15 Biggest Signings of the Summer Transfer Window (2024)

The world of football now revolves around financial gain. Teams can’t compete without heavy backing from a lucrative owner, which has seen a divide occur between the lower depths of the footballing pyramid and the top. It was always bound to happen when the biggest teams in the world wanted more success.

This means that in every transfer window, clubs are consistently linked to making another marquee signing. Whether that’s to improve their attacking output or to become more defensively assured, they will be willing to spend a fortune to improve. It’s been made harder due to Financial Fair Play and the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules, but there are naturally loopholes around it.

After the recent closure of the 2024 summer transfer window, we have outlined the 15 biggest transfers that happened.

Ranking Factors

Quality of player – The better the player, the more it is typically considered a ‘bigger’ transfer.
Transfer fee – If a player moves for a record-breaking fee, it is also normally considered ‘bigger’.
Importance for club signed for – If a player is going to be crucial for the season, they have been included.

15 Biggest Transfers of the Summer

Ranking
Name
Club Transferred From
Club Transferred To
Transfer Fee (£)

1.
Kylian Mbappe
Paris Saint-Germain
Real Madrid
Free

2.
Julian Alvarez
Manchester City
Atletico Madrid
82m

3.
Endrick
Palmeiras
Real Madrid
40m

4.
Leny Yoro
Lille
Manchester United
52m

5.
Joao Neves
SL Benfica
Paris Saint-Germain
60m

6.
Matthijs de Ligt
Bayern Munich
Manchester United
42m

7.
Douglas Luiz
Aston Villa
Juventus
43m

8.
Michael Olise
Crystal Palace
Bayern Munich
44m

9.
Amadou Onana
Everton
Aston Villa
50m

10.
Joshua Zirkzee
Bologna
Man United
35m

11.
Joao Palhinha
Fulham
Bayern Munich
42m

12.
Dominic Solanke
Bournemouth
Tottenham
55m

13.
Pedro Neto
Wolves
Chelsea
51m

14.
Dani Olmo
Red Bull Leipzig
Barcelona
47m

15Manuel Ugarte

To begin, Manuel Ugarte completed a deadline-day move to Manchester United. The Uruguayan defensive midfielder arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for a fee of £42m and he will provide cover alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro, who struggled at the start of the campaign against Liverpool. Erik ten Hag is slowly forming an impressive squad at Old Trafford.

Upon signing, he said: “It is an incredible feeling to join a club of this magnitude; one that is admired all around the world. The project that the football leadership discussed with me is extremely exciting; Manchester United is an ambitious club and I am an ambitious player.”

Transfer Information

Age
23

Transferred From
PSG

Transferred To
Man United

Fee (£)
42m

14Dani Olmo

After being one of the best-performing players at Euro 2024, Dani Olmo secured his dream move to Barcelona. For a fee of £47m, he was seen as a marquee signing for the club, with his ability to play across the front third. The 26-year-old signed for Barcelona, who he played for at youth level, on the 9th August, but he missed the club’s first two La Liga games as he could not be registered. This was because Barcelona did not have the spare funds within the Spanish top-flight’s strict financial rules. However, the Spaniard was eventually confirmed as one of their players in the closing days.

Transfer Information

Age
26

Transferred From
Red Bull Leipzig

Transferred To
Barcelona

Fee (£)
47m

13Pedro Neto

Pedro Neto is one of the most injury-prone players in the Premier League, but – when he is fully fit – he is capable of giving defenders nightmares. The Portuguese winger moved to West London from Wolves for a fee of £51m, beating Spurs to his signature. Capable of playing on either flank, he bolstered Chelsea’s options.

“I feel really grateful to have joined this club,” said Neto when he joined. “I have worked really hard in my career to be here and I’m looking forward to getting on the pitch with this shirt.” He will now have the task of helping Chelsea qualify for the Champions League after two disappointing campaigns.

Transfer Information

Age
24

Transferred From
Wolves

Transferred To
Chelsea

Fee (£)
51m

12Dominic Solanke

Ever since Harry Kane left Tottenham in the summer of 2023, the club have desperately needed a striker. Richarlison could not be relied upon and Heung-min Son lacked the strength and physicality needed. Therefore, in 2024, Spurs signed Dominic Solanke for a club-record fee. The former Bournemouth striker scored 19 goals during the 2023/24 Premier League — and he will be hoping to make Spurs a formidable force. However, after making his debut in their opening game of the campaign, the Englishman missed the following two matches through injury. Not an ideal start at his new club.

Transfer Information

Age
26

Transferred From

Transferred To
Tottenham

Fee (£)
55m

11Joao Palhinha

On the 11th July, Joao Palhinha joined Bayern Munich from Fulham. It was a move which so nearly happened at the end of the 2023 summer transfer window, but the German giants finally have the aggressive defensive midfielder. “This is one of the happiest days of my life. I’m now playing for one of the top clubs in Europe. It’s a dream come true for me, and I’m very proud of that,” the midfielder said when he joined. After a disappointing 2023/2024 campaign, Bayern Munich will be hoping he can help them win the Bundesliga again.

Transfer Information

Age
29

Transferred From
Fulham

Transferred To
Bayern Munich

Fee (£)
42m

10Joshua Zirkzee

Man United are embarking on a new era with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company INEOS in charge of the day-to-day running of the club. This naturally led to signing younger players for the future, including Joshua Zirkzee. He joined from Bologna for a fee of £35m midway through July. “I cannot wait to play my part in achieving success for Manchester United. I am a player who has always dedicated everything to winning; I’m ready for this next challenge, to go to another level in my career and win more trophies,” he said via the club website — and with Rasmus Hojlund already at Old Trafford, manager Erik ten Hag will be hoping the duo can form an impressive partnership in the Premier League.

Transfer Information

Age
23

Transferred From
Bologna

Transferred To
Man United

Fee (£)
35m

9Amadou Onana

Amadou Onana has consistently been linked with moves away from Everton ever since he joined the club. As a versatile, aggressive and determined midfielder, it’s easy to see why — and Aston Villa finally claimed him off the Toffees midway through July. As they look to perform in the Champions League and Premier League, two of the hardest competitions to win, the Villans desperately needed depth in the middle of the park. Onana brings that, but the pressure is on his back once you consider the £50m price tag. Unai Emery is slowing building a world-class squad at Villa Park.

Transfer Information

Age
22

Transferred From
Everton

Transferred To
Aston Villa

Fee (£)
50m

8Michael Olise

Michael Olise was considered one of the best wingers in the Premier League due to his impressive form at Selhurst Park. With his tricks, flicks and everything in between, the Frenchman got everyone off their feet. The former Reading star finally secured his dream move this summer, as Bayern Munich fought off interest from several English top-flight clubs to sign him. He will be expected to link up with the likes of Harry Kane, one of the best strikers in the world, and Leroy Sane in the final third, as Vincent Kompany’s new side look to take back their crown.

Transfer Information

Age
22

Transferred From
Crystal Palace

Transferred To
Bayern Munich

Fee (£)
44m

7Douglas Luiz

For all the positivity in Aston Villa’s recruitment strategy, losing Douglas Luiz was a bitter pill to swallow. However, it wasn’t an act they wanted to do; the club were essentially forced to sell him to meet Profit and Sustainability Rules. Juventus took full advantage to secure him for a fee of £43m. “I’m really happy to be a Bianconero,” said Luiz in a video on social media via the BBC. “I can’t wait to play in the Allianz Stadium. See you soon and Forza Juve!” It’s likely we’ll never know how desperately he wanted to move to Northern Italy, but there’s no doubt Aston Villa have replaced him in impressive fashion.

Transfer Information

Age
26

Transferred From
Aston Villa

Transferred To
Juventus

Fee (£)
43m

6Matthijs de Ligt

At just 25 years of age, Matthijs de Ligt has already enjoyed a number of high-profile transfers. Having made his name with Ajax before being bought by Juventus, the Dutch centre-back has been with Bayern Munich since 2022. While his potential has attracted all the world’s top clubs, his achievements have left many hungry for more.

Indeed, the former Amstelloden man has been relatively disappointing and is hoping to make a real move to Manchester United, where he will be reunited with Erik ten Hag, whom he played alongside in the Netherlands. In the Theatre of Dreams, all that remains now is to hope that his adventure does not turn into a nightmare.

Transfer Information

Age
24

Transferred From
Bayern Munich

Transferred To
Manchester United

Fee (£)
42m

5Joao Neves

Strengthening their midfield was a priority objective for Paris Saint-Germain at the start of the summer mercato. And the French giants succeeded in convincing Joao Neves to join them. Considered one of the most promising players of his generation, the young Portuguese left Benfica to join Paris, where several of his compatriots are now playing.

An important addition to the squad, he will be discovering a new league and will have to show what he is capable of straight away, as the upcoming fixtures promise to be extremely tense. But the Lusitanian international has all the weapons needed to make his mark at one of the biggest clubs on the planet.

Transfer Information

Age
19

Transferred From
SL Benfica

Transferred To
Paris Saint-Germain

Fee (£)
60m

4Leny Yoro

Leny Yoro was one of the most sought-after centre-backs in the world this summer. It looked increasingly likely that Real Madrid, the European champions, would secure his signature. However, almost out of the blue, Man United agreed to a deal with Lille which Carlo Ancelotti’s side were not willing to match. The Frenchman quickly flew over to Manchester and he is now a Red Devils star, even impressing in his debut match. For a fee of £52m, there’s pressure on the 18-year-old, but he symbolises a new era at Old Trafford. Youth is being prioritised, and there’s no doubt he will be a consistent figure at the back for the coming years.

Transfer Information

Age
18

Transferred From
Lille

Transferred To
Man United

Fee (£)
52m

3Endrick

Brazilian youngster Endrick is one of the best teenagers in the world. Naturally, this has made him one of the most valuable teenagers in football, particularly after his arranged move from South America to Real Madrid. It was first agreed in December 2022 that he would move to the Spanish giants once he turns 18 in June 2024 — and, since the initial decision, he has only improved. For Palmeiras, he has acted as a consistent goalscoring threat, whilst he even scored against England during Brazil’s 1-0 win at Wembley.

Transfer Information

Age
17

Transferred From
Palmeiras

Transferred To
Real Madrid

Fee (£)
40m

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2Julian Alvarez

Julian Alvarez wanted more. The River Plate-trained striker, who won the FIFA World Cup in 2022, has never been a regular starter at Manchester City, where the competition does not seem to have allowed him to develop as much as he would have liked.

For this reason, the Argentinian striker has recently made a number of media appearances in which he clearly announced his desire to leave the Skyblues in order to gain more playing time. And it is to Atletico Madrid that La Arana is now preparing to take his destiny into his own hands. Transferred for the sum of £82m, he has reunited with his role model and now new coach Diego Simeone. It promises to be an explosive partnership.

Transfer Information

Age
24

Transferred From
Manchester City

Transferred To
Atletico Madrid

Fee (£)
£82m

1Kylian Mbappe

Kylian Mbappe is one of the best players in the world. He’s always one of the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or — and the legendary Frenchman sends fear into the opposition when they see him running at them. However, despite all his natural talent and hard work, it’s hard not to feel that he wasted some of his career at PSG. He finally confirmed a move to Real Madrid at the age of 25, where he could line up with several other transfer targets to create one of the best teams of all time. His move is a ‘free transfer’, but there is a significant signing-on bonus for the Frenchman, estimated to be in the region of £128m.

Transfer Information

Age
25

Transferred From
PSG

Transferred To
Real Madrid

Fee (£)
Free