from 2010 to 2012, so this is a dream move for him. Having scored 16 goals in LaLiga last season, he will help fill the void left by the departures of Mariano and Karim Benzema without any financial outlay. A great deal for a man in good shape, and Madrid have the option to make it permanent.
Union: A +
amazing. No one expected the 35-year-old Benzema to leave Real Madrid on a free transfer and head to Saudi Arabia. But the financial talks, and it was clear his €400m two-year deal was a major factor. It was one thing for Cristiano Ronaldo to move into La Liga at the age of 37, but Benzema is the Ballon d’Or holder. That’s huge!
Union: A-
He plays
0:42
Why was it logical for Gundogan to leave Manchester City to Barcelona?
Julian Laurens and Nedum Onuoha discuss Ilkay Gundogan’s decision to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
Barcelona: a
Man City would be foolish to leave Gundogan, their captain and captain, without payment. Just look at the impact he made in midfield, scoring important goals in the final weeks of the season to help them win the treble. Barcelona needs goals and experience from midfield, and now there are few better players in this position in world football. Yes, he’s 32, but the Germany international will make a huge impact in LaLiga over the next few years and boost Barcelona’s dressing room as well.
Aston Villa: B+
Given the number of top clubs linked to the Belgium international once Leicester fell, Villa did a very good job of hurling him. At 26, Tielemans still has some development potential and was one of Leicester’s best players before he struggled this season. Villa is a good team for him to continue his career.
June 30
Villarreal: A-
Chelsea: B+
With 12 goals from 26 appearances in his stellar LaLiga season, Jackson quickly rose to prominence. Villarreal could be happy with the 22-year-old Senegalese international’s fee and could use him to rebuild.
Chelsea were looking for the No. 9 striker and now they have a player who can catch the ball and run behind defenders. He’s still learning the game, so don’t expect fireworks right away, but the Blues are used to potential gambling.
June 28
Chelsea: A-
Arsenal: b
Chelsea have almost made back the fee Leverkusen paid to sign Havertz in 2020. That’s a pretty good job considering they’ve already signed his replacement in Christopher Nkunku for €60m.
this is difficult. On the face of it, Arsenal’s need for a player like Havertz isn’t obvious. He’s not really a striker, and Arsenal have a lot of really good attacking midfielders. But manager Mikel Arteta clearly has a plan, and the Germany international’s versatility will help. Still, that’s a lot of money (plus another £5m in add-ons) to spend on a man who has just 32 goals in 139 appearances.
Lester: b
Tottenham: A-
His 10 goals and assists in 30 games last season, despite Leicester’s relegation, made him one of the best attacking midfielders in the Premier League. But Leicester could have gotten an extra £10m if they had let him join Newcastle a year earlier.
It’s a fair transfer fee for the 26-year-old England international, who could offer a lot going forward. His style of play should fit well under the guidance of coach Ange Postecoglou, and he can run down to the ground.
June 27th
Chelsea: C-
Man City:
Chelsea were forced to accept a lower fee in order to complete the deal by 30 June, thus making it count towards the first full tax year and helping comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules. Otherwise, they would have held out for £35m or more. The Blues have lost a quality player on the cheap.
City have done a good job snapping him up for a reported £25m, with the potential to add another £5m. The Croatia international is experienced, at 29, and has the ability to boost depth in Pep Guardiola’s side. A strong alternative to Gundogan.
June 25
Chelsea: D+
Crescent: B +
Chelsea spent £32m to sign the Senegalese international from Napoli last summer, and it just didn’t work out. The 32-year-old was brought in as a replacement for Antonio Rudiger but he struggled as the Blues suffered their worst season since 1994. They had to suffer a huge loss to move him and were lucky to find a Saudi suitor.
Coulibaly would be a fantastic addition to the backline and have no problem dealing with the kind of opposition he will be up against on a weekly basis, but you can’t help but feel that Al Hilal could have spent their money elsewhere. He won’t sell many tickets but he should help them keep a clean sheet.
June 23rd
Wolves: A+
Crescent: a
Given that it was clear that Neves would leave, Wolves did an incredible job of getting the Saudi club to pay £47m. There is no chance of any club in Europe (particularly Barcelona, who are most closely associated with) paying half that amount.
He plays
2:01
Robson: McAllister can do everything in Liverpool’s midfield
Stewart Robson explains why Alexis Mac Allister’s move to Liverpool is a win for everyone involved.
June 14th
Brighton: C-
Liverpool: B+
If you believe a lot of the reports after the World Cup, Brighton wouldn’t let the Argentine midfielder leave for less than £80m. However, he appears to have a release clause in his contract. Although Brighton could get another £20m in add-ons, it is a very cheap way to lose one of their best players.
Liverpool have made a bargain and can rebuild their midfield with McAllister. The 24-year-old was one of the best midfielders in the Premier League last season and should bring plenty to Jurgen Klopp’s side with his passing, creativity and pressing.
Watford: B-
Brighton: b
The Brazilian forward scored 11 goals in 35 Championship appearances last season, but it wasn’t enough to help Watford rise. Could the club have held out to get more money from a team like Newcastle? maybe. But Watford needed to let him go.
Brighton are experts in the transfer market so when they make a move it usually works out. This time, though, they paid the club’s registration fee. The 21-year-old is certainly an exciting prospect and his transfer could be worth double that amount within two years if he succeeds on the south coast.
