Ratings of all big signings of summer 2024 as Liverpool ‘snatched’ Chiesa from Barcelona

For some football fans, pre-season is the part of the calendar they look forward to the most, as that can only mean one thing: it’s transfer time! In the coming weeks and months, the biggest names will be linked to the biggest clubs, with speculation set to mount.

We all know that some transfers work out well for all parties involved, but there are many where at least one of the clubs, or even the player, is left wondering what could have been had they made a different decision at the negotiating table.

Daily Stand is here, then, to make sure you know who came out on top in every big deal before the ink is even dry on the contracts. Throughout the summer market, we’ll be grading every deal made as it happens, so you can follow the big winners (and losers) of the transfer season.

Check out our latest ratings below and let us know what you think in the comments section…

August 28: Federico Chiesa (Juventus to Liverpool, £11m)

For Juventus: the end of a saga that overshadowed the Bianconeri’s start to the Serie A season. From the moment new manager Thiago Motta made it clear that Chiesa was not part of his plans, rumour mills ran riot, leaving the new boss to face constant doubts over the winger’s future. Juve’s desperation to offload their star signing of 2020 from Fiorentina is admittedly a little baffling. He was one of their best players last season (scoring 10 goals in all competitions, their best since 2020-21) and had the attacking attributes to excel under a far more attack-minded manager than Massimiliano Allegri. However, once Chiesa refused to sign an extension on more or less the same wages, Juve understandably felt they had been left with no other option but to sell the 26-year-old, even for a paltry fee, just to avoid losing him for nothing next summer. Rating: D

For Liverpool: a newcomer, at last. Liverpool may have kept a close eye on Chiesa in the past, but few imagined the Reds would make a move for the attacker this summer, especially as they are so well-stocked in attack. However, this is precisely the kind of “opportunistic” signing that sporting director Richard Hughes was talking about. It’s rare that you can pick up a player once touted as a €100m footballer for so little money, meaning Liverpool felt obliged to take advantage of Chiesa’s fallout with Juve, even despite his recent fitness issues. Essentially, it’s a low-risk transfer that could yield very high dividends. Grade: B+

For Chiesa: “A new adventure,” as he put it, and an unexpected one at that. Chiesa’s hopes of ending up at a top club before the summer transfer window closed were rapidly diminishing. Barcelona were interested, but were once again hampered by their perilous financial situation. Consequently, there was a real risk that Chiesa would rot away on the bench in Turin. Instead, he has arrived at Anfield, a ground that retains a mythical position within Italian football, which also partly explains why Chiesa is so excited about this opportunity. He should have no problems settling in at Liverpool – he already speaks English and his energetic style is perfectly suited to the Premier League. The only real problem is the fact that Arne Slot already has an excellent group of attackers to choose from. There is a chance that he won’t make the step up at Liverpool and that this will be the last time we see him in a top team. However, if Chiesa can stay fit (and he insisted over the summer that he has fully recovered from his injury problems), he has the talent, as he showed during Italy’s Euro victory, to become a cult hero at Anfield. Grade: A

August 27: Giorgi Mamardashvili (from Valencia to Liverpool, £29m)

For Valencia: Looking at the bigger picture, this is just the latest, depressing example of the club’s dramatic decline under the disastrous ownership of Peter Lim. When he took over in 2014, the hope was to return Valencia to its former glory and build a new stadium. A decade later, Los Che have fallen into mediocrity and are still stuck in the run-down Mestalla. Fans pray that Lim will eventually leave, but for now they must put up with their best players being sold to the highest bidder every summer. In the case of Mamardashvili, they will at least be able to keep him on loan for another year and the incoming cash will help balance the books, but the fee still seems small for such a good goalkeeper. Grade: C

For Liverpool: A transfer that needs to be put into context. Liverpool fans are understandably baffled as to why Richard Hughes & Co. have invested so much time, money and energy into signing Mamardashvili when goalkeeping is a position of real strength within the team. Alisson is one of the best in the business and Liverpool couldn’t hope for a better backup in Caiomhin Kelleher. What’s even more galling for fans is that the team clearly needs to strengthen elsewhere, especially in midfield, and yet not a single summer signing has been made for new manager Arne Slot. While that frustration is entirely legitimate, the Mamardashvili deal is an impressive display of forward thinking. At 31, Alisson will be gone sooner or later, while Kelleher will likely be gone next summer, given that he rightly feels he could be first choice elsewhere. So landing Mamardashvili is a shrewd move on the part of sporting director Hughes, as we’re talking about a fantastic goalkeeper who should ultimately prove to be a bargain. Rating: B+

For Mamardashvili: Another significant step towards stardom. The Georgian was a relative unknown when he joined Valencia from Dinamo Tbilisi in 2021 but quickly became a fixture between the sticks. The 23-year-old has been a near-ever-present over the past two seasons and is coming off a campaign in which he kept 13 clean sheets for a mid-table side. Mamardashvili was also sensational at Euro 2024, making a tournament-high 30 saves, playing a pivotal role in Georgia reaching the last 16 on their tournament debut thanks to a 2-0 win over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. It’s fair to say, then, that the bigger stages of the game won’t phase Mamardashvili. While he won’t arrive at Anfield until next summer, he should prove worth the wait, especially as he’s likely to improve in the meantime. Grade: A

August 27: Joao Cancelo (from City to Al-Hilal, £21m)

For Manchester City: Cancelo was completely beyond the Etihad’s reach and no other top European side were interested or able to sign him. As a result, there was a very real risk that City would be left with a valuable asset rotting away on the sidelines this season. However, Al-Hilal have come to their rescue by paying a considerable sum for the unwanted Portuguese international. In the end, things couldn’t have turned out much better for City. Grade: A

For Al-Hilal: Saudi Arabia’s strongest team just got stronger. Al-Hilal had not made a single summer signing until now, and the Riyadh-based side felt there were no real weaknesses in a team that claimed the Saudi Pro League title last season without losing a single game. However, the opportunity to sign Cancelo, who is only 30, was too good to pass up. Rating: A

For Cancelo:  A complete snub from Guardiola. Not long ago, Cancelo was considered a dream full-back, given his ability to play on both flanks, as well as occupying the centre of the pitch to create space and chances for his teammates. However, after a sudden and surprising falling out with Guardiola, he was loaned out to Bayern Munich and then Barca. A permanent move to Barca would have been ideal, but the Catalans simply didn’t have the money to make it happen, meaning Cancelo, undoubtedly one of the most talented defenders of his generation, ends up in Saudi Arabia. What a sad waste of a rare talent. Rating: F

August 27: Mikel Merino (Real to Arsenal, £30m)

For Real Sociedad: A significant setback, but not a huge surprise. Real would have liked to keep one of the key protagonists in their historic Champions League qualification last season (and subsequent run to the last 16), but Merino’s situation was a little different to that of Martín Zubimendi. The 28-year-old had entered the final year of his contract, making a summer sale a necessity. Sociedad stood firm in their valuation and, including bonuses, will now earn three times what they paid Newcastle for Merino six years ago. Grade: B

For Arsenal: They finally have their man! Arsenal never gave up on bringing Merino into their midfield and their perseverance eventually paid off. This is not a player with huge potential selling value, but they bought him for the here and now, and Merino is more than capable of slotting straight into the Gunners’ midfield. The Spain international is as dynamic as they come; he won more duels than any other player in the big five leagues last season and, as he showed with their quarter-final win over Germany at the Euros, he is strong in the air and a serious goal threat. In short, it’s easy to see why Mikel Arteta was so keen to sign him. He’s a hard-working footballer and an excellent addition for Arsenal. Better still, he came for a very reasonable fee. Grade: B+

For Merino: A second chance at the Premier League that should be far better than the first. Merino managed just one goal in 17 appearances during his sole season at Newcastle in 2017-18, but he has come a long way since then. There are now few midfielders better in the world at winning possession, especially high up the pitch, and he is also coming off the most prolific campaign of his career, having scored eight goals in all competitions last season. Much will be expected of Merino, but it is not hard to imagine him shining alongside Declan Rice, in the same way he excelled alongside Zubimendi. Grade: A

August 27: Manuel Ugarte (PSG to United, £51m)

For PSG: A strange decision at first glance. PSG signed Ugarte from Sporting CP last summer (and for €60m) and it’s not like they haven’t kept up their end of the bargain. They wanted an aggressive defensive midfielder and they got one – the Uruguayan won more tackles than all but two players in Ligue 1 last season, despite only starting 21 games. PSG might therefore miss his physicality, although the deal still makes some sense. Ugarte was basically surplus to requirements at the end of the season, with Vitinha in good form, Fabian Ruiz enjoying a remarkable resurgence and Warren Zaire-Emery going from strength to strength. So once Joao Neves was added to the mix, it simply didn’t make sense for Luis Enrique to hold on to a player he felt wasn’t precisely giving him what he wanted when they were in possession. Furthermore, from a financial point of view, PSG has practically made back its money on a player it no longer wanted. Rating: B+

For United: Another statement of intent. We can question the amount of money paid for a PSG substitute (it will come as no surprise to learn that Ugarte shares an agent with Leny Yoro, Pedro Mendes) but the 23-year-old is the kind of ball-winning machine that United clearly need, even if Casemiro is showing signs of life after a dismal 2023-24 campaign. The Uruguay international may not be the most progressive of passers, but he is highly adept at retaining possession and it is worth noting that while he does not offer a goal threat, he did contribute a couple of assists in last season’s Ligue 1. Ugarte could form a fairly combative midfield duo with Kobbie Mainoo. Grade: B+

For Ugarte:  A good solution to his PSG problem. There is certainly a risk that he will swap one chaotic club for another, but at least there is an obvious place for him in Erik ten Hag’s starting lineup, with Scott McTominay leaving for Napoli. One also imagines that he will get a taste of Premier League football. Indeed, given his character, playing style and circumstances, it is easy to understand why Ugarte was willing to leave the Champions League for a season to join a team clamouring for his particular skills. Grade: A

August 26: Vitor Roque (from Barça to Betis, on loan)

For Barcelona: further proof of the club’s utter incompetence in the transfer market. Roque arrived in January and was supposed to be Barca’s next big star, but was loaned out just seven months later. Why? Because the Brazilian is not yet ready to challenge Robert Lewandowski for a starting spot and Barca literally cannot afford to sign a 19-year-old striker who is unlikely to play regularly. and co will now be praying that the €40m signing from Athletico Paranaense shines at Betis so they can recoup some of the money they paid for Roque or try to reintegrate him into the first team later on. When it comes to stability and successfully recruiting Brazil’s top prospects, Barcelona are not in the same league as Real Madrid! Grade: C+

For Real Betis: As the first few games of the new La Liga season have shown, Betis are crying out for a goalscorer. They have some very creative players, including Nabil Fekir and Isco, but most of their forwards are in their thirties and struggling to find the back of the net. Taking Roque on loan with an option to buy or even just extend his temporary stay at Sevilla, therefore, represents excellent business for Betis. We know the teenage attacker is talented and he also arrived at the Benito Villamarín desperate to prove something to Barca; that’s a potentially productive combination for his new club. Rating: B+

For Vitor Roque: A much-needed move. Roque simply had to leave Barcelona. He managed just two goals in 16 appearances for the Catalans in all competitions last season and it quickly became clear that he was very much a club signing – Xavi didn’t seem to value him at all, and it’s not like his chances of playing regular football would have improved under Hansi Flick. So it’s not at all surprising to see Roque so happy after signing for Betis, which will give him the chance to show exactly why he was picked by Brazil at just 18. Roque could also have taken the easier option by moving to Sporting CP, even from a linguistic perspective, but he wants to shine in La Liga, and that’s a positive sign. His confidence is still intact. Rating: B+

August 23: Romelu Lukaku (from Chelsea to Napoli, €30m)

For Chelsea: Lukaku is the worst signing in Chelsea’s history, which really says a lot when you consider the club’s recent record in the transfer market. It didn’t take long for him to realise he had made a colossal mistake by swapping San Siro for Stamford Bridge in 2021 and, just six months after returning to west London, he issued a “come and get me” plea to his former club in one of the most infamous and ill-advised interviews in football history. Chelsea have been trying to get rid of Lukaku ever since and, after a couple of loan spells, at Inter and Roma, they finally managed to get him off their wage bill. The Blues managed to persuade Napoli to agree to a deal that could rise to €45m including bonuses, which is not a bad fee at all given the circumstances. Lukaku was absolutely terrible at the Euros. Grade: B

For Napoli: a move that makes some sense from the Partenopei’s perspective. Lukaku is clearly one of the most overrated players in football history, known for his poor first touch and disappearing in big games. Yet for all his flaws, he was phenomenal during his two seasons under new Napoli manager Antonio Conte at Inter. The Italian promised to turn Lukaku into the best No.9 in the world, and between 2019 and 2021, he wasn’t far from achieving that. Obviously, ‘Big Rom’ isn’t a long-term successor to Victor Osimhen, who Napoli now desperately needs to sell before the transfer window closes, and this is clearly a significant sum of money for a 31-year-old striker. Lukaku remains eminently capable of scoring goals in Serie A, though, as he again demonstrated last season at the Olimpico, and it would be no surprise to see him enjoy a prolific couple of campaigns in Italy before moving somewhere like Saudi Arabia. Grade: B

For Lukaku: the best possible outcome. There was talk of a move to AC Milan, but Napoli is undoubtedly the right move for Lukaku, who was unsurprisingly desperate to reunite with Conte. The Partenopei are also coming off a historically poor Serie A title defence, meaning there is a real chance that the Chelsea and Manchester United flop could end his top-flight career on a high in Italy. Napoli offer him one last chance to at least partially restore his reputation as a quality centre-forward, which explains why he turned down the chance to join a Saudi Pro League club this summer. Lukaku may not know the meaning of the word loyalty, but he is clearly aware that his legacy is at stake at Diego Maradona. Grade: A

August 23: Ilkay Gundogan (from Barça to City, free)

For Barcelona: Embarrassing! A year after pulling off a huge coup by convincing one of the world’s best midfielders to turn down more money offers elsewhere to move to Catalunya, Barca have had to drop Gundogan from their wage bill due to their financial problems. Never mind that the former Germany international was the team’s best player last season, with 14 assists in all competitions; he simply had to go so they could sign Dani Olmo. Barca let Gundogan leave for free despite having two years left on his contract – further proof, as if it were needed, that FC Barcelona is no longer a serious club; it’s a mess. Rating: F

For Manchester City: A surprising but very welcome return. City managed to win the Premier League last season without Gundogan, but there were certainly times when they missed the important player that Kyle Walker once joked always turned into the “best Zinedine Zidane” at the end of the season. Will Gundogan be a regular this time around? Probably not, but, as he showed at Barcelona last season and during Germany’s Euro 2024 campaign, he still has the necessary talent and winning mentality to shine at the highest level. Pep Guardiola is said to be delighted to have Gundogan back, which says it all. He may be 33 now, but re-signing his treble-winning captain on a free was great for City. Grade: B+.

For Gundogan: The best option available to him. Gundogan would have liked to stay at Barcelona. He had left City at the perfect time, after the treble, and was intent on taking on a new challenge in much sunnier climes. He had admired Barcelona since he was a boy, so it was a dream move for him. However, the club’s financial problems are a constant nightmare, making his forced exit inevitable. Gundogan could have gone elsewhere, but he remains a fierce competitor who rightly believes he still has plenty to offer at the highest level. In fact, only Bruno Fernandes created more chances than Gundogan among Europe’s ‘Big Five’ leagues last season. He should easily return to Guardiola’s side. Grade: A.

August 20: Joao Felix (from Atleti to Chelsea, £46m)

For Atletico Madrid: Christmas has come early! Basically, by swapping Felix for Conor Gallagher, Atletico are strengthening their midfield without weakening their attack – and making a small but significant profit in the process. Obviously, the Rojiblancos are still nursing a huge blow from the player they bought from Benfica for €126m five years ago, but they won’t care at this point; the weight on the club’s neck has finally been lifted after one failed loan deal after another. Atleti have finally found someone naive enough to buy a player the fans absolutely despised and in whom Diego Simeone lost faith years ago. Relief abounds at the Metropolitano. Grade: A

For Chelsea: Even by the Blues’ standards, it’s an incomprehensible decision – at least from a sporting perspective. Obviously, this deal is all about the money. In fact, he was linked to Gallagher’s move in the other direction and it only happened because the previously agreed swap deal involving Samu Omorodion collapsed. Chelsea only turned to Felix because he was also an Atletico player. He doesn’t have the same profile and there isn’t a space for him at Stamford Bridge, where he previously managed just four goals in 20 games during his loan spell in 2023. They didn’t think he was good enough to sign last summer, so why now, after Felix also failed at Barcelona? None of this makes any sense, but then, nonsense is pretty much the Blues’ modus operandi of late. Rating: F

For Felix: It was a terrible decision, but it’s not like he had any other options available to him in Europe. No other top club would have even considered signing the Portuguese international, who is undoubtedly talented but terribly inconsistent. He’s simply never lived up to the hype generated during his time at Benfica. As a result, it was more or less Chelsea or Saudi Arabia. Felix is ​​said to be excited to return to West London, but he will be just one of eight forwards fighting for a starting place. Maybe Felix will find a way to thrive amid the chaos at Stamford Bridge, but what he has long needed is stability, not more uncertainty. Rating: F

August 17: Desire Doue (from Rennes to PSG, 50 million euros)

For Rennes: Further proof of the fantastic work being done by the club’s youth system. A prodigious teenage talent sold for a big fee, Doue is just following in the footsteps of Ousmane Dembélé, Mathys Tel and Eduardo Camavinga. Replacing the winger, who provided four goals and four assists in just 17 Ligue 1 starts last season, won’t be easy and will likely take some time, but then again, if anyone can do it, it’s Rennes! Rating: A

For Paris Saint-Germain: another exciting signing. Over the last two windows, PSG have adopted a similar recruitment policy to Chelsea, in that they are now focusing their attention on signing promising players. The big difference, however, is that the French club’s approach is more on quality than quantity. By signing Doue, they have pulled off a real coup, as the 19-year-old had also been targeted by clubs such as Manchester United and Bayern Munich. The fee is considerable, but last season Doue proved to be one of the most interesting dribblers in European football. Rating : A

For Doue: The next logical step. A move to Paris rather than Manchester or Munich makes perfect sense for Doue, who won the 2022 European Under-17 Championship alongside PSG midfielder Warren Zaire-Emery, meaning he should fit right in at the Parc des Princes, both on and off the pitch. Unsurprisingly for someone so young, he still has some flaws in his game, but his former coaches say he is a humble and dedicated kid who is always looking to improve. The €50m fee will obviously bring with it some pressure and PSG are not short of options, so establishing himself as a starter won’t be easy. But that’s probably no bad thing at this stage of his career. Plus, he should still be given plenty of opportunities to impress a crowd clamouring for a new hero following the departure of Kylian Mbappe. Grade: A-

August 13: Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern to United, £43m)

For Bayern Munich: a good deal. Bayern seemed to have pulled off a masterstroke by signing De Ligt from Juventus for far less than the Italians had paid for him in 2022, but after it looked like he could become a mainstay of the Bavarian defence for years to come, the Dutchman ended up falling into place. He looked nothing like the superb centre-back we had seen at Ajax. He remained a regular until the end of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure, but the mere fact that Bayern were so willing to sell him is telling, as is his tally of exactly zero minutes for the Netherlands at Euro 2024. Bayern will be happy to have recouped a significant portion of the fee they paid for a player they no longer wanted. Rating: B+

For Manchester United: a risk worth taking. There are definitely concerns that De Ligt has been overrated during his time in Amsterdam – he just hasn’t proven capable of performing consistently at the highest level. But the fee isn’t astronomical, and who better than his former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag to bring him back? Plus, let’s face it, De Ligt is significantly more talented than many of the centre-backs United had on their books last season! Grade: B

For De Ligt: potentially his last chance to prove himself at a club of this size. De Ligt is still only 24, but if he fails at United, after disappointing at both Juventus and Bayern, it is hard to imagine another member of Europe’s elite paying big money for his services. But there are ongoing doubts about his pace and propensity for unforced errors and costly lapses in concentration. He should have plenty of chances to do well under Ten Hag at Old Trafford. Grade: B+

August 9: Dani Olmo (from RB Leipzig to Barcelona, ​​€55m)

For RB Leipzig:  A transfer that has been expected for quite some time, which is why they fought so hard to retain Xavi Simons. Olmo has long been linked with a move away from the Red Bull Arena, so his standout performance at Euro 2024 made his departure a formality. On the surface, the fee might seem a little low for one of the key players in Spain’s triumph in Germany, but we’re talking about a 26-year-old attacker who never managed to score more than five times in a Bundesliga season. Leipzig have also effectively recouped double what they paid for Olmo when they signed him from Dinamo Zagreb back in 2020. Grade: B+

For Barcelona:  A welcome relief. It’s fair to say that Barcelona fans were starting to get impatient with the new season coming and the club still having not signed a player. The return of a former youth team star will obviously take the tension down a notch. Of course, there will be questions about what Hansi Flick has in mind with Olmo, and whether his arrival will result in the sale of any other strikers, but the Spanish international is capable of playing on either wing, as well as in the number 10 role he played so effectively for his country at the Euros. Being back at Barca could bring out the best in Olmo. Grade: B 

For Olmo:  A late chance to become a star at Barcelona. Olmo shocked the club when he decided to leave for Dinamo in the summer of 2014 when he was just 16, but he would argue that leaving La Masia benefited his development as a player and a person in the long term. Still, the challenge now for Olmo is to achieve the kind of consistency that has eluded him up to this point in his career. We know he has been blessed with wonderful technique – we saw it at the Euros – but his end product has always been an issue. The onus is now on Olmo to prove he can perform on a weekly basis at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Grade: A

August 6: Conor Gallagher (Chelsea to Atletico Madrid, €40m)

For Chelsea: A damning indictment of the club’s ridiculous transfer policy. Gallagher was one of Chelsea’s best players last season; he ranked third in Premier League goal involvements, with only Cole Palmer registering more assists, plus he also won back possession more times (221) than any of his teammates. And yet he has been sold simply because he is a product of the academy, meaning the sheer profit made on his departure will help solve some of the financial problems caused by the owners’ disastrous spending spree. It has been argued that Gallagher doesn’t fit Enzo Maresca’s style of play, but the fans aren’t completely stupid: the England international is far more adaptable and talented than many members of an overrated squad full of flops. A local hero has been dismissed in a contemptuous manner solely to balance the books. Shameful. Grade: F

For Atletico Madrid: A fascinating move that could either go right or wrong. Few expected Atletico to make Gallagher the most expensive signing of the La Liga transfer window so far, but he could fit seamlessly into Diego Simeone’s starting XI. Gallagher is the kind of all-round midfielder the Argentine loves, a pressing machine who should immediately win over his new manager and the club’s fans. Of course, the pressure will also obviously be on the 24-year-old to prove he has the technical level needed to thrive in Spain. Gallagher has his limitations, as we saw briefly at the Euros, while there is stiff competition for midfield places at the Metropolitano. Still, he could prove to be a somewhat cheap buy, given that his high-energy game, at least in theory, suits Simeone’s intensive style of play. Grade: B

For Gallagher: A tremendous challenge, but one he should relish. Gallagher would clearly have preferred to stay at Stamford Bridge, given that he has been in the ranks of Chelsea since the age of eight. Even after it became clear that he would have to leave his boyhood club, he would likely have preferred a move to another Premier League side, and it has been reported that he had serious doubts about moving to Madrid. However, the likes of Jude Bellingham have shown the benefits of playing on the continent in recent years and Gallagher’s game should really benefit from working with Simeone, who should be able to teach the Englishman a thing or two about the art of tenacious play in midfield. Gallagher also joins Atletico at a very exciting time, with the capital club clearly targeting next season’s La Liga title after a busy summer window. It may not feel like it at the moment, but being forced out of Chelsea could prove to be a blessing in disguise. Grade: B+

August 6: Julian Alvarez (from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid, €75m)

For Manchester City: Another big-ticket item for a player they didn’t necessarily need. City have cashed in on the likes of Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Cole Palmer in recent seasons, and none of those departures have dented the club’s unprecedented run of Premier League success. Alvarez is a great player – he’s proven that at both club and international level – but the arrival of Savinho this summer has intensified the competition for starting places around undisputed No.9 striker Erling Haaland. It’s therefore not in the least surprising that City have accepted a massive offer, potentially totalling €95m, for his €21m signing from River Plate. Rating: A

For Atletico Madrid: A colossal statement of intent. During a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far, Atletico had already stood out as one of the most active participants, bringing in the likes of Alexander Sorloth, Robin Le Normand and Conor Gallagher. The addition of Alvarez, however, is on another level. The Argentine is a multi-functional striker who has already won virtually every major trophy in the game by the age of 24. He has also managed to score goals consistently despite limited playing time and being regularly used outside of his preferred position. The fee may be large, but Alvarez’s potential is even greater. He could explode at the Metropolitano next season. Grade: A-

For Alvarez: The chance he has long craved. We have long known that Alvarez is good enough to lead the attacking line on a weekly basis for a top team; it was only the presence of Haaland that was holding him back at the Etihad. Now he has the chance to prove that he can become an elite striker in his own right. He certainly has all the tools to do so; he is quick, physically strong, technically gifted and an incredibly hard worker – basically everything Diego Simeone looks for in a No.9. Given the size of the investment in his services, Alvarez will receive plenty of attention this season, but as he showed at Qatar 2022 and while leading the line at City during Haaland’s injury absences, he has the talent and temperament to become one of the best centre-forwards in the game. Look for him to embrace the pressure of playing for such an ambitious club and in front of such passionate supporters. Grade: A

August 6: Dani Olmo (From RB Leipzig to Barcelona, ​​€55m)

For RB Leipzig: A transfer that had been in the works for quite some time, which is why they fought so hard to retain Xavi Simons. Olmo has long been linked with an exit from the Red Bull Arena, so his standout performance at Euro 2024 made his departure a formality. On the surface, the fee might seem a little low for one of the key players in Spain’s triumph in Germany, but we’re talking about a 26-year-old attacker who never managed to score more than five times in a single Bundesliga season. Leipzig have also effectively gotten double what they paid for Olmo when they signed him from Dinamo Zagreb back in 2020. Grade: B+

For Barcelona: A welcome relief. It’s fair to say that Barcelona fans were getting a little nervous with the new season approaching and the club still having not signed any players. The return of a former youth team star will obviously ease the tension a little. Of course, there will be questions about what Hansi Flick plans to do with Olmo, and whether his arrival will result in the sale of another striker, but the Spanish international is capable of playing on either wing, as well as in the number 10 role he played so effectively for his country at the Euros. Being back at Barca could bring out the best in Olmo. Grade: B

For Olmo: A late chance to become a star at Barcelona. Olmo shocked the club when he decided to join Dinamo in the summer of 2014, when he was just 16, but he would argue that leaving La Masia benefited his development as a player and a person in the long term. However, the challenge now for Olmo is to achieve the consistency that has eluded him up to this point in his career. We know he has been blessed with wonderful technique – we saw it at the Euros – but his end product has always been an issue. The onus is now entirely on Olmo to prove he can perform on a weekly basis at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Grade: A

August 5: Joao Neves (from Benfica to PSG, €70m)

For Benfica:  Very mixed emotions. Once again, the Portuguese club have got a huge sum of money for one of their star players, but fans are devastated by the departure of another academy graduate after such a short time in the first team.  President Rui Costa says he understands and shares the pain of fans,  but pointed out that PSG made an offer for a teenager that was simply too good to turn down. This deal has only enhanced Benfica’s reputation as masters of the transfer market in terms of getting huge sums for promising players (just look at the obscene amounts of money they have got for Darwin Nunez and Enzo Fernandez in recent windows), but that is little consolation for frustrated Eagles fans right now, especially as there is a real risk that Neves could end up being worth far more than they paid for him. Rating: 7 

For PSG:  A reminder that the club backed by Qatari money is still capable of big-money signings. Admittedly, it’s a steep sum for a 19-year-old, but Neves’ world-class potential is undeniable. He really could become a global star, which is why PSG have done very well to sign Neves for just €20m more than Bayern Munich paid for another Portuguese defensive midfielder, Joao Palhinha, who is 10 years older than his Portugal teammate. The Ligue 1 champions are still known for wasting millions in the transfer market, but the recent shift in recruitment policy led by Luis Campos, who decided to move away from superstar signings to focus on young players with huge potential, should eventually pay off for the Parisians. Certainly, Neves, who was wanted by several top European teams, could become a regular at the Parc des Princes in the coming years. Rating: 9 

For Neves:  Pros and cons galore. PSG are not the most stable of environments and it is worth noting that Manuel Ugarte, who joined the French club from Portugal last summer for a similar fee, was unable to secure a place in Luis Enrique’s XI last season. Neves, however, appears to have even more qualities than the Uruguayan and could form an enviable midfield with compatriot Vitinha, fellow teenager Warren Zaire-Emery and perhaps even Fabian Ruiz if the Spaniard stays. Much will be expected of Neves, but he should excel in Ligue 1 and also build on what was an impressive Champions League group stage campaign with Benfica last season. Rating: 8

August 5: Xavi Simons (PSG to RB Leipzig, loan)

For PSG:  A strange move from a club still looking to strengthen its squad. A permanent exit away from the Parc des Princes seemed to suit both PSG and Simons, who has made just seven Ligue 1 appearances since being signed from Barcelona in 2019. Instead, a final decision on the Dutchman’s long-term future has been postponed for another season. Of course, PSG could end up making even more money off Simons next summer if he has another impressive campaign at Leipzig, but one imagines the Parisians would have preferred to cash in on a player Luis Enrique clearly feels he can do without, given that outside interest in the attacker’s services only intensified following his standout performance at the Euros. Rating: 5 

For RB Leipzig: A lovely ending. After hitting double-digit figures for both goals and assists last season at the Red Bull Arena, Simons looked set to join a club in Europe’s elite this summer. Even the youngster was tipped to end up at none other than Bayern Munich, which would have been a bittersweet resolution for fans. Rouven Schroder and Co. therefore deserve enormous credit for convincing Simons that a second season on loan at Leipzig would be in the best interest of his career. If the club can also retain Dani Olmo, this would be a wonderful summer for coach Marco Rose, regardless of what happens before the transfer window closes. Rating: 9

For Simons: A surprising, but perhaps sensible decision. Xavi looked set to take another step up the ladder, having first proven himself at PSV before excelling at Leipzig last season. However, it is rumoured that after initially agreeing to move to Munich, he began to have doubts about how much playing time he would see at the Allianz Arena. Consequently, he was lured back to Leipzig by the promise of a role of even greater responsibility and importance for the upcoming campaign. It could prove to be the right decision. Simons is still incredibly young and, like Benjamin Sesko, who has also decided to stay at the Red Bull Arena amid constant transfer rumours, could benefit from another year at a club known for nurturing talent before leaving. Rating: 8

Niklas Füllkrug (from Borussia Dortmund to West Ham, €31.5m)

For Dortmund:  A tremendous fee for a 31-year-old centre-forward. Füllkrug was one of BVB’s top two scorers last season and played a crucial role in their remarkable run to the Champions League final, with great goals against Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. He also impressed coming off the bench for Germany at the Euros. At the end of the day, though, Dortmund have younger, more attractive attacking options and have gotten double what they paid for the player a year ago – that’s a great deal by any measure. Rating: 9 

For West Ham:  A bit of a surprise. The Hammers were obviously in desperate need of a new centre-forward, given that both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings are over 30, but for that very reason it was assumed that they would bring in a much younger player, such as Jhon Duran. Instead, they ended up with Füllkrug, whose best years are undoubtedly behind him. In that sense, the price paid is surprising, but that doesn’t mean that the Germany international won’t prove a valuable addition, at least in the short term. In fact, he has the flair and personality to become a cult hero at the London Stadium if he gets off to a good start. Rating: 6.5 

For Füllkrug:  A chance in the Premier League that he should really relish. The German seems ideally suited and built for the English style of play, while his underrated technique could make him an excellent target man for the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen. As he showed during the Euros, he is a player capable of making a huge impact on matches even when he doesn’t start. Rating: 8

July 30: Filip Jörgensen (from Villarreal to Chelsea, €24.5m)

For Villarreal:  It’s always a pleasure to do business with Chelsea. Last summer, the Yellow Submarine sold Nicolas Jackson to the Blues for €37 million after the striker’s scoring streak during the second half of the 2022-23 season. Now,They have received another 24.5 million for a player who only made his La Liga debut in January last year. It is pure profit, too, given that Jörgensen came through the Villarreal youth system. Although the Danish Under-21 international was set to be Marcelino’s first-choice goalkeeper, it was another offer from Chelsea that the club simply couldn’t refuse. Rating: 8 

For Chelsea:  Totally in line with the club’s recent transfer strategy of buying as many promising youngsters as possible and giving them long-term contracts. Although Jörgensen could prove to be a good spender’s money. He clearly lacks experience, having only become Villarreal’s first-choice goalkeeper last season, but he ended up making more saves than any other goalkeeper in La Liga (143) and his impressive distribution is the main reason the Blues believe the Swedish-born shot-stopper will be ideal for Enzo Maresca’s style of play. Rating: 6.5 

For Jörgensen:  “A dream come true,” as he put it. This time last year, Jörgensen could never have imagined that he would be signed by one of the most prominent clubs on the planet during the 2024 summer transfer window. However, he improved considerably at La Cerámica last season and is now speaking optimistically about establishing himself as Chelsea’s first-choice goalkeeper, given that Robert Sánchez and Djordje Petrovic are not exactly elite players. Jörgensen remains a diamond in the rough, but the truth is that, despite the chaos and turmoil at Stamford Bridge, he would not have been given such an unexpected opportunity at any other top team. Rating: 9

July 29: Riccardo Calafiori (from Bologna to Arsenal, €50m)

For Bologna:  Another painful loss in a summer of devastating departures. Bologna may have shocked Serie A by qualifying for this season’s Champions League, but they have since seen manager Thiago Motta leave for Juventus and their star striker Joshua Zirkee leave for Manchester United. Calafiori’s departure has only deepened the heartbreak for fans. The fact that the Italian club are only getting half the money Arsenal paid due to the sell-on clause Basel shrewdly included in the contract Calafiori signed last summer is also hard to swallow. The Rossoblu have, it is true, made a tidy profit on a player they had paid just 4 million for just a year ago, but not getting even a second season out of the 22-year-old is a bitter blow. Still, at least he didn’t join another Serie A side… Rating: 6.5 

For Arsenal:  A player made for Mikel Arteta and his aim to create a fantastically fluid footballing team. Some Arsenal fans have questioned this signing, given that the Gunners have an established centre-back pairing in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, while the versatile Jurrien Timber will also be fully fit for the start of the new season. Such scepticism is understandable.  But Calafiori is a multi-talented player and his signing is only going to give Arteta even more options. This is a defender so good on the ball that Luciano Spalletti even used him as a No. 10 in an Italy training match during the Euros, while his line-breaking ability was perfectly illustrated by his wonderful pass for Italy’s last-gasp equaliser in the decisive group game against Croatia. Where will Calafiori fit in at Arsenal? Pretty much anywhere Arteta decides to deploy him. Rating: 9 

For Calafiori:  An offer too good to turn down.  It would clearly have made more sense for Calafiori to follow Motta to Juventus, given that it was the manager who was instrumental in his transformation from attacking left-back to ball-handling central defender. But the 22-year-old should also relish being under Arteta, who is likely to see him as a significant upgrade compared to Oleksandr Zinchenko, a left-sided defender who is capable of serving as a supporting midfielder. Calafiori will obviously need time to adjust to a new league and language, but don’t let the headband and good looks fool you: the lad is extremely determined and has the talent to become Italy’s next great defender. Rating: 8.5

July 22: Amadou Onana (Everton to Aston Villa, €59m)

For Everton:  A sale that comes as no surprise. The Toffees have well-documented financial problems which made the permanent transfer of a first-choice player imperative. Fans will hope that Onana’s departure means they don’t have to sell the far more popular Jarrad Branthwaite as well. While there is a recognition at Goodison Park that the Belgium international has the potential to develop into a world-class defensive midfielder, there is also a sense that he saw the club as a stepping stone and only turned up for big games to put himself in the spotlight. In that sense, all that matters to supporters is keeping Branthwaite, who is wanted by Manchester United, and seeing some of the money earned by Onana – which is undeniably decent for such an inconsistent player – reinvested in Sean Dyche’s side. Rating: 7 

For Aston Villa:  Douglas Luiz’s replacement? The 22-year-old is not yet as complete a midfielder as the Brazilian, who joined Juventus last month, meaning he will probably only be asked to slot in ahead of the defence, but Onana is determined to prove he is capable of becoming a true box-to-box player. He doesn’t yet offer a goal threat like Luiz, of course, but he is physically imposing, strong in the air and a good distributor of the ball. Honestly, the price tag seems a little high, but Onana definitely has high potential and is the kind of commanding presence Villa’s midfield has been missing. Rating: 6.5 

For Onana:  A chance to show what he’s really made of, at a club that will be playing in the Champions League next season. Onana is highly rated by Belgium manager Domenico Tedesco and played every minute of the Red Devils’ Euro 2024 campaign, but he wasn’t especially impressive and clearly needs to work on the attacking side of his game. Still, the presence of international teammate Youri Tielemans should help him settle quickly into Emery’s midfield, while he could end up being the perfect complement to Boubacar Kamara in a midfield double pivot when the Frenchman returns from injury. Indeed, any way you look at the deal, Onana should at least benefit from playing under a better manager at Villa Park, and alongside better players too. Rating: 7

July 18: Leny Yoro (from Lille to Manchester United, €62m)

For Lille: An incredible price for a lad who only had one year left on his contract. The French club’s main concern last season was to retain Yoro during the winter transfer window to help keep their bid for Champions League qualification alive. With that dual objective achieved, Yoro was destined to leave this summer and the only question was for how much. Lille have done a sensational job, then, in convincing Yoro to join United rather than Real Madrid, given that the Old Trafford outfit offered significantly more money. Losing such a promising player is obviously a huge setback for a club that also saw manager Paulo Fonseca leave for AC Milan during the summer, but his departure will mean funds are coming in to strengthen the squad ahead of the Champions League third qualifying round. Rating: 9

For Manchester United: An encouraging sign. Realistically, most United fans have probably never seen Yoro play, but it’s not surprising that his impending arrival is being so widely celebrated, given the club’s recent struggles, coupled with Madrid’s interest in the centre-back. Yoro is without a doubt one of the most exciting young players in Europe, an 18-year-old with 60 Ligue 1 appearances who has been compared to William Saliba due to his comfort on the ball. There are legitimate concerns about the Frenchman’s physique, who will clearly need to bulk up to match the demands of the Premier League, but the lad’s huge potential is unquestionable. There is certainly a temptation to sarcastically congratulate United for “saying the biggest number” given that they have paid well above market value, but the English club’s new owners deserve credit for landing such a coveted prospect even without having qualified for the Champions League. Rating: 8

For Yoro: A bit of a gamble. Old Trafford has proven to be something of a career killer in recent years. Many top talents with far more experience than Yoro have been gobbled up and spat out by a club in a constant state of flux. In reality, he probably would have been better off joining Madrid, whose orderly squad-building philosophy contrasts markedly with United’s scattergun approach to the transfer market. His two compatriots, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga, certainly don’t seem to have any regrets about joining Los Blancos at a young age. Still, United have a serious lack of quality in the centre of defence, meaning Yoro should get plenty of game time at what remains one of the biggest clubs in the world. The potential arrival of Matthijs de Ligt could also prove positive for Yoro, as there would be far more pressure on the Dutchman to perform straight away than on the youngster, who will hopefully have time to adapt to Manchester. Rating: 7

July 18: Mason Greenwood (Manchester United to Olympique de Marseille, €30m)

For Manchester United: The end of one of the most depressing and terribly drawn-out sagas in the club’s history. United have handled the entire Greenwood affair horribly from start to finish and have offended and mistreated numerous supporters and club workers over the past two years. From a purely financial point of view, the English club have done well to secure such a high price for a player that most teams in Europe would not even consider signing. They have also managed to insert a substantial sell-on clause into his contract with Marseille but, to be brutally honest, it just feels wrong to know that United will probably make more money off of Greenwood, who should have been dumped the moment the Red Devils decided he was no longer fit to represent the club. Rating: 1

For Marseille: A predictably divisive deal. Even the mayor of Marseille has weighed in, saying that signing Greenwood goes against “the values” of the city and the club. OM believe this was too good an opportunity to pass up, given that the striker is such a huge talent that Marseille would never have been able to afford to sign him under normal circumstances. The club will argue that the former England international was never found guilty of any crime and that they were well within their rights to sign a versatile player who should bring a lot to Roberto De Zerbi’s side. Olyimpique are also well aware that modern football fans are volatile – if Greenwood scores goals, supporters will soon forget the controversy surrounding his arrival and will defend the deal to the death. It’s terribly sad but it’s the way of the modern game. Ethics no longer enter into the equation. Rating: 1

For Greenwood: Another step up the ladder for a player whose career seemed over not long ago. After being ousted by United, Greenwood relaunched his career during a successful loan spell at Getafe, where he contributed to 14 goals in 33 appearances last season. The challenge now is for him to maintain that momentum at Marseille. It’s a chaotic environment but a massive club, meaning the Englishman has a golden opportunity to reassert himself as one of the best young attackers in football. Certainly, working with De Zerbi has the potential to take his game to a whole new level. The more goals he scores, and the more time he spends, the more likely he is to be back playing in the Premier League in a few years. Rating: 8

July 18: Savinho (Troyes to Manchester City, €35m)

For Troyes: A very modern affair and a glaring example of the dangers of multi-club ownership. Savinho signed for Troyes two years ago but never played a single game for the club. The Frenchman was (and still is) a cog in someone else’s game. Troyes will obviously receive a significant sum of money from their owner, the City Football Group (CFG), but will that make fans feel any better about the fact that they have suffered two consecutive relegations since Savinho became their record signing? Surely fans will once again be sarcastically chanting ‘Merci, City!’ when Troyes kick off their Championnat National campaign next month. Rating: 1

For Manchester City: The perfect illustration of why CFG stockpiles talent across its many clubs around the world. City signed a kid from Atletico Mineiro via Troyes, let him make his first European breakthrough at PSV, watched him grow at Girona and eventually brought him to the Etihad. Savinho is basically proof that their system works and illustrates why other club owners are trying to copy it. In this case, there’s no point in looking at the fee. It’s basically irrelevant – ultimately, money comes out of the same place it comes in. But from a footballing perspective, Savinho should be an excellent addition to City’s squad. He’s only 20 but has already made seven appearances for Brazil. And you can understand why. The winger scores as well as creates goals, can play on either wing and is a devastating dribbler (he completed more than anyone else in La Liga last season). Basically, Savinho and Jeremy Doku are going to be a serious problem for the Premier League next season. Rating: 9

For Savinho: The obvious next step in his career. The hope was that Savinho would prove good enough to make the jump to Manchester and the Brazilian did exactly that at Girona last season, with his nine goals and 10 assists proving key to Los Blanc-i-Vermell qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history. Of course, he won’t be one of the key players at City – at least not immediately – given the intense competition for places in Guardiola’s starting lineup. But there is a changing of the guard brewing in the Manchester squad and Savinho should be a big part of the process. It may take a little time to get used to the Premier League (and Pep’s demands) but it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see the winger quickly become a fan favourite at the Etihad. Rating: 9

July 17: Alvaro Morata (from Atletico Madrid to AC Milan, €13.5m)

For Atletico Madrid: An unsurprising departure. Morata may be the captain of the Euro 2019 champions and coming off the most prolific season of his club career (21 goals in 48 appearances), but it became clear during the second half of last season that he no longer had the confidence of Diego Simeone, who even brought the striker off at half-time in the Champions League semi-final defeat to Borussia Dortmund. In that context, €13.5m is not a bad sum for a 31-year-old centre-forward, which will now allow the Colchoneros to look for a younger, more clinical finisher. Rating: 7

For AC Milan: A risk worth taking. Morata is a complex character who has struggled with his mental health throughout his career but, when he is happy, he is a formidable striker. And, in theory, he should be very happy in Milan: his wife is Italian and the player returns to Serie A at a good time after establishing himself with Spain at continental level. Indeed, there is justified optimism at San Siro that Morata will have a positive impact on the dressing room, in particular on Milan’s younger players. Following the departure of Olivier Giroud, the Rossoneri also wanted an experienced, hard-working striker capable of creating time and space for their talented wingers. In Morata, that is exactly what they have – and for a low price too! Rating: 6

For Morata: A predictable return to Italy. Morata has plenty of fond memories from his time in Turin and could find Milan just as enjoyable. He will surely enjoy playing alongside Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, while new manager Paulo Fonseca apparently considered Morata a better fit for his style of play than Joshua Zirkzee, who ended up joining Manchester United instead. Is Morata a sure starter? It’s hard to say at the moment. The Rossoneri are said to still be looking for at least one or two more strikers for next season, which makes sense, given that the Spaniard has never been a guarantee of goals (he only scored one at the Euros). However, at this stage of his career, the Spain captain would likely accept a rotational role. Plus, it’s clear that he no longer felt comfortable in Madrid, while he and his family will feel right at home in Lombardy. Rating: 9

July 14: Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna to Manchester United, €40m)

For Bologna: A bitter but entirely unavoidable blow. It has been clear for a couple of months that Bologna had no chance of retaining a promising player who had an exit clause of just €40m. The final fee will be slightly higher, but the Rossoblu will only get half the money anyway, given that Bayern Munich had secured a percentage of a future sale when they shipped the striker to Italy. It is hard not to feel sorry for the fans, who were thrilled after their side’s shock Champions League qualification, but have now seen their manager (Thiago Motta) and star striker move on from Renato Dall’Ara, with defence leader Riccardo Calafiori set to follow in their footsteps. Rating: 3

For Manchester United: An intriguing transfer. Zirkzee is coming off the best season of his career and his superb form earned him a last-minute call-up to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024. Given his Zlatan Ibrahimovic-like technique, the Dutchman should prove wonderfully adept at creating space and opportunities for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho. United have also done well to see off stiff competition from AC Milan for Zirkzee’s services, while Juventus and Arsenal had also sought the player in recent months. It’s a good deal from a financial perspective, too – Zirkzee is a player with high potential who has arrived at Old Trafford for a low price. But whether he is the answer to United’s goalscoring woes remains to be seen. After all, Zirkzee only scored 12 goals in all competitions last season… Rating: 7

For Zirkzee: A surprising turn of events. The word in Italy was that Zirkzee wanted to stay in Serie A and only had eyes for AC Milan. He had also made his desire to play in the Champions League quite clear, so it is interesting to see him join United, a club in a state of seemingly constant chaos that in no way guarantees they will achieve any stability next season. Indeed, you would have thought that Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles to excel would be enough to dissuade Zirkzee from moving to Manchester. Still, the 23-year-old is not short of confidence and certainly has the kind of skills that could quickly endear him to fans at Old Trafford. Rating: 8

July 11: Joao Palhinha (from Fulham to Bayern Munich, €50m)

For Fulham: An inevitable departure. Fulham were set to lose one of the Premier League’s best defensive midfielders and the only surprise is that it has taken so long to happen. Palhinha is obviously going to be sorely missed by Marco Silva’s side, but the good thing is that the Cottagers have handled his departure as best they could. By getting Palhinha to sign a new contract last September, Fulham managed to get a decent fee for a player who is about to turn 29, while also giving themselves enough time to prepare for his departure. Rating: 7

For Bayern: Better late than never! Who knows how last season would have turned out had Bayern not failed to close this transfer on the final day of transfers? Still, it’s not time to look back. The Bavarian side can only focus on the future after a traumatic and turbulent 2023-24 season, and Palhinha should help him do just that. As the Portuguese showed at the Euros, there are few better ball-winners than him these days, so he should quickly become a key player at the Allianz Arena, meaning his arrival is worth celebrating. Bayern have finally got their man, and his arrival should soften the blow of Joshua Kimmich’s likely departure. Rating: 8

For Palhinha: The move he so desperately wanted. And deserved. Palhinha has earned the chance to play for one of Europe’s elite teams with his performances for Fulham and Portugal in recent years. It may have taken a little longer than he would have liked, but that means he will enjoy every moment even more. With all due respect to Fulham, he will also benefit from playing alongside more talented players every week. Rating: 9

July 7: Michael Olise (Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich, €60m)

For Crystal Palace: The best they could do under the circumstances. Olise was due to leave Palace this summer and the truth is that the London club have probably been lucky to keep him for so long. The aim, then, was always to get good money for such a talented player and Palace have managed that, with the added bonus of also managing to sell him to a foreign club and avoid having to face him in the Premier League. Indeed, seeing him sign for Chelsea, who pulled out of the race at the last minute, would have been hard for fans to swallow. Rating: 9

For Bayern Munich: Another serious show of intent following the deal for Joao Palhinha. It is certainly a significant amount of money for a 22-year-old who has yet to be called up at senior international level by France and has no experience of European competition. There will also be some concern about his recent hamstring problems. However, this is a player of enormous potential, a wonderful dribbler with a good eye for a pass, who fits perfectly with the desire to start an exciting new project in Bavaria. Several big Premier League clubs wanted Olise, but Bayern have landed him and he is a signing worth celebrating. Rating: 8

For Michael Olise: The right decision. A return to Chelsea would have been a horribly risky move and while there is intense competition for a place at the Allianz Arena, it is highly likely that at least one of Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sané and Serge Gnabry will be sold this summer. Indeed, it could be argued that all three players are in decline (or at least stagnant) while Olise is on the rise. There is the potential for the France Under-21 international to form an exciting attacking partnership with Jamal Musiala that will evoke memories of Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben, while Harry Kane should benefit greatly from the Frenchman’s creativity. Olise wanted to play in the Champions League and he wanted the chance to prove himself at the highest level. He will get both at one of the biggest clubs in world football. Rating: 9

July 2: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester to Chelsea, €35m)

For Leicester: A sadly inevitable consequence of reckless spending. It has been clear for some time that Leicester would eventually pay a price for failing to comply with financial regulations, meaning selling a product of their youth academy for pure profit was only a matter of time. Of course, that doesn’t make the departure of Dewsbury-Hall any easier to digest for fans. Leicester are back in the Premier League, but will arrive without a home-bred player who played a pivotal role in promotion from the Championship. Plus, he’s been sold for less than his market value. Bleak. Rating: 3

For Chelsea: A good piece of business, with the absolute emphasis on business. Is Dewsbury-Hall an upgrade on Conor Gallagher, who has been pushed a little closer to the Stamford Bridge exit door with this deal? Not at all. But he could prove to be a solid rotation player, given that he is fresh off the best season of his career under new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca and has arrived for a cut-rate fee, thanks to another club’s financial troubles. Rating: 5

For Dewsbury-Hall: An unexpected chance to prove he belongs in the Premier League. Dewsbury-Hall is 26 and has never been called up to the England squad at any level, but he has now put himself in a prime position to prove he can be an elite midfielder. Of course, the endemic chaos at Chelsea could count against him, and there are far more talented players than him in the midfield hierarchy, but Dewsbury-Hall’s energy, honesty and good left foot could end up endearing him to his new club’s notoriously fickle fans. Rating: 8

July 2: Archie Gray (Leeds to Tottenham, €35m)

For Leeds: A bitter blow. As soon as Leeds lost the Premier League play-off final against Southampton, it became clear that the club would have to sell one of its most valuable assets to balance the books. With the sale of Gray, Leeds have achieved that, but it is still a difficult transfer to accept. The Englishman is only 18 years old and, given his ancestry, it seems as if they are selling grandma’s jewel. On the positive side, the club managed to reach a much more favourable agreement with Tottenham, which includes Welsh international Joe Rodon. Rating: 6

For Tottenham: A potentially lucrative purchase. Many Premier League clubs were impressed by Gray’s performances last season, both in the Championship and FA Cup, so this is a notable deal for Tottenham. Liverpool and Chelsea were among those interested in signing the England Under-21 international. It’s also a very reasonable price for a player capable of playing at right-back or in central midfield. Ange Postecoglou will be keen to work with Gray, who seems ideal for his project. Rating: 8

For Gray: A move that could turn out very well. Gray would probably have preferred to stay at Leeds, at least for another season, but their failure to win promotion made his departure a formality. He has already shown enough in his budding career to make it clear that he deserves to play regularly in the Premier League, which is exactly what he should get at Tottenham next season. Gray might have been lost at Chelsea and wouldn’t have been guaranteed game time at Liverpool, but he should be in for plenty of action in north London. One of the signings to watch in 2024-25. Rating: 8.5

June 30: Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa to Juventus, €28m + Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior)

For Aston Villa: A necessary evil. Villa’s Financial Fair Play issues necessitated the sale of a valuable asset and Luiz unfortunately fit that description – a highly coveted midfielder, with two years left on his contract and who had been snapped up for a bargain €18m. However, losing the Brazilian is a massive blow. It has been noted that his form dipped a little towards the end of last season, but he still ended up contributing nine goals and five assists to the Villains’ fourth-place finish in the Premier League. Barrenechea joins from Juve along with striker Iling-Junior, but there is no guarantee that the Argentine will adapt to the Premier League after a disappointing loan spell at Frosinone last season. Rating: 4.5

For Juventus: A timely boost. With Adrien Rabiot’s future still up in the air and no real progress made in the pursuit of Teun Koopmeiners, Juve’s notoriously thin midfield was crying out for reinforcements. Luiz’s goal-scoring threat will be much welcomed in Turin and renowned sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, who joined from Napoli last summer, deserves credit for managing to bring in one of the club’s top targets while simultaneously getting rid of two reserves. Rating: 8

For Douglas Luiz: The right move at the right time. Luiz has been regularly linked with a move away from Villa Park and this seems to be a deal that benefits everyone involved, albeit for different reasons. From Luiz’s perspective, he gets the chance to play for one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, just as he is likely to undergo a dramatic (and much-needed) transformation in his playing style under Thiago Motta, who worked wonders at Bologna last season. In fact, it’s quite easy to imagine the manager being able to take Luiz’s game to another level in Turin and make him a key component in a team that is bound to be back in the spotlight next season. This is an exciting time for the 26-year-old and his new club. Rating: 8

June 28: Ian Maatsen (Chelsea to Aston Villa, €44.5m)

For Chelsea: Chelsea needed to sell players before the end of June to avoid any potential punishment for breaching financial regulations and already have a couple of international left-backs in their ranks, so cashing in on an academy product like Maatsen (signed from PSV as a teenager) was an obvious decision. The fact that the 22-year-old would be a better option at left-back next season than Marc Cucurella or Ben Chilwell doesn’t even enter into the equation. This is strictly business. Rating: 6

For Aston Villa: A potential solution to their left-back problem. Maatsen’s name has obviously appeared in various stories about the controversial ‘swap weekend’ adopted by several Premier League sides in the hope of bypassing Financial Fair Play before the end of June, but while the fee might be slightly inflated, this deal is different to others involving Villa, Chelsea, Everton and Newcastle in that it also makes sense from a sporting perspective. Maatsen was so good during his six-month loan spell at Borussia Dortmund that he even made the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season before being called up at the last minute to play at Euro 2024 with the Netherlands. Therefore, with this transfer, Villa are basically killing two birds with one stone. Rating: 7

For Maatsen: A good alternative to Dortmund. The Dutchman would probably have been better off staying at BVB after making such an instant impact at Signal Iduna Park, but the Germans were understandably put off by Chelsea’s asking price to make the move permanent. Still, a move to Villa could work out wonderfully well for Maatsen, given that this is a team that is clearly progressing under Unai Emery, who has done a sensational job since replacing Steven Gerrard as manager just over 18 months ago. Unlike Chelsea, Villa will be in the Champions League next season, meaning Maatsen will get another immediate chance to shine on the biggest stage in club football. Right now, for a player like Maatsen, Villa definitely represent a step up in quality and stability. Rating: 8

June 22: Estevao Willian (from Palmeiras to Chelsea, €34.5m)

For Palmeiras: They’ve done it again! A year after sealing a €60m deal with Real Madrid for Endrick, Palmeiras have now closed another multi-million euro deal with a top European club, which in this case could go as high as €62m, with the possibility of retaining their potential superstar until he turns 18. Of course, it’s sad to see such talents leave Brazil so early, but this is the depressing nature of the transfer market today. Most clubs now rely on their academies to make ends meet. There are also no guarantees that promising players will succeed at the highest level, so Palmeiras deserve praise not only for developing Estevao and giving him the chance to shine, but also for securing such a hefty fee for someone so young. Rating: 9

For Chelsea: Quite a coup. The club’s recruitment policy is not very sophisticated: buy as many highly-rated young players as possible in the hope that at least one of them turns out to be the next Cole Palmer. However, Estevao seems to be as close to a sure bet as possible: there’s a reason Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were also interested in signing Messinho. Indeed, World Cup winner Branco says Estevao is the best Brazilian-born player since Neymar. He won’t arrive at Stamford Bridge until next summer, but based on everything we’ve seen so far, the winger will be worth the wait. Rating: 9

For Estevao: An undeniable risk. As mentioned above, Estevao had his pick of Europe’s elite and made the strange decision to sign for Chelsea. It is a club in a constant state of chaos where several young players, Palmer excluded, have almost inevitably failed to justify the huge fees paid for them. The Blues will not be in the Champions League next season and, having changed managers once again, there is no guarantee that they will be when Estevao arrives in a year’s time either. It is no surprise, then, that the decision to move to Chelsea has baffled many Brazilians, especially as Estevao said from the start that his dream was to join Barcelona. The Blaugrana’s financial problems obviously made that impossible and those close to the player say they think he is more likely to get game time at Stamford Bridge rather than the Etihad, Emirates, Parc des Princes or Allianz Arena, but the fear is that Estevao will struggle to make his way at Chelsea just as happened to his compatriot Andrey Santos, who spent all of last season on loan. Rating: 5

June 7: Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham to Chelsea, zero cost)

For Fulham: A significant but unsurprising blow. As soon as Adarabioyo turned down an offer that would have made him one of the club’s highest-paid players, it was clear his days at Craven Cottage were numbered. Still, seeing the centre-back leave on a zero-fee fee and then quickly join Chelsea will obviously be tough for both club and fans. Rating: 1

For Chelsea: Not exactly a signing that will excite fans at Stamford Bridge. Adarabioyo is hardly going to fill the gaping void left by Thiago Silva. On the contrary, his arrival will likely hasten the departure of academy product Trevoh Chalobah as Chelsea look to balance the books after unprecedented spending over the past two years. Adarabioyo is solid, should be a decent squad player and from a purely financial perspective the Blues will feel this deal makes a lot of sense. Rating: 6

For Adarabioyo: The time is right to try his luck at a higher level. He is now 26 and it is said that while Chelsea offered him a better financial package than Newcastle, the main reason he chose west London over Tyneside was the chance to play in continental competitions. Adarabioyo certainly won’t go straight into the starting XI and there is an obvious risk in joining such a chaotic club, but the familiarity with his surroundings and lack of pressure on his shoulders should at least make it easier for him to produce his best football. Rating: 7

June 3: Kylian Mbappé (from PSG to Real Madrid, zero cost)

For Paris Saint-Germain: Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated several times that there was no way PSG would let the world’s best player leave for zero cost. Well, it has happened, so this cannot be portrayed as anything other than a sporting and financial disaster for the French champions. Yes, the club will save a fortune on wages. Yes, Mbappé’s behaviour had become a big problem. But losing him without getting anything in return leaves the Qatari board looking very bad. In some ways, Mbappé may have done PSG a favour by exposing the folly of going after extremely high-profile signings and there are already signs that the club’s owners have taken note. However, the damage done to the PSG brand is colossal. The Parisian club really risks becoming irrelevant without its most saleable player. Mbappé was the marquee boy, the local hero and the “cornerstone” of the whole project. Now he’s gone and left the club on the brink of complete collapse. Rating: 1

For Real Madrid: Pure perfection. Florentino Perez has finally got his man and without having to pay a transfer fee. Obviously, Madrid are still shelling out a fortune to sign Mbappe, in terms of his wages and bonuses, but this has turned out better than anyone connected to the club could have hoped. It may have taken longer than they would have liked, but the Frenchman is only 25, meaning his peak years are still ahead of him. In that sense, it feels a lot like Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Madrid in 2009: an already world-class talent perfectly primed to take his game to another level at the biggest club in the world. Mbappe’s arrogance is obviously off the scale and there are question marks over where exactly he will play, but who better than Carlo Ancelotti, the master of managing egos, to make it work! Rating: 10

For Mbappé: A dream come true. Mbappé has wanted this since he was a child. He probably needs it at this stage of his career, too. There were those within French football who believed the attacker was stagnating in Paris, that he really needed a new challenge away from his hometown. Now, he has the biggest challenge football could give him: proving his greatness at Real Madrid. Obviously, anything less than Champions League glory and a first Ballon d’Or will be considered a failure, but if Mbappé stays fit, he will take Spain by storm, no matter what position he plays. Rating: 10