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September 4, 2024
This summer, Europe’s top five men’s leagues saw nearly £5 billion spent, but which signings might be the best value for money?
The summer transfer window felt underwhelming for many Liverpool supporters, with no significant signings and several unsigned contracts. However, Arne Slot’s impressive start as manager has alleviated some frustrations. Though goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili has committed to joining Valencia next summer, Chiesa’s arrival at Anfield represents a significant bargain. After struggling for form and fitness at Juventus, Chiesa, still only 26, has the potential to thrive in the Premier League. For context, Birmingham City paid £15 million to secure Jay Stansfield from Fulham on deadline day. If Chiesa can showcase even a fraction of his best form, he will undoubtedly prove his worth at Liverpool.
Last summer, Khéphren Thuram was a highly sought-after talent in midfield, with several Premier League clubs interested. However, he fell off the radar after struggling in Francesco Farioli’s conservative system at Nice. Juventus, never likely to forget about him—his father, Lilian, is a club legend who joined the Italian giants in 2001, the year Khéphren was born—seized the opportunity to secure him with just one year left on his contract. This move could even set the stage for a sibling rivalry for the Serie A title, as his brother Marcus plays for Inter Milan. Thuram started Juventus’ season opener against Como but suffered a minor injury. Once he returns, he will provide much-needed resilience to Thiago Motta’s revamped midfield.
Alejandro Francés, who spent his entire career in his hometown until late July, is no stranger to attention beyond Spain’s second division. Since making his Copa del Rey debut at just 19, the talented center-back has been linked with La Liga giants like Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Sevilla. After refining his skills over 123 league appearances with Real Zaragoza, Francés found the right opportunity with Girona this summer. The now 22-year-old expressed his enthusiasm for joining the club, stating, “Girona is growing a lot, and I want to grow with them.” The transition may be challenging, especially with a demanding Champions League schedule. Still, head coach Michel has already given Francés his first two starts at right-back, highlighting his versatility and potential.
Crystal Palace has long faced the challenge of retaining their top talents, and the early departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich in July exemplified this struggle. Two weeks later, manager Oliver Glasner secured a replacement for Ismaïla Sarr for a fraction of the €60 million received for Olise. Sarr, who returned to the Premier League donning the No. 7 shirt, may not possess Olise’s captivating flair. Still, he fits nicely into Glasner’s tactical approach while allowing for additional signings. Although Palace has had a sluggish start to the season, Sarr made an impact off the bench during the 1-1 draw against Chelsea and will be keen to obtain a position as a starter following the international break.
Real Sociedad experienced a mixed transfer window, losing key players like Robin Le Normand to Atlético Madrid and Mikel Merino to Arsenal, yet successfully persuading Martín Zubimendi to reject Liverpool’s advances. In addition to solid depth signings, including Manchester City’s Sergio Gómez, La Real invested over £25 million in two promising young talents, with a significant portion allocated to the raw but prolific Icelandic striker Orri Óskarsson. However, the £8.5 million spent on Croatian playmaker Luka Sucic appears to be a more calculated risk. At just 21 years old, Sucic comes with valuable European experience, having made 22 appearances in the Champions League. Despite interest from clubs like Liverpool and Juventus, Real Sociedad convinced him that La Liga was the ideal next step in his career.
After playing in Sweden’s second division with Örebro just over a year ago, Samuel Dahl has experienced an incredible rise to prominence. He was acquired by Djurgården for under £250,000 in July. He quickly became an important player, transitioning from a backup role behind new signing Rami Kaib to the starting left-back. After a successful year in the Swedish top flight, the 21-year-old has joined Roma for approximately 14 times Djurgården’s initial investment. Dahl’s composure and consistency have already earned him an international call-up, and while he may not start as the first-choice left-back for the Giallorossi, his upward trajectory suggests he could make a significant impact.
Léo Scienza’s journey to the Bundesliga has been anything but straightforward, with stops at Chapecoense, Uruguay, and even the Swedish fifth tier before catching the eye of Schalke. After impressing with their second team, he was loaned to Magdeburg and then moved to SSV Ulm, where he found his form, scoring 12 goals and providing 15 assists to help secure promotion. Heidenheim, seeking to fill the gap left by top scorer Jan-Niklas Beste’s departure to Benfica, signed Scienza for €500,000. The Brazilian winger immediately impacted by scoring in Heidenheim’s 4-0 victory over Augsburg, propelling them to the top of the Bundesliga. Like his new club, Scienza has a talent for overcoming the odds.
Fulham made six signings this summer, including five familiar names from other English clubs. Still, Jorge Cuenca stands out as a unique addition. The left-sided center-back, a product of Barcelona’s academy, became a regular starter for Villarreal last season. Known for his composure on the ball and versatility to play left-back, he made a solid debut in the Carabao Cup. Although Cuenca may not be the flashiest of Marco Silva’s signings, he has the potential to be one of the best investments.
After finishing fourth in the 2022-23 season, Union Berlin struggled last year, barely avoiding relegation. With an aging squad—averaging 27.6 years, the second-oldest in the league—the team sought fresh talent this summer, including 20-year-old center-back Leopold Querfeld. The youngest member of Ralf Rangnick’s impressive Austria squad at Euro 2024, Querfeld possesses strength and intelligence, traits he developed in a rowing family. His former club describes him as “exceptionally mature” and a “role model,” indicating his potential to succeed at a higher level.
Thelonius Bair, known as Theo, was scouted from the youth leagues in Ottawa by the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2019. After a promising start in MLS, his progress stalled, leading to a loan in Norway and a subsequent transfer to St. Johnstone, where he struggled to find his footing with just one goal in 34 appearances. After a low-profile move to Motherwell last August, Bair emerged as a surprise sensation, netting 15 goals and attracting the attention of Ligue 1 returnees Auxerre. His outstanding season at Fir Park, which he described as “unbelievable,” also earned him a place in Canada’s Copa América squad, boosting his international career.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and football sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Football News Today, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for football, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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