The summer transfer window is when football clubs across the globe are most active when it comes to their spending. With the season done and dusted, clubs have the chance to reflect on their squads, look at contract renewals and figure out their next targets before the new season begins. Make sure that you follow along with Tonybet to get the latest fixture updates!
With many players either impressing during the Euros, Copa América or even the previous campaign, agents and clubs are frantically working hard to strengthen their squads to achieve their goals in the 2024/25 campaign.
Although fans can become impatient with a lack of signings, it’s the business end of the window that is by far the most exciting. From last-minute deals to players handing in late transfer requests and clubs that start to panic buy, this is a special time of the year for any football fan.
To save you time refreshing social media pages, we’ve compiled a list of the most eye-catching deals across the Premier League and Europe, as well as analysing the latest rumours before the window shuts.
Transfers so far
Once again, it has been another hectic summer transfer window with plenty of Premier League clubs keen to splash the cash.
Chelsea’s spending splurge continues
Chelsea have continued to splash the cash and the latest signing has seen Atlético Madrid’s João Félix join the London-based club on a permanent deal. With the deal officially announced, Chelsea have spent over £200m this window, the most by almost £50m, with Manchester United in second place and Brighton in third (more on those deals later).
The Portuguese international spent six months on loan at Stamford Bridge in 2023 but has now opted to make the move on a permanent basis.
Chelsea is having to sell some of their players due to their overcrowded squad. England international and boyhood Blues fan Conor Gallagher has left the club and has signed for Atlético Madrid.
Chelsea have told both left-back Ben Chilwell and winger Raheem Sterling to find new clubs, as they look to reduce the size of their squad and wage bill. Chilwell is likely to leave on loan before the end of the window, but shifting Sterling could be difficult due to his wages in excess of £300,000.
Around the corner from Chelsea, Fulham have been splashing the cash themselves. A record fee has brought Emile Smith Rowe to the club from Arsenal, while Crystal Palace have accepted a £30m bid for Joachim Andersen after rejecting two bids earlier in the window.
Manchester United get their cheque book out
Manchester United have been very busy themselves as they look to get back on top in the Premier League. They have brought in no fewer than four key players.
Noussair Mazraoui has joined from Bayern Munich for a little over £12m, while £40m was spent on Mazraoui’s teammate and Dutch international Matthijs de Ligt. The 25-year-old has had a glistening career to date, and the experienced centre-back will hopefully rectify the defensive issues that United suffered last season.
Forward Joshua Zirkzee has joined from Bologna for over £38m, and he gave United fans a taste of what he’s all about with a winning goal on his Premier League debut versus Fulham.
Last but certainly not least, Manchester United went all out to sign Lille’s Leny Yoro for £55m. However, the 18-year-old was injured during pre-season, and so fans will have to wait a little longer before they get to see him in action.
Beware of Brighton
A club that has surprised many for spending big this summer is Brighton & Hove Albion. Spending over £140m on six players has shown serious ambition from the club to achieve a European spot this campaign.
Yankuba Minteh has signed from Newcastle, while over £25m was spent on Mainz’s Brajan Gruda after a standout season in the Bundesliga. Their biggest expenditure, however, was much closer to home.
Leeds United’s Georginio Rutter has joined the South Coast club for £42m after scoring seven goals and collecting 16 assists in the Championship last campaign. Brighton are clearly a team to watch this season.
Spurs snap up Solanke
Tottenham have been crying out for a new striker ever since Harry Kane departed for Bayern Munich last summer. However, this time around, they finally have their man.
The North London club have spent over £60m to secure the services of Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke, who scored 19 Premier League goals in 38 appearances last year. The 26-year-old may be the missing piece that Ange Postecoglou needs to take Spurs to the next level.
However, he isn’t the only striker to have joined the club for big money. Wilson Odobert has been brought in from Burnley for close to £25m. Many fans are excited to see how he gets on back in the Premier League at a bigger club.
Arsenal’s defensive signing
Spurs’ main rivals have decided to be cautious with their spending this window, though they went all out to bring in Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori.
The towering, ball-playing centre-back could be the difference between Mikel Arteta’s side winning a trophy this season and missing out again, after an impressive campaign in Serie A
Man City’s midfield star returns
German midfielder İlkay Gündoğan has departed Barcelona and made a shock return to City after failing to settle in Spain with his new club. The former Manchester City captain reportedly jumped at the chance to work again with Pep Guardiola, who is aiming to win a fifth straight Premier League title.
City have also brought in 20-year-old Brazilian winger Savinho from Girona. The transfer was reportedly worth £30.8m.
Julián Alvarez has chosen to leave City and continue his career in Spain with Atlético Madrid. The Argentine’s move cost the Spanish club £70m, and has been one of the biggest deals this window.
Mbappé at Madrid will be magic
We’ve potentially saved the biggest transfer of the summer to last, and if you’ve missed this one, where have you been? Kylian Mbappé has swapped Paris for Madrid as he joins up with Carlo Ancelotti at the La Liga champions, and he will be hoping to add a missing Champions League to his trophy collection.
With the France captain operating alongside Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior, Real Madrid will be a force to be reckoned with once again in 2024. Mbappé scored an incredible 27 goals in 29 Ligue 1 appearances last season, as well as eight Champions League goals in 12 appearances.
He’s already up and running for his new club, having scored in the Super Cup final against Atalanta. A goal and a trophy on his debut may well set the tone for his career at Real Madrid.
However, another exciting young striker has also joined the club. Palmeiras’ Endrick has been allowed to move to Spain having turned 18, and it will be interesting to see how he fits into Ancelotti’s thinking in the upcoming campaign.
There have been rumours that if he doesn’t get many minutes, he could be looking at a loan in Europe to sharpen up his game as he continues to learn his trade and maintain his place in the Brazil national team.
The big rumours
Manchester United are still looking to bring in a number six and they have yet to give up on Paris Saint-Germain’s Uruguayan international Manuel Ugarte.
The 23-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the summer, but this has perhaps been delayed due to his appearances at Copa América in the US.
Although a permanent move is preferred by all parties, a potential deal to loan Ugarte to Manchester United with an obligation to buy next summer remains firmly on the table in order to get a deal done.
Elsewhere, Vitor Roque’s nightmare start at Barcelona may be about to come to an end, though only for this season at least. The Brazilian has indicated that he wants to remain in Spain, and Real Betis have shown an interest in securing the forward’s signature. Sporting Lisbon, Porto and Real Sociedad have all enquired about the 19-year-old striker, but Betis looks to be his preferred destination at present.
Barcelona is eyeing up a surprise move for Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. After failing to land Nico Williams earlier in the window, the Spanish giants are eager to bring in a winger to bolster their squad and they have identified the England international as their main target. With Manchester United spending big this summer, a deal could help them balance the books.
Not many expected Julián Alvarez to leave Manchester City this summer, but Pep Guardiola is wasting no time in seeking an adequate replacement. According to The Athletic, attention has turned towards Celtic’s Kyogo Furuhashi. No doubt the Japanese international would find it difficult to turn down a move to the Etihad if an offer is put on the table.
This may be the summer that Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah finally leaves his beloved club. With minutes continuing to be limited, the forward has been subject to bids from Nottingham Forest, who are eager to bring in a new striker. However, so far, a bid of £25m has been rejected, and Nketiah’s wages in excess of £120,000 are putting off Forest.
Elsewhere, the highly rated young Argentine Valentín Barco, who joined Brighton from Boca Juniors in January, is close to a loan move to Spain with Sevilla. The youngster is highly rated at his new club, but Brighton are eager to give him valuable minutes in Europe before bedding him into the first-team squad.
Saudi clubs at the heart of the rumours
Brentford’s Ivan Toney was left out of their first game of the season versus Crystal Palace due to his “mind being elsewhere” as he is expected to leave this window.
However, with no Premier League club yet to put an offer on the table, the England international has been attracting attention from Saudi Arabian clubs.
Both Liverpool’s Mo Salah and Alisson have been previously linked with moves to Saudi Arabia, and with the Middle Eastern clubs prepared to offer incredibly high wages, it remains unclear whether either player will be convinced to make the jump and join a host of other European and South American players in the Saudi Pro League.
If Liverpool are to lose their number one goalkeeper, they will look to land Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili. The 23-year-old impressed during the Euros for his country, Georgia, and he has been identified as the next goalkeeper to lead the way at Anfield.
With the summer transfer window still firmly open, we’re expecting plenty more rumours, movement and record-breaking deals from clubs all over Europe before time runs out. There has already been a lot of money thrown about, but we don’t expect the spending to stop just yet.
