Summer transfer window: Grading big signings in men’s soccer

Premier League clubs spent £100 million in the 2024 January transfer window — the lowest single-window expenditure in the men’s game since 2012 (£60m) and a significant drop from the record £815m splashed out in 2023, according to Deloitte.

After record-breaking spending in the past three transfer windows, things seem to have slowed. But English clubs’ total spending of £2.5 billion during the 2023-24 season was still the second-highest ever, and across the rest of Europe’s Big Five leagues, January spending actually rose from €255m to €455m.

What can we expect this time around? Here are grades for all the major confirmed summer transfers in the men’s game, with each day’s moves listed in order of highest fee.

All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.

Aug. 13

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.

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.

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

Aston Villa: B
Everton: A

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.