Highlights
- The Premier League-centric mentality has caused fans to overlook quality football being played in other countries.
- Some exceptional transfer deals have been made in foreign leagues this summer, such as Iñigo Martínez joining Barcelona on a free transfer and Victor Boniface moving to Bayer Leverkusen.
- AC Milan secured a great deal by signing Samuel Chukwueze from Villarreal for just £20 million, fending off competition from Arsenal.
The world of English football, and perhaps more specifically, the Premier League has become increasingly insular as time has gone on, with some fans, arguably, becoming progressively oblivious to worldly affairs that don't involve English clubs.
The Premier League-centric mentality has meant that the quality in other highly-respected footballing nations has been either shunned, ignored, or has simply gone unnoticed.
As the shaping of our footballing spheres gradually narrows and the process of introspection into our own football culture takes a firmer hold, many will miss out on some exceptional football being played away from British shores.
With many a footballing perspective being circumscribed by lack of exposure to continental and international leagues, as a by-product we may well miss out on the high-quality transfer dealings that are being wrapped up elsewhere.
With that in mind, this summer's transfer window was quite the event internationally with a tonne of movement between foreign leagues, let's take a look at some of the best transfer deals that were confirmed this summer that don't involve English teams...
18 Iñigo Martínez (Athletic Bilbao to Barcelona)
Spanish international, Iñigo Martínez has made the 375-mile trip from the Basque region to Catalonia to link up with Xavi's Barcelona side who are fresh off the back of their first La Liga win since 2019.
The centre-back joins the club on a free transfer, signing a two-year deal. The vastly experienced 32-year-old is a fantastic piece of business, and a shrewd acquisition, who will help to shore up the Barça backline alongside the likes of Jules Kounde when it comes to the club's maiden title defence next term.
17 Giacomo Raspadori (Sassuolo to Napoli)
Having already spent a fruitful season on loan in Naples, helping the Gli Azzurri to their first Scudetto in 33 years, Giacomo Raspadori heads back to Città del Sole permanently this summer.
The jinky centre-forward moves down south having spent his life in the midlands region of Emilia-Romagna at Sassuolo.
Having starred in 35 games for I Partenopei last season, the 5'6 forward registered 11 G/A, and his initial showings have hinted at him being well worth the £26 million paid.
16 Victor Boniface (Union SG to Bayer Leverkusen)
The Nigerian forward had previously been linked with a move to goal-shy, Everton, however, invariably his move to Merseyside never came to fruition, with Bayer Leverkusen beating the Toffees to his highly sought-after signature.
The 22-year-old featured for Belgian side, Union SG last season where he found the net on 22 occasions, and teed up his teammates on 12 instances, so understandably, with a return as impressive as that, Boniface was making himself known to a more continentally mainstream audience.
Banking £51 million from Aston Villa for the dazzling winger, Mousa Diaby, Leverkusen were left to reinvest their profits, and reinvest they did with the £20 million acquisition of the Union SG forward who could certainly pay dividends in the Europa League next term, having been joint top scorer in the competition last season.
15 Manuel Locatelli (Sassuolo to Juventus)
Manuel Locatelli has become a familiar face around the streets of Turin over the last two years.
Having joined Juventus from Sassuolo on loan two seasons ago, the Italian international has established himself as a mainstay in Allegri's side, so when it comes around to sporting the black and white of the Old Lady next season the typical gleaming polish of a brand-new signing will be amiss.
However, this summer signified the defensive midfielder's official unveiling as a permanent member of the Juve squad having joined for a sum of £30 million. A fusion of experience, defensive nous, and tenacious competitiveness, £30 million is quite the steal.
14 Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich to Inter)
Benjamin Pavard announced himself to the world at the 2018 World Cup, and in doing so, the Frenchman who was playing for Stuttgart at the time caught the eye of Bayern Munich, who brought the left-back to the Allianz Arena the following season.
Having won the Champions League as well as countless Bundesliga titles since, Benjamin Pavard established himself as one of the world’s best fullbacks. Still only 27, the lad who came through the ranks at LOSC Lille is on the move again, and this time it’s to Italy to join up with the Nerazurri at the San Siro for a fee of £30 million, a really shrewd piece of business, and one that could see Inter line up with the exceptional Denzel Dumfries on the right and Pavard on the left.
13 Jesper Lindstrom (Eintracht Frankfurt to Napoli)
Denmark have proven their worth on the international stage of late, and the country’s turnover of exciting young players doesn’t seem to be slowing down at all. 23-year-old, Jesper Lindstrom is another talented player who has been carved out by the Scandinavians, and looks set to get even better as he develops. The attacking midfielder has been linked with a whole host of clubs this summer having turned out for Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga over the last two years. Despite interest from all over Europe, it was Napoli who struck the deciding blow, landing the player on a loan with an obligation to buy.
12 Neymar (PSG to Al-Hilal)
The Brazilian has proved time and time again that he possesses world-beating capabilities. Despite repeatedly falling short at PSG when it came to helping the club reach the summit of European football by clinching the Champions League.
As the most expensive player of all time, Neymar is set to become one of the highest earners in the Saudi Pro League. Signing for Al-Hilal for a reported fee of £86 million. While he may be 30 years old, Neymar still has plenty in the locker and can wreak havoc in an up-and-coming league like the one he has just joined.
11 Elye Wahi (Montpellier to Lens)
A player that will be familiar to those well-acquainted with the transfer ongoings of several Premier League clubs, including West Ham, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham who were all rumoured to be in for the forward this summer. The Frenchman was flawless during a breakthrough campaign last term with Montpellier in a Ligue 1, making goalscoring look easy, having tallied an impressive 19 goals, as well six assists.
The France under-21 international has recorded a very healthy return of 32 goals in 85 Ligue 1 appearances. Despite being courted by a host of Premier League clubs, that touted switch never came, with Champions League-bound Lens claiming their man for a bargain of just £30 million. Brought in as a direct replacement for the prolific, Loïs Openda who netted on 21 instances last season, Wahi is certainly a like-for-like and a player who knows where the goal is.
10 Loïs Openda (Lens to RB Leipzig)
Lens did impeccably well to match PSG almost stride-for-stride last season at the top of Ligue 1, yet despite the club's inspiring qualification for the 2023-24 Champions League, and remarkable second-place finish, the side from Northern France have struggled to keep ahold of players this summer, with 11 members of the squad departing, three of which being crucial starters.
Loïs Openda is one of those players who was fundamental during the 2022-23 campaign, the explosive 23-year-old netted 21 times in just 42 games, averaging a goal every 2 games.
That truly awe-inspiring stat played no small part in RB Leipzig's pursuit of the player, with the German side agreeing a deal worth £43 million for the Belgian forward.
9 Felix Nmecha (Wolfsburg to Borussia Dortmund)
Following Jude Bellingham's transfer to Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund have had a colossal figure occupying their bank account for some time and will have been exploring options that will hopefully bridge the gap between themselves and rivals, Bayern Munich.
In an attempt at filling the void that Bellingham left, Wolfsburg's exciting prospect, Felix Nmecha has been brought in for £30 million.
The 22-year-old ex-Manchester City youth prodigy tallied nine G/A contributions last season and will be hoping to collaborate effectively with new midfield partner, Marcel Sabitzer.
8 Benjamin Sesko (RB Salzburg to RB Leipzig)
A Bundesliga side signing an up-and-coming striker from RB Salzburg, where have we heard that narrative before?
RB Leipzig will certainly be hoping that Benjamin Sesko's development is as rapid as a certain Erling Braut Haaland, and if so, the £20 million spent on the Slovenian international will symbolise an absolute bargain.
At 20 years old, the centre-forward already has an eye-watering track record of 79 G/A in 137 appearances, and his market value looks to skyrocket if his career trajectory continues in the same vein.
7 Ousmane Dembele (Barcelona to PSG)
At 20 years of age, Ousmane Dembele was one of the brightest young talents in the game, and his scintillating form at German giants, Borussia Dortmund saw him grab the attention of those in Catalonia. Signing for Barcelona for a breathtaking, £135 million, the Frenchman flattered to deceive during his time at the Camp Nou, and seemed to be perennially linked with a move away from the La Liga side. It will come as no surprise that the tricky winger has since left Xavi’s side and headed back to familiar shores, linking up with Luis Enrique at PSG for £43 million.
The France international will be hoping he can reignite the spark that saw become a hotly-tipped prodigy as he settles in to his new home at the Parc des Princes. If Dembele can locate the form of his Borussia Dortmund days, as well as his recent upturn in displays at Barça, £50 million could well be a small price to pay for a man of such clear talent.
6 Arda Guler (Fenerbahce to Real Madrid)
There appears to have been more thought and measure going into Real Madrid's transfer dealings this summer as exemplified by Jude Bellingham's switch to the Spanish capital, as well as the lesser-known commodity that is Arda Guler.
The Turkish international joins Los Blancos from Fenerbahce for a £20 million fee. Big things are expected of the 18-year-old, who has already racked up 81 senior appearances, registering a prodigious 48 G/A return.
The attacking midfielder has already impressed his new Real Madrid teammates during pre-season preparations, with glowing commendation from none other than veteran midfielder, and legend Toni Kroos who claimed "It must be said that he has great talent for his age".
5 Min-jae Kim (Napoli to Bayern Munich)
South Korea are a nation thoroughly on the rise when it comes to footballing matters. The country progressed through to the last 16 of the 2022 World Cup, after seeing off a mightily tough group stage.
Min-jae Kim is one player that the East Asian country will be pinning their hopes on in three years time, with the 26-year-old centre-half now turning out for German powerhouses, Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Following an incredible year at Napoli where the 6'2 defender took home the Italian league title, the former Fenerbahce player made the £50 million switch to Bavaria and looks poised to form a formidable partnership with Dutchman Mathjs De Ligt.
Kim showcased his ability to play out from the back last term, registering the most passes on average per game in the entire Serie A, and sat eighth in the rankings for pass completion rate proving that he is not just a symbol of defensive solidity, but also an enabler for offensive creativity.
4 Samuel Chukwueze (Villareal to Milan)
Arguably, the best deal of the summer goes to AC Milan for firstly, procuring the abundantly talented Samuel Chukwueze from Villareal, but secondly, and perhaps more pertinently, staving off competition from Arsenal to land him for a snip of just £20 million.
A major addition for boss, Stefano Pioli and the Rossoneri, who have just secured the services of one of the world's most frightening stars.
The Nigerian international has an electrifying turn of pace, sublimely close ball control, and a potent, poachers instinct, having tallied a 74 G/A haul in 227 senior appearances, and at just 24 years old has so much more to offer.
3 Manuel Ugarte (Sporting Lisbon to PSG)
Sporting Lisbon are all too accustomed to having their star players courted and taken by what many call the European "elite".
In the case of Manuel Ugarte, the Uruguay international marks the second talented central defensive midfielder to depart the Portuguese capital in consecutive seasons, after Joao Palhinha's transfer to Fulham last summer.
The highly-rated 22-year-old was the most prolific tackler in Liga Portugal last term with a staggering 3.9 tackles per game, and averaged an unprecedented six per game in the Europa League. Warrior.
The lively midfielder quickly caught the attention of European suitors, and it was PSG that fended off competition to sign the player for a fee worth £51 million in what is a severely underrated coup.
2 Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt to PSG)
Eintracht Frankfurt conquered Europe during the 2021-22 campaign. Die Adler saw off Barcelona, West Ham, and then Rangers on their route to the 2022 Europa League final, as a byproduct of such success, the Bundesliga side brought in the rip-roaring talents of Randal Kolo Muani on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Nantes.
In now what looks to be one of the smartest pieces of business in the free agent market ever, Kolo Muani would go on to tally 29 G/A involvements last term, a return that would see him land himself a huge move to PSG, and see Frankfurt bank a colossal £77 million, with the Parisians benefitting from his goalscoring credentials, and the Bundesliga side from their previous investment.
1 Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid)
It was clear when Borussia Dortmund plucked him from Birmingham City's grasp that Jude Bellingham was destined for greatness.
As one of the most expensive English transfers ever, the then 17-year-old midfielder who possessed wisdom beyond his tender years, made the move over to Germany's industrial capital to begin to forge a name for himself in front of the historic yellow wall.
In such a sink-or-swim environment, Bellingham didn't just stay afloat, but glided with aplomb. Three years on from that life-changing move, the Englishman has become a fully-fledged international, taken Dortmund to within minutes of winning their first Bundesliga title in over a decade, and sealed a move to Los Blancos to become a galactico in a deal expected to rise to well over £110 million.
Now making Madrid and the iconic, Santiago Bernabeu his new home, the 20-year-old will be sporting the famous number five shirt when he makes his La Liga swansong away at Athletic Bilbao.
With the eye-watering price tag around his neck, and the immense ability to boot, Bellingham's transfer to the biggest club in the world is undeniably the most significant piece of business in foreign territory this summer.