There will be plenty of movement before the window closes, but here are the top 10 transfers of the summer so far.
Aurelien Tchouameni | Monaco to Real Madrid – £68.3m
Real fended off intense Premier League interest from Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United by offering Monaco a package potentially worth £85.3million. PSG were keen too but they backed away when it became clear that the 22-year-old was only interested in Real. Monaco stand to make a profit just shy of £70million, having bought Tchouameni from Bordeaux for £16million in January 2020.
Darwin Nunez | Benfica to Liverpool – £64m
Liverpool moved decisively for last season’s top scorer in the Portuguese league by agreeing to a deal that could rise to €100million if Nunez triggers all the add-ons. The Reds will be liable for the first £12.8million worth of extra payments once Nunez has made 60 appearances, with £4.3million due after just 10 games. Once Nunez meets that 60-appearance threshold, he’ll become Liverpool’s most expensive player ever, before you even factor in the other £8.5million that is linked to individual and team performance.
Matthijs de Ligt | Juventus to Bayern Munich – £57m
Chelsea were chasing but ultimately De Ligt wanted to play for Bayern Munich and Chelsea had to gracefully bow out. They may yet make this list by buying Jules Kounde
Erling Haaland | Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City – £51m
City have got a bargain thanks to Mino Raiola arranging a clause in Haaland’s Dortmund contract that made him available for £51million this summer. But the champions’ bill for Haaland will reportedly come to a total £85.5million when you factor in representatives’ fees – Alfie stands to trouser a few quid – and other costs.
Richarlison | Everton to Tottenham – £50m
The Toffees took what Spurs were offering to get the deal done in time to be included in last season’s accounts. Watford could also pocket around £2million having inserted a sell-on clause when they sold the Brazilian in 2018.
Raphinha | Leeds to Barcelona – £49m
The Brazilian has been quite clear all summer that Barca was his preferred destination, despite intense interest from Chelsea and Arsenal. Thankfully for the winger, Barca have somehow mustered up enough cash to pay a hefty amount up front. Frenkie De Jong wants answers.
Lisandro Martinez | Ajax to Manchester United – £48.5m
The Butcher of Amsterdam will become the smallest centre-back in the Premier League – not that a lack of height stopped this lot. Erik ten Hag reportedly opted for Martinez over the board’s recommendation of Pau Torres, who just wasn’t Ajax enough.
Raheem Sterling | Manchester City to Chelsea – £47.5m
Chelsea are very pleased with themselves for taking Sterling from City, but it also represents good business on behalf of the champions, who’ve basically got their money back for the winger despite him having only a year remaining on his deal.
Gabriel Jesus | Manchester City to Arsenal – £45m
City also got top whack for another player a year from free agency, one who was by no means guaranteed a place in Pep Guardiola’s team. Jesus struggled to be a regular last season when City had no strikers, so the arrivals of Haaland and Julian Alvarez would have restricted his playing time even further. But Arsenal are delighted with the deal, so everyone is happy. Which is nice.
Gleison Bremer | Torino to Juventus – £42.8m
Juve replaced De Ligt with the Brazilian centre-back while pocketing a difference potentially worth £20million. It’s great business too for Torino. When Liverpool were linked with Bremer in 2020/21, the defender was reportedly available for around £6million. Even in the spring, towards the end of a season in which he was named Serie A Defender of the year, the prices being touted were around the £20-25million mark.
