Men’s summer transfer grades: Man United get an F for Sancho loan

Premier League clubs spent over €2 billion during the summer transfer window, but it was still about 10% less than they did last summer. Yet there have been some really interesting deals.

Here, we look at some of the biggest, best and worst from around Europe.

All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.

Aug. 30

Paris Saint-Germain: A
Manchester United: B-

Ugarte to Man United counts as one of the summer’s longest-running sagas, and for the most part he should prove worth the wait. His single season at PSG raised a couple of questions about his qualities in possession — hence why possession-focused manager Luis Enrique was happy to move on from him fairly quickly — and those questions follow him to Old Trafford, but at least working with Erik ten Hag should suit his aggressive, athletic style. He’ll cover the ground they need him to in the middle.

PSG, meanwhile, have recouped much of their €60m outlay quickly (with another €10m due in add-ons) and cleanly on a transfer that didn’t work out for them. That can be difficult to do, so they earn good marks for that.

Brentford: C
Al Ahli: A

Toney was destined to leave Brentford this summer, but few would have predicted his next destination to be Saudi Arabia. But one by one, as Premier League clubs filled their striking vacancies over the course of the summer, Toney’s options reduced.

From Brentford’s perspective, it’s likely a relief to send Toney out of sight and out of mind, rather than to a fellow Premier League club, but it’s come at a cost: £40m is far less than they wanted or had hoped for. Al Ahli will be delighted; they’ve waited until the end and swept in to sign a great striker for a very reasonable fee.

Manchester United: A
Napoli: B

McTominay provided some glorious moments for the Old Trafford faithful, but since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer departed as manager, he has struggled to command a place in Manchester United’s first XI. The time feels right for a move.

Napoli fans are clearly very excited by the transfer — they came in droves to the airport to welcome him for his medical — and if Ruben Loftus-Cheek‘s success at AC Milan is anything to go by, Serie A should suit a midfielder of McTominay’s style.

Arsenal: A
Crystal Palace: C+

Nketiah is finally flying the nest. He’s been a useful squad player for Arsenal these past few years, but having failed to crack the first XI by age 25, he’s opted for a fresh challenge. Given he’s spent his entire career at a top club, but only as a bit-part player, it’s hard to forecast how he’ll adapt to a different environment.

His performances at Arsenal suggest he’s fast, a good finisher and a clever mover, but he lacks in other areas. Is that who Nketiah is, or is he about to blossom into much more? Palace are taking on that risk, so their grade is tempered; Arsenal get an A for moving on a player who isn’t good enough for them for a decent fee of £25m, with another £5m in add-ons.

Arsenal: B
Southampton: A

Southampton’s summer-long search for a goalkeeper has ended in a way they probably didn’t think possible. Signing Ramsdale is a bit of a coup for the club.

With starting goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu out with a torn Achilles, it was imperative that the newly promoted side recruited not only a good and experienced No. 1, but one that suited a possession style too. Ramsdale ticks all the boxes. Add-ons could see the deal reach £25m in total, which remains good value for Saints, but could also see Arsenal make their initial £24m outlay back in time.

Manchester United: F
Chelsea: A

It’s no surprise that Sancho departed Manchester United in the end — after all, he was left out of the first two Premier League squads of the season and had a huge falling out with Erik ten Hag last season — but the nature of this loan deal with an obligation to sign permanently next summer has taken many aback.

He was signed for €85m three years ago yet leaves Old Trafford having made fewer than 60 Premier League appearances for the club, for an eventual fee that is reported to be around the £25m (€29.7m) mark. Regardless of Sancho’s struggles at United, he has shown elsewhere that this is an extremely cheap fee for him.

Chelsea: D
Arsenal: A

Two weeks ago, right on the verge of the new season, Sterling was told by Chelsea that he was not in the club’s plans and that he wouldn’t play any football for them in the coming months. Given the costs associated — his weekly wage is reported to be north of £300,000 per week — the fact he’s managed to find a move in such a short space of time is remarkable, and he’ll be delighted to be joining a title challenge with Arsenal.

It’s hardly the solution Chelsea wanted, but it does delay the issue of Sterling’s future at Stamford Bridge for a year and cover off some of his wages.

Bournemouth: B
Arsenal: C-

Arsenal’s last-minute search for a backup goalkeeper to replace Ramsdale resulted in a loan for Neto. He’s spent most of his career as a backup for top clubs — the Gunners join a list containing Barcelona, Valencia, Fiorentina and Juventus — so he suits the role of understudy to No. 1 David Raya in principle. But as a tactical fit it makes little sense: He’s not a sweeping, aggressive goalkeeper in the Raya mould at all.

Nottingham Forest: C
Crystal Palace: A

It might not be a particularly glamorous move, but swapping Forest for Palace has moved Turner up from third choice to second choice at a Premier League club. That takes him closer to the action and potentially gives him cup games to play. It’s not ideal for him or the USMNT, but it’s a better situation than the one he left at Forest, who have stuck with Matz Sels as their No. 1 and signed a new backup in Carlos Miguel.

Palace will be delighted to take reliable, experienced cover in a cheap deal after they moved Sam Johnstone to Wolves for £10m.

Aug. 29

Chelsea: C-
Napoli: B+

Lukaku’s €115m grand return to Chelsea from Inter in 2021 ended in grand failure. He didn’t suit Thomas Tuchel’s style of play and was sent out to Italy on loan twice, and now moves there permanently.

All parties will be happy with this transfer, although only to varying degrees. The happiest will be Lukaku, who reunites with Antonio Conte in a league he loves; then comes Napoli, who are are getting a striker they can trust to do the business in Italy; then lastly Chelsea, who got a transfer fee back for him, but can’t escape the fact that spending such a huge amount three years was, in hindsight, a big mistake.

Juventus: C+
Liverpool: B+

Liverpool are taking a risk with Chiesa, but at this price it’s a risk well worth taking. Three years ago he looked like one of the most devastating wingers in world football, but an ACL injury completely derailed him. That led to a point where Juventus felt it was time to move on, but have had to wait all summer for a bite on the market. And £10m (plus £2.5m in add-ons) isn’t the price they were looking for.

As the team’s sixth attacker, Chiesa can take his time to get up to speed. There’s a chance it never happens for him, but if it does then the Reds will have gotten a bargain.

Chelsea: C
Bournemouth: B

Chelsea’s cohort of goalkeepers continues to thin out, as the world’s most expensive goalkeeper (he moved from Athletic Club in August 2018 for €80m) joins Bournemouth for a season-long loan. The Blues would likely have preferred a permanent deal as it’s clear he’s not in the club’s long-term plans, but a loan is better than nothing.

The Spain international seems slated to be the new No. 1 for the Cherries, as they’re well stocked in terms of goalkeeping numbers and had no need to pursue quantity given club captain Neto is set to move to Arsenal on loan.

Aug. 28

Atalanta: B
Juventus: B+

Juventus have had their hearts set on Koopmeiners for a long time and for good reason: He’s an excellent and extremely well-rounded midfielder capable of doing pretty much everything at a high level. His final act at Atalanta was to help win the Europa League.

He’ll suit Juve manager Thiago Motta’s possession style brilliantly, so while the fee is on the hefty side, his quality is clear and his tactical fit is strong too. Atalanta will miss him dearly and won’t be able to replace him like-for-like, but they’ve held firm for a good fee, essentially quadrupling their money after three great seasons.

Aug. 27

Real Sociedad: B-
Arsenal: A

Yet another Euro 2024 winner from Real Sociedad who earns a big move, Mikel Merino will be sorely missed. A €33m fee doesn’t feel particularly expensive for a player of his quality — but considering he only had one year left on his contract and thus their negotiating position was weak, the Basque club have at least recouped enough to replace him.

Arsenal should be delighted with another very quality addition to their team who looks likely to assimilate to Mikel Arteta’s style well. Merino is good at almost everything a midfielder needs to be good at and, at 28, should be arriving in his peak years.

Valencia: D
Liverpool: A

Mamardashvili emerged as one of the stars of Euro 2024, playing a pivotal role in a brave Georgia campaign that enchanted the world. His 11-save performance against Czechia in particular was sensational. His goalkeeping style — big build, incredible shot stopper, huge presence between the sticks, but with some work to do on his distribution — has attracted fair comparisons to Gianluigi Donnarumma.

So Liverpool have secured the best young goalkeeper in the world for about a third of the fee the elite players in this position tend to go for. It’s very cheap, it’s a great deal for the Reds, and it’s a quizzically poor deal for Valencia even if they do get to keep him on loan for one more season.

Manchester City: B
Al Hilal: A

Cancelo’s time in Manchester City limbo is over. After 18 months of loan spells with Bayern Munich and Barcelona, he becomes the latest star to swap Europe for Saudi Arabia.

A transfer fee of €25m isn’t much to pay for what is still one of the world’s best full-backs, so in terms of outlay this is a fantastic deal for Al Hilal. Cancelo joins a cluster of Portuguese-speaking stars there, including Neymar and Rúben Neves, so should jell quickly. For City, it’s closure — finally — and a chunk of money back, while he’s also unlikely to come back and haunt them if he’s no longer in Europe.

Aug. 26

Barcelona: F
Real Betis: A-

Vitor Roque’s January move to Barcelona was supposed to be a dream, but instead it turned into something closer resembling a nightmare. Eight months later, he’s joined Real Betis on a loan, with an option to extend that loan, plus an option to make him permanent.

In other words, Barça are happy to move on from him — just a year on from spending an initial €35m (plus some hefty possible add-ons) to land him. His exit won’t help alleviate their player registration concerns as the Brazilian wasn’t registered to begin with.

Real Betis are sorely lacking in numbers up front — they’ve started the season with a winger playing striker — so this is a fantastic move for them.

Barcelona: C+
Atlético Madrid: B

Atlético Madrid said goodbye to four centre-backs this summer, so it felt like a matter of time before they acquired some extra depth. Clément Lenglet is that depth. Loaning the Frenchman is a cheap, smart way to build out the squad and make sure they have enough cover.

Barcelona likely would have preferred to make it a permanent move — this is Lenglet’s third straight season out on loan, he hasn’t played for Barça since 2022 — but this is better than nothing, as he wouldn’t be registered to play in LaLiga anyway.

Aug. 23

Barcelona: D
Manchester City: A

It’s a bit of a shock to see Gündogan’s Barcelona adventure come to an end after just one year, but the club once again find themselves under financial pressure, and it’s been reported that the German’s exit takes them a step closer to being able to register new signing Dani Olmo to play.

So while there’s logic in allowing him to depart for free, the fact remains they’re losing an incredible player for nothing, in part due to their own mismanagement; that results in a low grade. Meanwhile, Manchester City are all too happy to welcome the 33-year-old back with open arms, bagging an easy A for their efforts.

Aug. 21

Atlético Madrid: C+
Chelsea: B

Félix’s awkward stay at Atlético Madrid is finally over. Having spent the past 18 months out on loan, he can now start an official new chapter in a new, permanent home. He’s by far the biggest winner of this deal, with both Chelsea and Atleti having to make concessions to make it happen.

Chelsea have spent more on him than they had planned to spend on Samu Omorodion — whose deal to join the Blues collapsed — and there’s no obvious place for him in the XI, despite his clear quality. Meanwhile, Atleti have swallowed a big loss on a player they signed for more than €126m in 2019, but at least they got something.

Chelsea: D
Atlético Madrid: A

Chelsea’s near-total squad clearout continues with the exit of Gallagher — and this will hit some fans particularly hard. An academy product who often captained the club last season follows a plethora of homegrown talent out the door for a middling fee, which is representative of the fact his contract had just one year left on it.

The Blues’ loss is Atlético’s gain, though, and Gallagher looks a tremendous fit for Diego Simeone’s style of play: He’s a devilishly hard worker and has the technical quality to thrive at the top of LaLiga.

Aug. 20

Leeds United: A
Brighton & Hove Albion: B-

Rutter is a thrilling watch; he has this game-changing ability to power forward, shrugging off challenges as he heads towards goal, and it causes mayhem amongst the opponent’s ranks. The talent is obvious to anyone who watches him, but Brighton’s gamble here is that they can refine the edges of his game.

Just seven goals from 128 shots last season in the Championship was noted as a problem, and while his 15 assists certainly took the edge of any major concerns, Georginio remains an unpolished gem. For such a price, there’s a fair bit of risk in this deal for Brighton.

Aug. 17

Rennes: B-
Paris Saint-Germain: B+

PSG’s restyling as the home of the best French footballing talent continued with the signing of Doué, who broke out in a big way last season for Rennes. He scored four and assisted four in 1,626 league minutes, but far more impressive than that were his dribbling numbers: He ranked in the 99th percentile across Europe for successful take-ons and progressive carries, while he also ranked in the 95th percentile for shot-creating actions.

Either as a left winger or as a No. 10, he should thrive in the capital. Meanwhile, Rennes have been relatively fairly compensated for his talent.

Aug. 13

Bayern Munich: B-
Manchester United: A-

Ajax, Juventus, Bayern Munich and now Manchester United. Few are lucky enough to play for four superclubs, fewer still achieve it before the age of 25. De Ligt is bringing all of that experience to Old Trafford now and should form a strong partnership with Lisandro Martínez. They complement each other well: De Ligt is a brilliant box defender (if a little on the slow side), while Lisandro is snappy, aggressive and quick. The Dutchman will also be a great mentor for fellow summer arrival Leny Yoro.

For €45m plus €5m in add-ons, this feels like a shrewd deal for United. For Bayern, it’s definitely a loss on their €77m investment — although they are stacked at centre-back these days.

Liverpool: C+
Brentford: A

Carvalho was one of Liverpool’s standout pre-season performers, so it comes as something of a shock to see his excellent summer result in a transfer. That said, his path to the first XI is blocked by a glut of established stars, so if he’s ready to fly, it may well have to be elsewhere.

It’s a £20m deal that could rise to £27.5m with add-ons, which is good (but not great) compensation for a player whose ceiling is very high. Brentford will rightly be feeling very smug about this signing, especially given Carvalho is an academy graduate of their fierce local rivals Fulham.

Manchester United: C+
West Ham: A-

The time feels right for Wan-Bissaka to seek fresh adventure. After a rock-solid start to life at Manchester United following a £45m move from Crystal Palace in 2019, the right-back has steadily slipped down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag these last two years.

In signing him, West Ham are upgrading and now have a proven Premier League full-back in his prime (26). His one-on-one tackling is some of the best in the game, and while there are some shortcomings on the ball, the Hammers’ style will suit him a better than United’s.

Bayern Munich: B-
Manchester United: B+

Mazraoui follows De Ligt to United and becomes the fifth former Ajax player to sign for the club under Erik ten Hag. Is anyone sensing a theme here? A fee of €15m, plus another €5m in add-ons, is pocket change for Mazraoui, who has established himself not only as a good right-back in a possession system, but also very strong cover on the left flank too.

The only knock on his résumé is his injury record: He has missed 73 games since the start of the 2020-21 season for an assortment of different physical issues. That’s presumably why Bayern are happy to say goodbye.

Aug. 12

Manchester City: A-
Atlético Madrid: B

This is a blockbuster deal and a blockbuster fee, which could reach a whopping €95m with add-ons. Álvarez is intent on taking the next step in his career and moving for just shy of nine figures is certainly one way to do it. He’s an exceptional footballer who delivered 20 goals and assists combined in the Premier League last season, not only helping Erling Haaland up top for Manchester City but filling in ably for him too. Add that to his ferocious workrate and never-say-die attitude and it’s easy to see why Diego Simeone wants him.

City get a high grade as they’ve made a huge profit (from an initial €16m) on a player who isn’t necessarily an automatic starter for them. Atleti get a solid B, as the player suits the club and manager brilliantly, but it is an awful lot of money to lay down.

Tottenham: A
AC Milan: D

Milan’s two-month long pursuit of Emerson has finally concluded. The Rossoneri will pay €15m plus add-ons to sign the 25-year-old Brazilian.

It’s a slightly confusing move on paper, as while Milan could clearly benefit from some enhanced quality at right-back, Emerson may not be it. He struggled to assimilate into Ange Postecoglou’s attacking, possession-based style at Spurs, which does not bode well considering Milan manager Paulo Fonseca coaches similarly.

Aug. 11

Wolves: B-
Chelsea: B-

When fit, Pedro Neto has been torching Premier League defences for the past five years. His speed, dribbling ability and remarkable two-footedness makes him dangerous to even the very best in the business. The “when fit” part is pretty crucial, though. Had it not been for quite serious injury issues setting in — he’s missed 102 games since 2020 began — he likely would have been whisked away from Wolves far sooner.

Chelsea are taking a big risk here, one that other top clubs have shied away from, but there’s no denying the talent. Regardless of his injuries, it’s a big blow to Wolves, who have lost their best player — albeit for a handsome fee.

Aug. 10

AFC Bournemouth: A
Tottenham Hotspur: B-

A £55m initial fee, potentially rising to £65m, is big, big money for Dominic Solanke. It completes a long-awaited and circuitous route back to the top for him. He was a lethal finisher at youth level for Chelsea but struggled to show the same prowess at senior level until last season, when he bagged 19 Premier League goals for Bournemouth. That tally, in addition to his link-up play and work rate, made him one of the stars of the 2024-25 campaign.

For Spurs, it’s an expensive but logical addition, with Richarlison previously the club’s only senior player whose best position is at centre-forward. For the Cherries, it’s a club-record transfer made when Solanke’s stock is at its highest.

Aug. 9

RB Leipzig: A
Barcelona: B-

It felt inevitable that Barcelona would sign one of Spain’s Euro 2024 stars, and while the early summer signs pointed towards Nico Williams, it’s Olmo who has made the big move to Camp Nou.

A stunning former La Masia youth player, Olmo is capable of producing magic in the box and scoring decisive goals, and his ability to play as an attacking midfielder or out wide should mean he plays a sizable, varied role for Barça over the course of the season.

The one concern is his injury record. Olmo has missed at least 19, 20 and 29 games due to injury in each of the past three seasons respectively. As a result, he hasn’t been a core part of the RB Leipzig team, so banking €60m for this transfer earns them an A grade.

Eintracht Frankfurt: A
Paris Saint-Germain: B+

PSG have struggled with injuries at centre-back over the past year, so it’s no surprise to see them dip into the market for a fresh face. After missing out on Leny Yoro, who went to Manchester United, they’ve plumped for Copa América star Pacho. The Ecuador international had a brilliant single season for Eintracht Frankfurt; his busy, active, front-footed style of defending led to plenty of tackles and interceptions, he’s extremely quick and he can fill in at left-back in a pinch too.

For €40m plus a possible €5m in add-ons, this is a good investment by PSG, while Eintracht have more than quadrupled their money in the space of a year, having signed him for just €9m in 2023.

Aug. 5

Benfica: A
Paris Saint-Germain: B+

It wouldn’t be a transfer window without yet another incredibly talented Benfica youngster flying the nest; Neves, a superb central midfielder, is the next one off a frankly incredible production line. He may be diminutive in stature (5-foot-9), but he doesn’t play like it. He’s aggressive and tenacious and his leap is tremendous — as well as showcasing all the technical skills in tight spaces that top teams require, of course.

Naturally, Benfica secure a high grade here as they’ve not only earned a high fee, but they’ve negotiated the return of one of their own, Renato Sanches, in a linked deal on loan too. PSG come out looking pretty good too, as like with Leny Yoro, this is a young talent well worth betting big bucks on.

Borussia Dortmund: A
West Ham: B-

Füllkrug is another heartwarming story of a late bloomer finally finding his way to the top level. It was only a couple of years ago that the 31-year-old was playing the German second tier; now he’s scored for his country at Euro 2024, played in a Champions League final and made a big move to the Premier League.

West Ham badly needed a striker and Füllkrug has clear pedigree, but they’re marked down a little bit for paying a fairly significant fee and handing a four-year deal to player heading towards the end of his career. There’s a bit of risk there.

Dortmund, meanwhile, have doubled their money in the space of a year and replaced him with Serhou Guirassy for half the price. That’s A grade behaviour.

Paris Saint-Germain: A
RB Leipzig: A

Despite strong interest from Bayern Munich this summer, Simons has returned to Leipzig for a second campaign on loan. He racked up 19 total goal involvements in the Bundesliga last season, finishing joint-second for assists (11), and impressed many at Euro 2024 for Netherlands. If he takes another step forward in the 2024-25 campaign, he could be on for a truly sensational campaign.

Meanwhile, parent club PSG can sit back and watch him either grow into a player they can incorporate in 2025, or watch his transfer stock rise and rise. It’s a win-win.

Aug. 3

Real Sociedad: C
Atlético Madrid: A-

Le Normand is the second Euro 2024 winner to earn a notable move this summer, after Álvaro Morata, as he brings an eight-year stay with Real Sociedad to an end — and it feels like a bit of a steal. In the modern game, €34.5m for a prime age (27), hugely experienced and accomplished defender with a near-spotless injury record doesn’t seem like much at all. Atleti desperately needed to address this position having said goodbye to two senior centre-backs (Mario Hermoso, Stefan Savic) this summer, and this is an excellent fix.

La Real will struggle to replace his quality and overall impact like-for-like.

Villarreal: B+
Atlético Madrid: B-

In their attempts to replace Morata up front, Atlético kept things simple: They initially tried to sign LaLiga’s top scorer last season, Artem Dovbyk, who netted 24, and when that failed, went for Sørloth, who scored 23. It was the 28-year-old’s best campaign to date without a doubt, though concern does linger due to the fact he massively overperformed his xG (expected goals) by 10.7 — the highest in LaLiga by some margin.

Sørloth has never settled anywhere — Atleti will be his 11th club — so there is risk here that Villarreal are seemingly happy to cash in on.

Manchester City: B
Borussia Dortmund: A-

Dortmund said goodbye to a lot of full-back talent this summer, so bolstering this position with the addition of Couto makes a lot of sense, and they will land him on a permanent deal for €30m next year.

He’s been exceptional on loan at Girona and has emerged as a brilliant dribbling, creative right-sider. The fee is hefty by BVB’s standards, but by pushing the payment back to next year via an initial loan, subject to certain sporting conditions being met, they’re giving themselves enough room to continue spending this summer.

Couto never made an appearance for Man City in four years there, so it’s tough to say they’ll miss him, as talented as he is.

Aug. 2

Arsenal: B+
Fulham: B

It wasn’t supposed to end like this. There’s a reason Arsenal fans created a song jointly honouring Bukayo Saka and Smith Rowe: They were supposed to lead the club to glory, together. Sadly for Smith Rowe, injuries have heavily disrupted his past two seasons, resulting in just three Premier League starts. During that time, the Arsenal squad has evolved to the point that it’s left him behind to an extent.

Fulham are smart to pounce for a player who could yet reach the top level, but are gambling slightly on him proving his fitness — hence holding them back from an A grade.

Aug. 1

Brighton & Hove Albion: D
Borussia Dortmund: A

Brighton held out for as long as they could, but in the end accepted Groß’s wish to move on. In losing him, they not only lose the heartbeat of their midfield and passing game, but the player who provided the most Premier League goals and assists (14) in a Seagulls shirt last season.

The low fee is reflective of his age (33), but not of his ability: Groß was part of Germany’s Euro 2024 squad and stepped in effectively when needed. He’s an excellent addition to a Dortmund side looking to reshape under new manager Nuri Sahin.

July 31

Villarreal: B+
Chelsea: B-

The 2023-24 campaign saw Filip Jörgensen break out between the sticks for Villarreal, starting 36 league games and really heating up just before Christmas, which is when people started to take note of his skills.

Chelsea have decided they like what they see and haven’t had to part with too much money to secure his signature. His comfort on the ball will suit Enzo Maresca’s style, although the Blues now have an overspill of goalkeepers that must be sorted.

July 30

Juventus: C+
Roma: A

Matías Soulé was considered one of Juventus’ crown jewels and, while on loan at Frosinone last season, leapt to the fore in a breakout season that saw him hit double figures in goals from the right flank.

The fact they’ve decided to move on from him off the back of that has certainly raised a few eyebrows — especially when you consider they’ve sent him to an Italian rival. Roma’s gain is Juve’s loss; Soulé will very likely blossom in the capital.

July 29

Bologna: C+
Arsenal: A

From the moment Riccardo Calafiori set foot on the pitch at Euro 2024, his Bologna career was over; there was simply no way the elite clubs were going to pass up on what they were seeing.

It’s Arsenal who have got the deal over the line, and for €40m plus €5m in add-ons the fee looks pretty good for such a young, multi-talented defender who can do so many different things. It’s also important to understand he’s not simply a “tournament signing” — he had a phenomenal 2023-24 campaign in Serie A and has always boasted huge potential, but injuries previously held him back. Bologna will lose a sizable chunk of the fee to FC Basel due to a clause in the deal which took him to Italy 12 months ago, and they won’t come close to replacing his quality like-for-like in the market.

July 28

Como: B

Como are back in Serie A and offering one of the most glamorous market propositions going: Top-level football, managed by Cesc Fàbregas, living by the lake. As a result, experienced players are flocking there, with Raphaël Varane — who was released by Manchester United when his contract expired at the end of June — the latest to sign up.

The France international, now into his 14th professional season at the age of 31, may be past his peak (injuries have certainly played a part in that) but he can still produce dominant defensive displays. He’ll be a big influence as Como seek to stave off relegation.

July 24

Aston Villa: A
Al Ittihad: A-

Diaby’s time in the Premier League was short and (relatively) sweet. Villa did well to beat off competition from the Saudi Pro League to sign him last summer, but just one year on he’s made the move. The club should be satisfied with the chunky fee they’ve received, as it represents a small profit on the £45m they paid in 2023 and Diaby did not finish the season as a key player — despite a red-hot start to life in England.

The Saudi Pro League will also consider it a win, as it has attracted a renowned, prime-age (25) player to its growing project.

July 22

Everton: A
Aston Villa: B

A big signing, in more ways than one. Villa have paid through the nose to secure the 6-foot-6 Belgium international, who is one of the best young midfielders in England. A fee of £50m will create plenty of expectation, but not only is Onana proven at the top level, he’ll slot in alongside fellow Belgian Youri Tielemans, which should help.

Onana has particular strengths, such as aerial duels and box defending, which Villa are crying out for if they’re to move forward. It’s a loss of talent for Everton but it’s also a big fee and an opportunity to strengthen across the board.

Tottenham: B+
Marseille: B-

Spurs will be happy to get a decent fee for a player whose contract had just a year to run, as the loan contains an obligation to sign him permanently for €20m when it expires. Højbjerg didn’t seem to command the trust of Ange Postecoglou — he only made eight league starts in 2023-24 despite plenty of injury issues affecting the team — so it’s a smart play.

Marseille’s summer so far has seen them appoint a manager from Brighton (Roberto De Zerbi), sign a striker from Manchester United (Mason Greenwood), and now a midfielder from Tottenham. Usually it’s English clubs plucking talent from Ligue 1, so they’re really flipping the script. Højbjerg is a solid addition and a perfect professional. At 28, he’s got plenty left in the tank and will anchor the midfield well.

July 18

LENY YORO
€62m (£53.3m; $67.5m)

Lille: A
Manchester United: B+

Yoro is one of the finest young central defenders that football has seen in some time. At just 18 years old, there are some understandably rough edges to his game, but most who see him agree that we’re looking at a potential great.

Lille will be sad to lose him after only one full season, but with only one year left on his contract, they’re understandably willing to cash in while they can. Some are questioning Man United for paying a significant fee in order to sign someone who would be a free agent in 12 months, but the reality is that if they don’t buy him now, Yoro would be likely holding a Real Madrid shirt this time next year. It does hold them back from an A grade, though.

Atletico Madrid: D
AC Milan: A

He is perhaps the ultimate modern journeyman striker, and after captaining Spain to Euro 2024 victory, he embarks on yet another new adventure, this time with AC Milan.

The fee is a very small price to pay for a player whose goal-scoring record at the top level is more than proven, as is his mentality, work ethic and will to win. He even has strong Serie A experience, having won two titles with Juventus in the past.

Ultimately, Atlético Madrid‘s hand was forced — Milan activated a release clause — and they’ll have to part with a lot more money in order to sign his replacement.

Manchester United: B
Marseille: B

Once Manchester United decided Mason Greenwood would not be part of the club moving forward, their goal became simple: find a club willing to spend. All things considered, what they got from the French side isn’t bad going.

The loan to Getafe last season, in which he scored eight goals and provided six assists, was an excellent reminder of what he’s capable of and was enough to convince Marseille to take him on. He remains a very good footballer, so he should succeed in Ligue 1.

Hull City: C
Aston Villa: A-

Eleven months ago, Jaden Philogene left Aston Villa in search of first-team football despite greatly impressing on their preseason tour. Now, after one stellar campaign in the Championship, he’s back.

This price is a bargain for Villa: Ipswich Town had originally agreed an £18m deal, only for Villa to step in, turn his head and use the sell-on clause they negotiated last summer to get a discount. Hull will struggle to replace his quality like for like.

SÁVIO
€40m (£33.7m, $43.6m)

Troyes: A+
Manchester City: A

Sávio was the true breakout star of La Liga last season, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists and helping Girona into the Champions League. This blazing form came out of nowhere, as his previous campaign consisted of just eight substitute appearances for PSV Eindhoven split up by injury.

Manchester City have seen fit to move him across the CFG portfolio, from Troyes to Girona and now to the Premier League. Pep Guardiola will love his dynamism, burst and unselfish delivery, plus the fact he can operate on either flank without issue. Troyes will love the €40m fee; you’d imagine they can do a lot with that in the French third tier.

Metz: B+
Lyon: A

Georges Mikautadze was one of the surprise stars of Euro 2024, scoring three goals as Georgia made history and won admirers across the globe. He’s had a curious career so far, but in making this move, you get the impression he’s now firmly back on the track to the top.

Both clubs get a strong grade for the deal: Lyon must spend a small sum for a quality, young striker, while for Metz have essentially made a profit after signing him permanently from Ajax despite getting relegated from Ligue 1 last season, safe in the knowledge they’d be able to find him a new club just a few weeks later.

Stuttgart: D
Borussia Dortmund: A-

Serhou Guirassy set the Bundesliga ablaze last season with an incredible goal-scoring campaign, netting 28 from just 25 starts. Those are remarkable, Robert Lewandowski-type numbers. When it was revealed his release clause was a lowly €18m, it became a matter of time before he earned a move to one of Europe’s elite. Somewhat predictably, Dortmund have pounced.

The reason we’re holding this grade back from a full-blown A is that up until last season, Guirassy had never surpassed 11 league goals in a season; now, suddenly, at age 28, he’s scored 28. Is it a one-off? Or the new normal? There’s a very small amount of risk here, hence the minus.

July 14

Bologna: B
Manchester United: B

Zirkzee was once viewed as Robert Lewandowski’s heir at Bayern Munich, but things didn’t quite go to plan. Years later, after a long, circuitous route back to the top, he has signed for Man United after an impressive campaign helping Bologna into the Champions League.

Fans may need to be patient with the 23-year-old initially, as they did with Rasmus Højlund, because Zirkzee scored only nine non-penalty goals in Serie A last season. His real brilliance came in linking play, creating chances for others and pressing well.

A €42.5m fee isn’t much to stake on a good, young, still developing player — but the fact that Zirkzee hasn’t shown that killer instinct just yet holds him back from an A grade.

July 12

FC Basel: C
Chelsea: A-

Centre-back? Left-back? Defensive midfielder? Veiga is only 20, but so far he has flashed the ability to do all of the above to a strong level. That’s an impressive level of versatility for one still learning his trade.

The €14m fee is a small price to pay for such potential, with Veiga standing out as yet another example of Chelsea’s strong scouting at younger ages. Exactly how big his role will be to begin with is not clear, but he does profile well as an inverted full-back for new manager Enzo Maresca.

July 11

Fulham: C
Bayern Munich: B

Last summer, on deadline day, Bayern got Palhinha all the way to Munich, through a medical and even into a photo shoot in the kit … only for the €65m deal to then fall through. A year on, they’ve acted much earlier and sealed the deal; this time, they got their man even cheaper.

Palhinha has been incredible for Fulham: A duel-winning machine, a set-piece nuisance and a massive influence on midfield proceedings. He’s the best player to wear the shirt for some time and will be impossible to replace like-for-like. The fee is fine, but not quite standout. Bayern clearly see his qualities and, in signing him at age 28, must believe he can have a big impact on their team from the start.

July 10

Nice: B-
Juventus: B+

Juventus’ midfield is going to look very different in 2024-25, as Thuram follows hot on the heels of Douglas Luiz signing from Aston Villa. Thuram is a super-smooth midfielder with press-resistant qualities and who can glide through the middle of the park with ease. The issue last season was that he didn’t necessarily show these qualities often enough, which may explain why the fee comes fairly cheap.

Perhaps moving to the club his legendary father, Lillian, played for will inspire Khéphren and restore him back to his top level?

July 7

Crystal Palace: A
Bayern Munich: B

Harry Kane in 2023; Olise in 2024. Bayern are sensing opportunity in the English market in a way they rarely have before. They’ve plumped for Olise in an attempt to refresh their wing corps, no doubt swayed by the remarkable creative inventiveness and goal-scoring form the Frenchman finished the 2023-24 season in (four goals and three assists in his final six games).

From Palace’s perspective, it’s a massive fee — by far the largest in their history — and it’s always better to move players to a club on the continent, as there’s significantly less chance Olise will score and break local hearts on a return to Selhurst Park.

July 6

Atlanta United: B
Botafogo: B

Almada’s long-anticipated MLS exit has finally happened, although somewhat surprisingly, he hasn’t taken the step to Europe … yet.

In a curious deal, Almada has initially joined Botafogo with a view to joining French side Lyon later down the line, according to ESPN Brasil. Both clubs are owned by the same group, Eagle Football Holdings. Atlanta will be devastated to lose one of the league’s finest players but have at least earned a record MLS fee in return: $21m rising to a potential $29m with add-ons.

July 5

Monza: C
Juventus: A

It’s time for a new era between the sticks for Juventus. After seven years and over 250 appearances for the Old Lady, Wojciech Szczesny will move on to new things; in his place comes Di Gregorio, who has shot to prominence thanks to an incredible 2023-24 campaign with Monza.

Statistically speaking, he was the best shot-stopper in Serie A last season, conceding 10.4 fewer goals than expected based on the shots he faced. He also showcased true prowess with the ball at his feet, which is a quality new manager Thiago Motta will be extremely attracted to. All that for just €18m? It’s a brilliant deal for Juve.

July 4

Brentford: B-
Arsenal: B+

Arsenal made Raya’s loan deal permanent for £27m (plus £3m in add-ons) after an excellent 2023-24 campaign. He took little time to usurp Aaron Ramsdale and then never looked back, contributing strongly to the Premier League’s best defensive unit. The price they’ve ended up paying feels like it’s on the cheap side for a trusty, dependable No. 1, and it’s clear he has earned great faith from Mikel Arteta and the coaching staff.

There’s no risk to this deal whatsoever. The only thing holding it back from an A grade is that Raya still has a way to go before he can be considered one of the world’s best at his position, but at 28 there’s still room for him to grow.

July 2

Leeds United: A
Tottenham: B

Failure to get promoted back to the Premier League at the first time of asking comes with many costs, chief among them the loss of treasured players. To Leeds, Gray was not only a phenomenal prospect and player, but also family: His father (Frank) played for Leeds, while his uncle (Eddie) was a true Leeds great.

At the very least, he’s gone for a great fee, and £40m is no small sum to part with for Tottenham, but they’ll be rightly confident in Gray as a footballer. When you watch him, it becomes immediately apparent that the midfielder/right-back is highly intelligent and talented in so many ways; his confidence and positional versatility belie the fact that he’s still just 18.

Leicester City: D
Chelsea: B+

Dewsbury-Hall reunites with manager Enzo Maresca at Chelsea. They combined to guide Leicester City to promotion to the Premier League last season and will now combine at Stamford Bridge. It’s a solid addition for the Blues. Dewsbury-Hall is a good player who will help with the squad’s adaption to a very different new style — although he doesn’t solve any problem positions for Chelsea.

From Leicester’s perspective, though, they’ve not only lost arguably their best player upon promotion, but the fee seems pretty low compared to some of the other deals being struck around this time.

July 1

ENDRICK
€72m ($77.3m)

Palmeiras: A+
Real Madrid: A-

There are plenty in Brazil who believe that we’re looking at football’s next great No. 9 striker. And when Brazilians say that, you sit up and listen — they know a thing or two about what makes a goal scorer. Securing his signature early continues Real Madrid’s quest to hoover up all of the best Brazilian talent, with Endrick following in the recent footsteps of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. Though he can’t join officially until he turns 18 on July 21 because of FIFA regulations.

It’s a lot of money to spend on a teenager, but he’s quite experienced for his age, having clocked more than 50 top-level appearances in South America, and he’s off the mark for his nation too. Moving to Real Madrid is a huge step, but the evidence so far suggests he’ll take it in his stride.

Club Brugge: A
Brentford: B

Brentford are almost always one step ahead of the game, and in agreeing to sign Thiago well ahead of the transfer window they’ve prepared well for whatever may happen this summer with regard to the potential departures of Ivan Toney and Bryan Mbeumo.

Thiago was named Europa Conference League Young Player of the Season after scoring five goals for Club Brugge, showcasing strength, powerful shooting and a love for the rough-and-tumble side of forward play — which is a good sign when it comes to transitioning to the Premier League, as it’s a big step and nothing is guaranteed.

Palmeiras: A
West Ham: B

Endrick is not the only talented teenager from Palmeiras on the move this summer, as Luis Guilherme became an early statement signing for West Ham. He’s still fairly inexperienced at senior level (he has just five league starts to his name) but has shown flashes of great potential both off the bench for his club and for Brazil in youth tournaments.

His turn of pace is good, as is his control in tight spaces, but as ESPN’s South American expert Tim Vickery notes, he has work to do on his weaker right foot. This is both an exciting signing for the Hammers and yet another big transfer windfall for Palmeiras.

AC Milan: B
Atalanta: A

De Ketelaere’s €32m move to AC Milan from Club Brugge in 2022 simply did not work out, but at Atalanta he seems to have found a home. He made 25 league starts while on loan there last season, scoring 10 and assisting eight, plus he played a significant role in La Dea‘s Europa League win in May.

For Atalanta, making him a permanent fixture just makes sense; the fee is pretty reasonable for a 23-year-old attacking midfielder who they already know suits the team and manager. For Milan, there’s certainly some lost potential at play, but recouping a decent amount of the original fee allows them to strengthen other areas of the squad.

Stuttgart: B
Bayern Munich: A

Stuttgart’s rise to second place in the Bundesliga was one of the stories of the 2023-24 season, but even securing Champions League football hasn’t stopped the top teams moving for their top players.

It’s a blow for Stuttgart to lose such an important player; Ito was excellent in splitting his time between left-back and centre-back for a defence that conceded just 39 goals. No doubt that versatility and flexibility — along with the fact he’s left-footed — was key to Bayern’s interest. Only Benjamin Pavard (€35m) has left Stuttgart for a bigger fee in the club’s history, but even still, in this market, €30m might feel a touch low in their eyes.

Krasnodar: A
PSG: B

It can be tough for goalkeepers to earn top-level exposure when they’re young, but Safonov broke into Krasnodar’s first-team as a teenager in 2018 and never looked back. Now 25, he’s Russia’s No. 1, has more than 175 appearances under his belt and is ready for the next step.

PSG is a slightly odd landing spot, given the goalkeeping quality already present, but the capital club have never been shy about adding depth and quality in that position. Safonov will now battle Italy No. 1 Gianluigi Donnarumma and Spain’s Under-19 European Championship winner in Arnau Tenas for playing time; serial Champions League winner Keylor Navas will depart the club this summer.

Manchester City: A-
Southampton: A

Harwood-Bellis was a vital cog in Southampton’s successful charge to promotion in 2023-24, starting 43 games in the heart of defence and showcasing incredible poise and prowess on the ball. He quickly became key to a possession-based style that swept opponents away with ease.

Achieving promotion triggered a £20m clause for Saints to sign him permanently, and it’s a deal that perfectly suits all parties: Southampton have paid an acceptable fee for an excellent young English defender, Harwood-Bellis can finally test himself fully at Premier League level and Man City continue to make good money from allowing their academy players to leave, which is key to funding their spending.

Nordsjaelland: A
Brighton: B+

Over the past five years or so, FC Nordsjaelland have produced a litany of exciting young wingers who have all made big moves to top European clubs: Mohammed Kudus headed to Ajax (then West Ham), Ernest Nuamah signed for Lyon, Kamaldeen Sulemana moved to Rennes (then Southampton); and Osman is the next off the production line.

Brighton know exactly what they’re doing here, as two years ago they signed winger Simon Adingra from the Danish club and have now returned for Osman. He scored six goals and had seven assists in the Danish Superliga in 2023-24 and some of his goals were absolutely spectacular.

Schalke 04: C
RB Leipzig: A

Schalke have a rich history of producing fine footballers from their academy — Manuel Neuer, Leroy Sané and Mesut Özil spring to mind — and it looks like Ouédraogo could be the next to have developed there.

He was ripe for the picking thanks to Schalke’s struggles in the second division and a lowly €10m release clause, although there is a chance they’ll get him back on loan after a summer assessment. Leipzig have played the role Bayern Munich traditionally do here, swooping in early for top domestic talent in determined fashion.

Djurgårdens: A
Spurs: A

Back in February, Spurs agreed to the signing of Bergvall ahead of Barcelona and will welcome him to the club this summer. It’s a big move that completes his meteoric rise from the Swedish second division to the Premier League in just two years.

Each club gets an A grade, as it’s a deal that works for all. A fee of €10m isn’t a lot for Spurs to put down on a player who is full of potential, and having graduated from the same academy as Dejan Kulusevski in Sweden, the 18-year-old will have help settling in. But €10m is a lot for Djurgårdens, though; in fact, it’s the biggest outgoing transfer fee in Allsvenskan history.

MARC GUIU
€6m (£5.1m; $6.4m)

Barcelona: D
Chelsea: B+

The striking thing about the Barcelona academy graduate is that he’s not very Barcelona at all. At 6-foot-2, with a centre-forward build and skillset to match, he’s a far cry from the type of player you typically associate with La Masia. The 18-year-old burst on to the scene last season, scoring with his first touch on his debut against Athletic Club, but slipped back down the pecking order and ended up back with the B team in April.

After paying his release clause of just €6m, Chelsea were happy to gamble on such a player; Barça, understandably, aren’t particularly happy to see him go so soon.

RB Leipzig: C
Spurs: A

Werner made a positive impact on loan at Spurs last season, so the decision to bring him back for another 12 months was likely an easy one. His direct, quick style of play suited Ange Postecoglou’s tactics and his low crosses into the box from the left flank became a feature of their late-season play. Having qualified for the Europa League, Spurs clearly need more players to fill out the squad, so nabbing Werner on loan again — with a €10m option to sign him permanently in 2025 — is smart, risk-free business.

From RB Leipzig’s perspective, though, it’s another year without much of a return from a player they paid €20m to sign from Chelsea in 2022.

PSG: F
Real Madrid: A+

Football’s worst-kept secret is finally out in the open. Mbappé, arguably the world’s best player, will join the reigning European champions Real Madrid. He makes an already sensational attack even stronger, ensuring everyone will be tuning in to watch Los Blancos in 2024-25.

The Frenchman’s whopping signing-on fee (reported to be €100m) means this isn’t really a free transfer, but Madrid have capped the cost of a superstar somewhat — and PSG received absolutely nothing for him, having paid €180m to sign him from Monaco in 2017.

Barcelona: C+
PSV Eindhoven: B-

Dest enjoyed an excellent season on loan with PSV Eindhoven in 2023-24, only for a torn ACL to cut his campaign short in April and force him to miss the Copa América for the USMNT too. The Dutch club are taking something of a risk here, gambling on him making a full recovery in 2025, but are unsurprisingly comfortable doing so on the basis it’s a free transfer — having turned down an €11m option to sign him previously.

Barcelona get no transfer fee, having signed him for €20m back in 2020 from Ajax, but ESPN sources confirmed that they will get a percentage of any future transfer fee. They’re under pressure to bring their hefty wage bill down for registration purposes anyway, so it’s ultimately a deal that seems to suit all parties.

Fulham: F
Chelsea: A

With Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) hanging heavily over Premier League clubs, free transfers have arguably never been more attractive. Although Chelsea look pretty well stocked for centre-backs — Levi Colwill, Axel Disasi, Wesley Fofana, Benoît Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah are already in the squad — signing Adarabioyo for free makes sense.

Over the past four seasons with Fulham, he has blossomed into a very solid centre-back whose long, threaded passes forward can change a game in an instant. They’ll be crestfallen to lose him for nothing, and even more so that he’s headed to their west London rivals.

Bournemouth: D
Newcastle United: A+

Like with Tosin, Kelly quickly marked himself out as one of the most attractive early transfers this summer by virtue of being available for free. He plays both left-back and centre-back — two positions Newcastle have had terrible injury luck in — so he feels like an extremely astute addition that potentially solves two problems at once.

Add that to the fact that not only is he homegrown, but he’s worked with Magpies manager Eddie Howe before on the south coast, and it’s a transfer that just seems clever in every way.

Juventus: B
Aston Villa: B

One of Aston Villa’s summer targets is to deepen their squad ahead of a Champions League campaign, so scooping up two young talents from Juventus’ conveyor belt of next generation excellence is a solid strategy.

Samuel Iling-Junior is returning to England, having successfully made the jump into senior football abroad, and is an exciting, explosive wide player. Enzo Barrenechea is rewarded for a breakout 2023-24 campaign on loan at Frosinone with an intriguing next step. Juve won’t be thrilled to lose either of these players, but funds needed to be raised to sign Douglas Luiz.

June 30

Aston Villa: B
Juventus: B

There’s no doubt Villa will be distraught to lose Douglas Luiz; he was one of their best players last season and means a lot to the fans, having been at the club since 2019. But Villa’s position with regard to Profit and Sustainability Regulation (PSR) rules forced them into allowing a big exit and Luiz was the one to go. A fee of €50m is a lot to receive in return, but it’s still a tough one to take.

Villa’s loss is Juventus’ gain, though, and incoming manager Thiago Motta will love the fact he has a new playmaking midfielder to utilise as a brand new era in Turin begins.

Newcastle United: A
Nottingham Forest: C

Newcastle found themselves needing to make a sale to comply with Profit & Sustainably Rules so, in what has been a theme for the summer, they turned to an academy graduate in their hour of need.

Anderson, 21, was the reluctant pick. He’s been a handy squad player for Newcastle over the last few seasons and clocked just over 1,000 Premier League minutes in 2023-24 while battling a back injury. Still, the £35m fee attached to him feels massive, and therefore an awful lot for Forest in terms of investment.

Newcastle United: A
Brighton & Hove Albion: B-

Yankuba Minteh’s Newcastle career came and went in a flash! He signed for around €7m in the summer of 2023, headed straight out on loan to Feyenoord for the season, notched 10 goals and five assists in just 1,463 Eredivisie minutes, and has now moved to Brighton more than four times that initial fee.

He’s a reluctant, yet lucrative and necessary transfer for the Magpies who were under pressure to make some money on outgoings. For Brighton, it’s yet another young talented in the door — although at a significantly higher price than we’re used to seeing.

Chelsea: C+
Ipswich Town: A

Ipswich Town smashed their transfer record to sign Omari Hutchinson permanently following his exceptional loan spell at Portman Road in 2023-24. He got better as the season went on, developing into a key player who scored 10 goals, assisted five, provided some stunning moments and pressed extremely effectively from the front.

Undoubtedly, this is a big get for Ipswich, who need quality difference-makers if they’re to survive a Premier League campaign. Chelsea book a tidy profit, which is no bad thing in 2024, but it’s hard to escape the feeling that for a player of Hutchinson’s potential, £20m may end up looking a little cheap in the end.

June 29

Aston Villa: A
Chelsea: B

Chelsea’s quest to hoover up as much young potential as possible has continued this summer with the signing of Kellyman. The 18-year-old joined Villa from Derby County two years ago and is now on the move once again.

In the handful of senior minutes Kellyman received last season, he looked a player brimming with potential — smooth on the turn, clever in his positioning and capable of playing across the forward line or as the No. 10. Villa will be sad to lose such a player, but it still goes down as a great bit of business from their point of view, as the club were under pressure to generate revenue ahead of June 30’s PSR deadline.

June 28

Chelsea: A
Aston Villa: B

As the cliché goes, qualifying for the Champions League opens up fresh possibilities for clubs in the transfer market. Aston Villa are the latest to take advantage of this, signing Netherlands left-back Maatsen in part thanks to their new position among Europe’s elite.

Maatsen shone on loan at Borussia Dortmund over the second half of last season, playing a key role in the German side’s run to the Champions League final. He’s both a significant addition to Unai Emery’s side and a significant source of funds for Chelsea, who found themselves under PSR pressure ahead of the June 30 deadline.