Top Summer Transfers in European Football
The summer transfer window has seen some major moves in European football, with clubs across the continent splashing the cash to strengthen their squads. While the focus has often been on the Premier League, several headline deals have taken place outside of England. Let’s take a closer look at some of the standout signings from this summer.
Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart – Borussia Dortmund)
Striker Serhou Guirassy’s move from Stuttgart to Borussia Dortmund has gone somewhat under the radar. Despite being overshadowed by Harry Kane’s goal-scoring exploits at Bayern Munich, Guirassy had an incredible season, scoring 28 goals in 28 Bundesliga games. His remarkable goal haul helped Stuttgart secure a place in the Champions League, and he finished second to Kane in the European Golden Shoe race. Only Kane, Robert Lewandowski, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have scored more goals than Guirassy in a Bundesliga season since 2012.
Robin le Normand (Real Sociedad – Atletico Madrid)
Centre-back Robin le Normand has made a move from Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid. The Spanish-born player, who gained citizenship in 2023, played a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph. He played 221 times for Real Sociedad and helped them win the 2019-20 Copa del Rey. Atletico Madrid secured his services for a fee of around £29m, following the departure of Stefan Savic.
Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa – Juventus)
Juventus made a significant signing by bringing in midfielder Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa for £42.35m. Luiz, who represented Brazil in the Copa America, played 204 times for Aston Villa and scored 22 goals. He is known for his ability to score directly from corners. His girlfriend, Alisha Lehmann, also made the move from Villa to Juventus’s women’s team. Juventus also signed Khephren Thuram from Nice and France for nearly £17m.
Kylian Mbappe (Paris St-Germain – Real Madrid)
The biggest transfer of the summer saw Kylian Mbappe move from Paris St-Germain to Real Madrid on a free transfer. Mbappe, PSG’s all-time top goalscorer, scored an impressive 256 goals in seven years at the club. He has also been prolific on the international stage, scoring 48 goals for France and winning the 2018 World Cup. Despite being a step up from Ligue 1 to La Liga, Mbappe has shown his ability to score against elite opposition, having netted 48 goals in the Champions League. His move to Real Madrid comes with a lucrative contract, earning him £12.8m per season, plus a signing-on bonus and percentage of image rights.
Georges Mikautadze (Metz – Lyon)
Georges Mikautadze’s stock rose this summer after sharing the Euro 2024 Golden Boot with three other players. Lyon paid an initial fee of £15.6m to sign him from Metz. Mikautadze, who was born in Lyon to Georgian parents, returns to his hometown club after a back and forth year. Lyon has been busy in the transfer market, also recruiting Moussa Niakhate and Orel Mangala from Nottingham Forest, Said Benrahma from West Ham, and Ernest Nuamah from Molenbeek.
Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid – AC Milan)
Spanish striker Alvaro Morata has moved from Atletico Madrid to AC Milan after leading Spain to Euro 2024 glory as captain. Milan paid his reported £11m release clause to secure his services. Morata, who has won trophies with Real Madrid and Chelsea, had his best goal-scoring season at Atletico, scoring 21 goals. His arrival at Milan fills the void left by Olivier Giroud’s departure.
Michael Olise (Crystal Palace – Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich made a significant investment by signing Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise for £50m. The 22-year-old becomes Bayern’s fourth most expensive signing. Olise had an impressive season at Palace, scoring 10 goals and providing numerous assists. He will be looking to form a strong partnership with Harry Kane and Jamal Musiala at Bayern.
Joao Palhinha (Fulham – Bayern Munich)
Bayern Munich strengthened their midfield by signing Joao Palhinha from Fulham. The Portuguese midfielder almost joined the club a year ago but the deal fell through. This time, Bayern secured his services for an initial fee of £42.3m. Palhinha made 79 appearances for Fulham, scoring eight goals and receiving 27 yellow cards.
Conclusion
These summer transfers have seen some big names move to new clubs across Europe. From the goal-scoring exploits of Serhou Guirassy and Kylian Mbappe to the defensive reinforcements of Robin le Normand and Joao Palhinha, these signings are set to make a significant impact in their respective teams. The transfer market is always an exciting time for football fans, and it will be intriguing to see how these new signings perform in the upcoming season.