After the summer 2023 transfer window closed, quite a few well-known names in men’s football accepted new jobs.

In spite of the world financial crisis, elite teams spent enormous sums of money to buy A-list football players, proving that the transfer market was a little bit insane.

In this environment, teams in the top divisions spent lavishly to bolster their rosters; the total outlay of the 20 Premier League clubs smashed the previous spending record of £1.92 billion last summer by spending £2.36 billion on new players.

With some staggering agreements across Europe and the rest of the world, three of the four biggest deals all involved English players.

webteam@ipledge2nigeria rounds up five of the major summer transfers in the men’s game after a frantic few months.

 

Jude Bellingham

Bellingham celebrates first Madrid goal on La Liga debut

Jude Bellingham’s high profile move from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid is thought to be the bargain of the summer.

The 20-year-old arrived at Madrid in June after agreeing to a six-year contract with Los Blancos in a deal worth £88 million plus £25.6 million add-ons.

Interestingly, the England midfielder has recorded a blistering start to his La Liga career, proving to naysayers that he is worth every penny paid to Dortmund.

In his first four La Liga appearances, he has scored five goals and registered an assist, helping Madrid sit atop in the early standings, two points clear of defending champions Barcelona.

It is now hoped that Bellingham would emulate the success that Zinedine Zidane achieved in the white fabled number 5 shirt of Madrid.

Declan Rice

Rice celebrates first Arsenal goal at the Emirates

The acquisition of Declan Rice from West Ham by Arsenal is a marquee signing of this summer transfer window.

Rice joined the Gunners on a five-year deal, with the option of a further year, after Arsenal spent a club-record £105 million.

The 24-year-old arrived at the Emirates in July and is already living up to his price tag in North London.

He inspired Arsenal’s 3-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday by scoring the Gunners’ second goal in the 96th minute.

In addition, the England midfielder’s defensive solidity on his debut against Manchester City in the Community Shield proved effective as Arsenal won on penalties after a one-all draw in normal time.

Harry Kane

Kane celebrates goal against Augsburg in the BundesligaHarry Kane switching from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich is the most high profile exit from the Premier League this summer.

The England captain moved to Bayern after a deal worth close to £100 million was reached, ending a 19-year career at Spurs.

In hope of winning his first silverware, he started off his career in Germany on a sour note, with Bayern losing 3-0 to RB Leipzig in the German Super Cup final, where he came on as a second-half substitute.

But the 30-year-old prolific goal scorer announced himself in his first three Bundesliga games, scoring thrice and registering one assist.

Andre Onana

Onana waves at Man Utd fans on Premier League debut

Cameroon international Andre Onana is the only A-list first-choice goalkeeper on the lengthy transfer window list of players who changed clubs this summer.

Manchester United signed the 27-year-old from Inter Milan in a deal worth £43.8 million, plus £3.4 million in potential add-ons, depending on individual and club performance.

He signed a five-year deal at Old Trafford with the option of a further year, replacing the departed David De Gea, who left Old Trafford after 12 years as United’s first-choice stopper.

Onana debuted in United’s 3-1 win over Lens on their pre-season tour in the United States in August, but faced much ridicule after conceding a goal from the halfway line of the friendly game.

But regardless of his rocky start to life at United, the Cameroonian has arguably impressed the home supporters with his fluency with the ball and shot-stopping in  his first four Premier League games, although there’s clearly work to be done in terms of his aerial prowess.

Neymar

Neymar’s unveiling ceremony at Al-Hilal

Neymar’s migration from Europe to Saudi Arabia this summer marked the biggest signing for the Saudi Pro League (SPL) since Ronaldo joined Al-Nassr from Manchester United earlier this year.

Paris Saint-Germain, in exchange, reportedly accepted around $102 million from Al-Hilal for the Brazilian after the Saudi Arabian side’s attempts to sign Inter Miami’s captain Lionel Messi and French star Kylian Mbappe fell flat.

The 31-year-old signed a two-year contract with Al-Hilal that will give him a guaranteed $300 million and up to $400 million based on commercial deals with the club, according to football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

Neymar, a two-time La Liga champion with Barcelona and five-time Ligue 1 champion with Paris Saint-Germain, is yet to make his competitive debut for Al-Hilal as he has been nursing a knock.