GOAL evaluates all of the comings and goings at the continent's elite clubs over the past two months
The transfer window slammed shut on Friday, meaning managers all across Europe are now going to have to make do with the resources at their disposal – at least until January.
The biggest deal of the summer was obviously Kylian Mbappe's long-awaited move to Real Madrid, but it was city rivals Atletico who paid the biggest fee for a player in order to convince Manchester City to part company with Julian Alvarez. Of course, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain also made statement signings, while Chelsea continue to both spend and accumulate players at an unprecedented rate.
So, who's going to be happiest with their business over the past couple of months? And who'll be fuming with their employers? Below, GOAL rates the transfer windows of Europe's 15 biggest clubs…
Getty Images15Chelsea | Grade: F
What on earth to make of Chelsea?! It's actually been hard to keep a track of all of the the comings and goings at Stamford Bridge this summer – and even harder to make sense of their recruitment policy. Obviously, the basic premise is to sell academy products for pure profit, which will fund the recruitment of as many young players as possible, in the hope that they will both increase in value and help the Blues win trophies. However, the way in which Conor Gallagher was forced out of the club did not go over well with supporters, who are just as confused as to why so many wide forwards – including Jadon Sancho – have arrived in west London when Enzo Maresca's squad clearly needs a reliable No.9. Seriously, why did Chelsea leave it so late to go all-in for Victor Osimhen?!
The Blues have undeniably done well to get rid of high-earners Raheem Sterling and Romelu Lukaku, but of the 10 players they've signed this summer, only the injury-prone Pedro Neto will immediately add anything to the starting line-up – and the return of Joao Felix is utterly baffling.
AdvertisementGetty Images Sport14Barcelona | Grade: D
It was another turbulent and stressful summer for Barcelona, who had to keep working right until the final week of the window to raise enough money from selling youngsters and releasing veterans to belatedly register their solitary star signing Dani Olmo (although a conveniently-timed injury to Andreas Christensen also helped). The Spain international proved worth the wait by netting on his debut for Hansi Flick's side, but Ilkay Gundogan had to be sacrificed to make room for Olmo on the Blaugrana's books, and the German's experience and winning mentality will be sorely missed.
Not being able to turn Joao Cancelo's loan move into a permanent transfer is also a blow, as Barca look short at full-back, while it's no secret that the Catalans were also desperate to sign a left winger, but just couldn't raise enough money to bring in top target Nico Williams. It also remains to be seen if Pau Victor will prove a worthy understudy for Robert Lewandowski, the veteran striker that Barca remain heavily reliant upon for goals.
Getty13Liverpool | Grade: C
Liverpool left it very late, but new sporting director Richard Hughes finally managed to get a couple of deals over the line before the close of the window, signing goalkeeper Girogi Mamardashvili, who will stay at Valencia for another season, and winger Federico Chiesa. Both could easily prove bargain buys – particular the latter – but neither purchase was especially essential.
Liverpool were in far greater need of a specialist No.6. Consequently, Martin Zubimendi's rejection of a move to Anfield came as a bitter blow. The Reds unquestionably have a strong squad all the same and Hughes deserves credit for getting good money for Fabio Carvalho and Sepp van den Berg, but Jurgen Klopp's successor Arne Slot really could have done with a defensive midfielder, and arguably a left-sided centre-back too.
Getty12AC Milan | Grade: C+
Milan finished second in Serie A last season, but Stefano Pioli paid the price for city rivals Inter running away with the league – and clinching the Scudetto at San Siro – and the Rossoneri losing to Roma in the Europa League, after failing to get out of their Champions League group. Consequently, Paulo Fonseca is at the helm now and has been joined at the Giuseppe Meazza by Spain's Euro 2024-winning captain Alvaro Morata. Of course, the former Atletico Madrid striker has never been a reliable goal-scorer, so it came as no surprise to see Milan also swap Alexis Saelemaekers for Tammy Abraham in the hope that the Englishman can rediscover the scoring touch that abandoned him after a serious injury at Roma.
Elsewhere, Strahinja Pavlovic has already slotted seamlessly into the defence, and Youssouf Fofana has plenty to offer in midfield, but the merits of signing Emerson Royal are questionable – even if he is just there to provide cover. Still, the main thing is that Rafael Leao is still at San Siro!