1) Leny Yoro (Lille to Manchester United) – £52m plus add-ons
Man Utd fans want you to believe that they ‘beat Real Madrid’ to the signing of Leny Yoro, as if he didn’t have a choice in the matter. Nevertheless, this is a brilliant signing for the Red Devils, who have landed one of the best teenagers in world football. Another centre-back remains on the agenda with Sir Jim Ratcliffe meaning business.
2) Joao Neves (Benfica to PSG) – £50m plus add-ons
Just 19 years old and one of the hottest properties in world football, he has moved for a fee that could become £60m if various targets are met. “Joao is one of most talented players in Portugal and internationally,” said PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. “He was so passionate to join Paris St-Germain and determined to fight for the jersey – which is what we expect of all our players.”
3) Amadou Onana (Everton to Aston Villa) – £50m
Aston Villa mean business ahead of their Champions League return. The signing of Onana means they are the biggest spenders of the 2024 summer transfer window.
4) Moussa Diaby (Aston Villa to Al-Ittihad) – £50m
It felt like a coup when Villa signed the Frenchman but he then started only 25 Premier League games, often being sidelined by the resurgent Leon Bailey. A year later he has left for Saudi Arabia, where he probably should have gone in the first place.
5) Dani Olmo (Leipzig to Barcelona) – £47.2m plus add-ons
Nico Williams was the top target for Barcelona but his fellow European Championship winner with Spain is a fine alternative, with Olmo returning to the club he left at 16 in a decade ago.
6) Michael Olise (Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich) – £45m plus add-ons
You will keep reading this is a £50m-plus transfer but it’s only a £50m-plus transfer if it is a success; the initial fee is £45m. But the truth is that we fully expect it to be a success because Olise is brilliant for Crystal Palace. It is a great transfer for all concerned.
7) Joao Palhinha (Fulham to Bayern Munich) – £43m plus add-ons
This is what happens when Bayern Munich fail to win the Bundesliga; they a) spend a load of money and b) spend a load of money on Premier League players because they have just appointed Vincent Kompany. Fulham have more than doubled their money in two years on Palhinha but it still feels pretty cheap for one of the best defensive midfielders in the English top flight.
8) Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa to Juventus) – £42.35m
Much to their chagrin, Champions League qualifiers Aston Villa were forced into a major sale to comply with PSR rules and avoid any potential future points deductions, with midfield lynchpin Luiz their chosen sacrifice. In a theme of this summer’s window, the Premier League club are getting a couple of players in return from the Turin side in separate deals.
