COVID-19 pandemic may have sabotaged many businesses but it did not stop major clubs from spending big on player signings. English Premier League alone spent over 1.1 billion GBP on football transfers this season. While having its ups and downs, it has been the most exciting transfer window in a long time. Many have moved to new teams with new challenges while others have returned to their past teams. Overall, it is a treat for fans who are looking forward to how these players will fare with their new teammates.
Football Transfers this Summer Are Unforgettable
The busy transfer window not only saw the shocking transfers of Ronaldo and Messi but many teams managed to get their hands on the most wanted players. Unfortunately, the last-minute attempt from Real Madrid to sign PSG’s Kylian Mbappe failed but the ones that happened are already blockbusters.
Here are 10 football transfers this summer that football fans just cannot get over.
Jack Grealish – 117.5 million Euros
Even though Manchester City required a full-fledged striker after the end of Sergio Aguero’s decade-old run, it went for a winger. Jack Grealish has been a sensation in Aston Villa for over 11 years. City acquired him for a stunning 117.5 million Euros; the highest purchase in the club’s history. Though it’s not clear how City will make a position for Jack among the superstars like Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden, and Riyad Mahrez. Fans have criticized if the club really needed him when they were short of center forwards.
On the other hand, Aston Villa has made history by making a record sale crossing the 100 million mark. It is the highest ever transfer in the English Premier League (EPL). Villa has been spending the money wisely, procuring Emi Buendia from Norwich City for 38 million Euros, Leon Baily from Bayer Leverkusen for 35 million Euros, and Danny Ings from Southampton for 29 million Euros.
Romelu Lukaku – 115 million Euros
Another record transfer for the EPL was Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan to Chelsea for 115 million Euros. The Belgian has returned to Chelsea after 7 years from the time when he did not seem to fit in the squad. However, he is not the same young boy anymore. In World Cup 2018, Lukaku became Belgium’s highest goal scorer ever.
Antoine Griezmann – Loan
A nightmare for Barcelona has turned into an incredible opportunity for Atletico Madrid. Barca signed Griezmann from Atletico in 2019 for 120 million euros only to loan him back for 10 million euros with an obligation to sign him permanently for 40 million euros. It will help Barca in paying off some bills but in the long run, it benefits Atletico more. They have not only got their best player back but also weakened their rivals. The Catalans are surely to struggle after the exit of Messi and Griezmann.
Lionel Messi – Free
Leo’s exit from Barcelona was inevitable for a long time. It was just a matter of time and now that time has come. PSG arguably got the best deal than any other club. They got the best player in the world for free and created a deadly trio in front of goal (Neymar, Mbappe, Messi) to annoy their rivals.
Messi’s exit was controversial but necessary as Barcelona’s finances were in a deep mess. Fans have criticized the club for letting Messi go for free when they had numerous opportunities in the past to make big money out of him.
Cristiano Ronaldo – 15 million Euros
Cristiano Ronaldo also found his way back to Manchester United after being discontent at Juventus. For the first time ever CR7 was happy with being substituted in a match against Inter Milan on 15th March. Normally he expresses his frustration with substitution with body language but that time he was perfectly fine. Ronaldo’s future with Juventus instantly became a subject of speculation when he seemed happy and smiling for getting substituted.
His move has been the shocking one among all the football transfers this season especially after many fans expected him to renew his 4-year contract with Juventus. The player arrived in Italy for 100 million Euros from Real Madrid in 2018. Now the 36-year-old has returned to Man U after 12 years on 2 years contract with an extension clause.
Raphael Varane – 41 million Euros
Manchester United also managed to sign Raphael Varane from Real Madrid for 41 million euros. The Center-back was a World Cup winner, and also won 3 La Liga titles, and 4 Champions League in his 10 years stay with Madrid. Man U was pursuing Varane for a long time and it seems like Madrid finally gave in. Rumor has it that Madrid was piling up cash to finally bring Mbappe at Santiago Bernabeu but the Frenchmen will reportedly stay in PSG till next summer at least. However, now that Sergio Ramos has also gone, Madrid’s defense could face difficult challenges.
David Alaba – Free
Real Madrid has filled one defensive position with David Alaba after the Austrian player refused to sign another contract with Bayern Munich. It was a free transfer and Madrid paid a 17.7 million Euro signing bonus to Alaba and 6.3 million euros to his father. Alaba is a natural replacement for Ramos or Varane who can also play in several positions.
Jadon Sancho – 85 million Euros
Sancho emerged as another powerful addition to the Manchester United team in football transfers this summer. Dortmund signed him in 2017 for only 8.7 million Euros and 4 years later his value became 85 million Euros. According to reports, the German club demanded 120 million Euros for the winger but financial pressures may have forced them to accept a lower deal.
No worries for The Red Devils because they have made a staggering statement to their rivals in the EPL through football transfers this summer.
Gianluigi Donarumma – Free
Besides signing the best footballer, PSG already secured the services of the best young goalkeeper in the world, Gianluigi Donarumma. And that also for free as his contract with AC Milan was expired and he became a free agent.
Sergio Ramos – Free
Hundreds of memes came out on the internet after two rivals, Messi and Ramos became teammates at PSG. Ramos also came on a free transfer for a 2-year contract. Reportedly, his salary per season is the same as it was in Real Madrid i.e., 12 million Euros net. He still banters with his Madrid teammates and hopes to see them at PSG vs Real Madrid games in Champions League.
