Soccer’s transfer window is always a spectacle to behold. As fans from all around the world constantly refresh their Twitter feeds, club managers are working in silence to bring the best players to their clubs. This year’s transfer window was one of the biggest in recent memory, and it certainly brought a lot of excitement to avid soccer fans.
Today, I’ll be taking a look at the eight biggest transfers of this year’s window. Let’s head straight into it.
While Vardy may have been the goalscoring threat for Leicester during their epic run to the championship, it was Mahrez who was behind it all. The Algerian’s departure has been expected for quite some time now, and Mahrez will be a great addition to City’s team, although it is still unclear how exactly he will slot into the lineup.
Manchester City purchased Mahrez from Leicester City for €67.8 million, making him the second-most-expensive African player ever. Signing a five-year contract, Mahrez finally got the move he deserved – joining one of England’s top clubs.
City was rumored to have interest in him since January, and a move seemed to be close until Leicester refused to budge on the winger’s price tag. This summer, City tried again, and they were able to convince Mahrez to join them even amidst interest from several other clubs, including Premier League rival, Arsenal.
Mahrez took the Premier League by storm in 2015, helping guide Leicester to the title; the Algerian was unstoppable, scoring 17 goals and assisting in another 11. However, the hype quickly wore off. In the next two seasons combined, Mahrez managed only 18 goals and 13 assists, a respectable total, but a significant drop-off from his stellar season.
Mahrez is not Ronaldo or Messi. He does not possess the same natural goalscoring ability or omniscient vision. He is not nearly as fast or as strong. But nevertheless, he continues to find a way to help his team; he is willing to work hard, and he never seems to give up.
There is no doubt Mahrez is an excellent player. He is not world class, but he is incredibly well-rounded – possessing pace, control, dribbling, and finesse. But the question that needs to be addressed is how City will use him in their team. With several other talented wingers – the likes of Bernardo Silva, Raheem Sterling, and Leroy Sane – will Mahrez earn a spot as a starter, or will he be used more as a rotation player?
In one of the most confusing and exciting episodes of the transfer market, Barcelona stole Malcom right out of the hands of Roma, bringing the Bordeaux winger to the Catalan giants.
Just when it seemed like all was set for the Brazilian forward to complete his move to Roma, it was Barcelona’s turn to come in for a last-minute swoop. Right as Malcom was about to board the plane to Rome, Barcelona called and convinced the player to join them instead.
Malcom signed with Barcelona for €41 million, leaving Roma fans in shock and club officials furious – even considering taking legal action against the Blaugranes. Regardless, Malcom has already made his debut as a Barca player, signing a five-year contract with the club.
At 21 years of age, Malcom is one of the most exciting prospects in soccer. The Brazilian international was great for Bordeaux last year, scoring 12 goals and assisting in another 7. While he is not the strongest winger, he is great on the ball, and he can skip past defenders with ease. Malcom is also known for pulling off some audacious shots, scoring goals from well outside the area. While this may not always be the smartest of strategies, it does make for some great highlights.
Malcom has what it takes to become one of the top players in the world; he has plenty of room to grow, and there’s no limit to what he can achieve. Barcelona needs to give him some playing time, however, if they wish for him to truly realize his potential.
While Alisson’s departure was already expected prior to the beginning of the transfer market, many were wondering exactly how much clubs would be willing to pay for the Brazilian. They soon found out as Alisson completed the most expensive transfer in goalkeeping history.
While Roma certainly didn’t want to let their star keeper go, they simply couldn’t resist the €62.5 million offer from Liverpool. The Brazilian signed a six-year contract with the Reds, and it’ll be interesting to see how he develops as a prospect.
Just a year after Ederson left for Manchester City for €40 million, Alisson broke the transfer record for a goalkeeper yet again. Spoiler alert! He wouldn’t be the last…
What’s so special about Alisson? What convinced Liverpool to pay such an insane transfer fee for a goalkeeper? Simply put, a good goalkeeper is becoming an increasingly rare commodity in soccer today, and Alisson has the potential to be the best in the world.
Alisson is a great keeper, and his shot-stopping ability is next to none. In last year’s Serie A, Alisson made a total of 107 saves, and according to xGA, Roma would have conceded approximately 12 more goals had they replaced Alisson with your average goalkeeper. This made Alisson an invaluable player on the Roma roster, and after Karius’ woes in the Champions League final, Alisson should provide some much-needed relief for Liverpool fans.
Besides being solid between the posts, Alisson is cool and comfortable with the ball at his feet. At a time when goalkeepers are becoming increasingly involved in build-up play, Alisson has become one of the best sweeper-keepers in all of soccer. This ability makes him a very versatile keeper, and it’ll allow Liverpool to experiment more with their strategy.
Alisson may have come with a hefty price tag, but the keeper is one of the best in the business, and he represents a beacon of hope to Liverpool after their goalkeeping woes last season.
After the Chinese drama with Milan and the eventual takeover by Elliott, many were expecting the transfer window to remain relatively stagnant. Instead, Milan finally got the striker they were looking for, an experienced veteran in Gonzalo Higuain.
While Milan surveyed the market for strikers, Higuain did not appear to be the first name on their list. Immobile, Morata, and even Zaza seemed to be in line to become the Rossoneri’s new star striker. So when rumors came out of Milan’s mega transfer with Juve, all eyes were on Leonardo to pull off another amazing transfer.
Higuain was signed on a loan with an option to buy (essentially an obligation to avoid FFP restrictions), for a total of €54 million. Barring any sneaky moves from the Rossoneri, Higuain should complete his formal transfer next year.
For years, Milan has been looking for a star striker. Ever since Ibrahimovic’s departure, Milan has failed to find a reliable goalscoring threat, rotating between forwards with no true plan for the future.
Higuain fills the role that Milan has needed for so long. The Argentinian is still one of the best strikers in the world, and with so much experience and success in the Serie A, there’s no doubt that he’ll be an invaluable addition for the Rossoneri.
In the last three seasons, El Pipita has scored 76 goals, more than any other striker in the league. Higuain should make an immediate impact for Milan; he is absolutely lethal in front of goal, and he can make the most of the chances he is given. Beyond his finishing prowess, he is a natural leader and mentor to Cutrone, and his hold-up play allows him to build the attack as well as finish it. Milan finally has a serious striker, and the rest of the league had better watch out.
After Courtois’ move to Real Madrid was almost finalized, Chelsea needed to find a replacement for the Belgian keeper. They certainly found a great talent, but it came at a cost.
Who would’ve thought that there would be two record-breaking goalkeeper transfers in a single window? Left with very little time, Chelsea turned to Atletico Bilbao, paying for Kepa’s €80 million release clause. The goalkeeper signed a lengthy seven-year contract with the Blues, and he’ll have to put on quite a show if he wishes to prove his worth.
While Kepa had already attracted interest from Real Madrid just a season ago, many had never heard of the keeper prior to his record-breaking transfer. The Spaniard is known for his lightning-quick reflexes and speed, attributes that allow him to shine in between the posts.
Kepa made 96 saves for Bilbao last season, and he’ll likely have more help this season behind a solid Chelsea defense. The keeper has won all three of the games he’s played in for Chelsea, keeping a clean sheet against Huddersfield.
The Spanish keeper will have a tough time living up to his price tag, but he’ll certainly be a good replacement for Courtois. He has the raw talent to be a great shot-stopper, and Chelsea should be set in the keeper position for at least the next decade.
Chelsea completed a double purchase from Chelsea, bringing both Maurizio Sarri, the new head coach, and star midfielder Jorginho to the club. How will these acquisitions fare for Chelsea? Let’s take a look.
While City was originally first in line for Jorginho, Sarri’s move to Chelsea changed everything. The Italian head coach took his prized midfielder with him. Jorginho’s move cost Chelsea €57 million, and they would get two additions for the price of one.
Jorginho signed a five-year contract with the club, while Sarri’s is only triennial, but barring catastrophe, it looks as though the duo will stay at Chelsea for the next couple of years.
There’s certainly no doubt as to why Sarri was so insistent on taking Jorginho with him. The Brazilian-born Italian is one of the best passers in the world, and his role as a regista makes him perfect for Sarri’s system – one focused on constant movement and circulation of the ball.
Jorginho tends to stay further back in the midfield, dictating play and stepping in defensively when necessary. He has great vision, and there are very few players like him in today’s game. Many have compared him to Pirlo, a testament to Jorginho’s creativity and talent.
At just 26 years of age, Jorginho has plenty of time to learn and improve. The argument can be made for him being the best regista in the world right now; he is a true playmaker, and he’ll be given the chance to prove so in the Premier League with Chelsea.
The Guinean midfielder became quite a coveted name in the Bundesliga, and after his transfer to Anfield, he’ll have the chance to prove himself at a bigger club and a bigger league. How will he perform?
After his transfer to Leipzig just two years ago, Keita has moved once again, this time to Liverpool on a €60 million fee (Keita’s release clause), netting the German club a hefty €36 million profit. Naby Keita signed a five-year contract with the Reds, and the hope is that he’ll become a mainstay in the midfield and one of the best players in the league.
Keita is truly a complete player. Many compare him to Chelsea’s Ngolo Kante, another box-to-box midfielder. Keita is a true midfielder, and he’s capable of playing almost anywhere on the pitch. He has great defensive skills and is able to break up opposing attacks, has great vision and is a clever playmaker, and he is capable of scoring some goals, too – netting six for Leipzig last season.
Keita has received several accolades, including being named to last year’s Europa League team of the season. You’re unlikely to find a player who will work as hard as Naby Keita, and this quality is what makes him so beloved by fans and coaches alike.
Liverpool has been lacking that spark in the midfield, especially since Coutinho left them for Barcelona, but Keita may be exactly what they need to make another deep run into the Champions League. Many have touted the Guinean to become one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and there are very few players who are as versatile and as talented as Keita is.
While the World Cup was underway and all eyes were on France, Juventus was working in silence to bring in one of the best players in the world. Cristiano Ronaldo became the summer’s most-hyped transfer, leaving Real Madrid to join another soccer superpower.
Almost no one expected Ronaldo to leave Real Madrid, especially after Los Blancos won their third straight Champions League trophy. However, rumors began to pick up for a potential transfer, and some undercover operations allowed Marotta to bring CR7 to the club.
Ronaldo was signed for €117 million, marking the fifth-highest transfer fee ever, quite an impressive sum for a 33-year-old forward. The Portuguese player signed a four-year contract with the Bianconeri, and it’ll be Juve’s aim to win a Champions League trophy during one of those years.
Ronaldo is still the best pure striker in the world. His goal-scoring ability and positioning is next to none. And his ability to step it up when it matters most is the reason why Cristiano has won five Champions League titles and a European Championship.
Ronaldo should make an immediate impact for the Bianconeri, and while he has yet to score for Juve, he has already proven crucial in build-up play. When Ronaldo is on the field, defenses are more prone to mistakes, and they never truly seem relaxed.
Ronaldo was brought in to help Juve win a Champions League trophy. He is arguably the most talented player in all of soccer, and if Juve can build their team around him, there’s no doubt they have what it takes to get over the hump and bring home the most coveted trophy in all of club soccer.
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