The summer transfer window is the time of year when owners brandish their chequebooks, managers plot for the season ahead, and players get the moves they’ve been pushing for. Ludicrous sums of money are splashed with all the financial liberality of Elon Musk, for this period marks pivotal, often season-defining groundwork that frequently makes and breaks teams. This is where the gulf of quality between sides either widens or closes, and where trophies are won and lost.

The total spend in the 2022 summer transfer window was a whopping, with £1.7 billion in the Premier League alone. While the international market may be hard-pushed to replicate that level of expenditure this time around, with several players already going for £100 million+, there’s certainly a possibility that we are on course for another record-breaking summer. With owners, managers, and recruitment teams continuously strategising, let’s take a look at the best transfers of the summer so far…

29 Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo to Napoli)

A player who perhaps hasn't got quite the same level of clout as that of many on this list, Italian forward, Giacomo Raspadori is debatably, the most underrated acquisition in Serie A this summer. The former Sassuolo man signed for Scudetto winners, Napoli for £26 million, following a promising season on loan in Naples during the 2023-24 season, with a respectable return of 11 G/A involvements in 35 games.

28 Sander Berge (Sheffield United to Burnley)

Perhaps an unexpected inclusion, Sander Berge’s switch from Sheffield United to Burnley is one seriously brilliant piece of business from Vincent Kompany’s Clarets. The Norwegian central midfielder is a sensational coup and one that simply can’t be overlooked both in terms of value for money, and what it means for the prospective survival hopes of Burnley and Sheffield United this season. A £12 million deal is an absolute steal as far as the Turf Moor residents are concerned, who have just nabbed one of their closest competitor’s brightest assets.

27 Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea to Nottingham Forest)

It was as recently as 2020 that Bayern Munich lodged a £70 million bid for Chelsea starlet, Callum Hudson Odoi. Unfortunately for the Blues winger, his career has never quite taken flight at Stamford Bridge, and as such was sent out on an unsuccessful loan to Bayer Leverkusen last term.

With the player’s desire to realise his potential and benefit from more game time, the 22-year-old Londoner has opted to join Nottingham Forest for just £5 million. While the keft-winger is yet to legitimately prove himself as a top level player, his track record as one of the hottest prospects in the world speaks for itself, and Steve Cooper will be hoping to unleash that untapped ability that was so heavily touted originally.

26 Ryan Gravenberch

It's too early to decide whether Liverpool's transfer window has been productive, although early signs certainly point towards it being so. After missing out on their two main central defensive midfield targets, Romeo Lavia and Moises Caicedo, Jurgen Klopp's men have landed Ryan Gravenberch, the talented Dutchman joined from Bayern Munich for £34.2 million, quite the snip when compared to the £110 million accepted for Caicedo.

25 Youri Tielemans (Leicester City to Aston Villa)

Arguably, the best free transfer of the summer is Aston Villa’s Youri Tielemans. The Belgian international joined Unai Emery’s galvanised Villans following the expiration of his deal at the King Power earlier in the summer. Bringing European pedigree, elegance, and creativity to Villa Park, this switch is quite the snip for Villa.

24 Elye Wahi (Montpellier to Lens)

A name that will ring bells for several Premier League clubs, including Chelsea, Arsenal,Tottenham, and West Ham who were all linked with moves for the forward this summer. The Frenchman enjoyed a breakthrough campaign last term with Montpellier, finding the net on 19 occasions, as well as teeing up teammates on six instances.

The France under-21 international has recorded an impressive 32 goals in 85 Ligue 1 appearances. Despite flirting with a Premier League switch, Champions League-bound Lens swooped first, landing the striker for a snip of just £30 million. Brought in as a direct replacement for the outgoing Loïs Openda who scored 21 goals last season, Wahi is certainly a like-for-like and a player who knows where the goal is.

23 Romeo Lavia (Southampton to Chelsea)

After what was seemingly weeks worth of back and forth between Chelsea and Liverpool over both Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia, the Blues landed the central defensive midfield pair. Initially expected to join Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool following a bid lodged by the Reds, Pochettino’s Chelsea used their pull-power and financial might to muscle in on the deal and persuade the highly thought-of prospect to come to West London. Lavia is another example of the new direction taken by owner, Todd Boehly who is looking to add long-term worth to his young, ever-growing squad

22 Matteo Kovacic (Chelsea to Manchester City)

Matteo Kovacic’s move to Manchester City is a transfer that has gone relatively under the radar. The Croatian central midfielder joined City for £25 million, a shrewd investment, and will definitely add depth to Guardiola’s Champions League-winning midfield.

21 João Pedro (Watford to Brighton)

Watford are a real basket case of a football club under the current ownership at Vicarage Road, so it is no real surprise that the Hornets are struggling to keep a hold of their best players. Brazilian, João Pedro is one such standout star in Hertfordshire, and his plethora of attributes, including that all-important Brazilian panache have naturally, attracted the attention of admirers, including Brighton who are looking to add depth to their Europa League squad, the Amex stadium occupants shelled out a club record-fee for the player who is all set to join up with his new teammates.

20 Marcus Thuram (Borussia Mönchengladbach to Inter Milan)

Son of French icon, Lilian Thuram, the former World Cup-winning French centre-back’s eldest has been dazzling for Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga over the last four seasons. Registering 56 G/A contributions in 111 Bundesliga games, Thuram has been nothing short of prolific. The France international turned down a new contract at Gladbach, and as such, has subsequently cemented a move to Inter Milan on a free transfer, a great move for both parties, and a frightening prospect for Serie A defences who could line up against Thuram, Lukaku, and Lautaro Martinez next term.

19 Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig to Chelsea)

Much was made of Chelsea’s stark lack of goalscoring options, and having converted just 38 times in front of goal last season, it was an area that was in dire need of strengthening. Mauricio Pochettino didn’t waste any time bringing in £52 million, Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig, the prolific forward registered a terrific 23 goals in 36 games across all competitions last season.

18 Kai Havertz (Chelsea to Arsenal)

Kai Havertz as a footballer captures the quintessence of positional confusion, having played under three managers at Chelsea in Lampard, Tuchel, and Potter, the German’s best position still remains unclear. Part of a major summer overhaul at the Bridge, Havertz found himself surplus to requirements under new boss Pochettino and was consequently moved on for £65 million to London rivals, Arsenal. Havertz links up with Mikel Arteta, and a Gunners side in rapid pursuit of Man City as they attempt to close the gap, and providing the Spaniard can resolve the positional difficulties, he may well unlock the potential that saw Chelsea part with £75 million for him.

17 James Ward-Prowse (Southampton to West Ham)

In one of those madly hypothetical games one might play with friends, where if your life depended on it "who would you pick to score from a set piece?", a fair assumption would be that most who are well-acquainted with footballing affairs in the Premier League would choose the master of the dead-ball, James Ward-Prowse. The Southampton captain was relegated last term after his side endured a truly dismal campaign at St. Mary's, however, the England international has been given a second bite at the cherry with West Ham, signing for the Irons on a deal worth quite the bargain of just £30 million. The central midfielder comes in to assume the mantle left by Declan Rice's departure, and as the Premier League's leading goalscorer from free-kicks, David Moyes will be hoping the 28-year-old can bring that same pinpoint accuracy to the London Stadium.

16 Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta to Manchester United)

Upon viewing the buoyant success of another Scandinavian marksman at their crosstown rivals, Manchester United went out and bought a Scandinavian striker of their own, in the form of Rasmus Hojlund, whose similar in background and even name to the Viking ripping up trees at the Etihad. The Dane sealed his move to the Red Devils for a fee of £72 million, and having already charted 44 goals in 116 senior appearances at the age of 20, he certainly looks to be every inch the goalscorer Erik ten Hag was crying out for last term.

15 Cole Palmer (Man City to Chelsea)

Does Pep Guardiola know something about Cole Palmer that we, the footballing public, don’t? Perhaps. However, irrespective of the embarrassment of riches the Spaniard has at his disposal, Cole Palmer comes from immense pedigree, and having risen through the age groups at Man City’s Academy, as well netting the equaliser in City’s UEFA Super Cup win over Sevilla and starring in England Under-21s European Championship triumph, the attacking midfielder was seemingly deemed surplus to requirements by Guardiola.

At 21 years old, Palmer has his entire career ahead of him, and his talents have been there for all to see in recent months. It makes his £45 million move to Chelsea all the more of a steal, with the West Londoners currently rebuilding under Mauricio Pochettino.

14 Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig to Liverpool)

Liverpool’s 2022-23 season was underwhelming, to say the least, from quadruple-chasers during the 21-22 campaign, to fifth in just a year, the fall-off at Anfield has been monumental. Heading into the upcoming season, Jürgen Klopp and the Reds will be seeking to rectify the mistakes of last term by tempering key areas, specifically at the back and in the midfield. The latter looked wearied, and with Henderson, Milner, Thiago, and Fabinho all on the wrong side of 30, it was inevitable a changing of the guard would take place this summer. Hungarian international, Dominik Szoboszlai was brought in from German outfit, RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £60 million. The highly-regarded midfielder has bags of creative flair, with a G/A contribution every 2.2 games in the Bundesliga.

13 James Maddison (Leicester to Tottenham)

The 2022-23 campaign is a period that James Maddison and his former teammates at Leicester will want to forget. Unceremoniously relegated from the Premier League, the attacking midfielder was understandably, a man in demand this summer, and according to reports was the subject of numerous bids. Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs reacted the quickest beating Newcastle to their man, and wrapped up a deal worth £40 million. A technically gifted footballer who has a sublime delivery, and pinpoint free-kick is exactly what is needed on Hotspur Way.

12 Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen to Aston Villa)

For those not well-acquainted with the Bundesliga, the name Moussa Diaby probably didn't mean too much before Aston Villa paid a club-record fee for his services this summer. The nippy Frenchman with electrifying pace, ferocious feet, and an exquisitely accurate shot put the fear of god into opposition defenders while at Bayer Leverkusen last term, and the early signs indicate the player could well be doing the same in the Premier League.

11 Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton to Liverpool)

Jude Bellingham looked likely to be heading for the North West until personal negotiations stalled and Los Blancos pounced. A disheartening start to transfer proceedings was quickly remedied with Brighton’s Alexis Mac Allister being the club's chosen antidote. Following an unforgettable 22-23 campaign, where the ginger Argentine lifted the World Cup, the midfielder was reportedly being lined up by several potential suitors, with Klopp and Liverpool’s recruitment team securing first dibs.

10 Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig to Manchester City)

The one thing Machester City don't do under Pep Guardiola is stagnate. You'd think after winning the treble last season, with some of the finest centre-backs in the world, that signing another world-class defender to that collection would be on the agenda. Think again, for £77 million, Josko Gvardiol's talents were procured from RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old Croatian international is certainly an investment in the future and will help ease the workload on Dias, Akanji, Ake, and Stones.