The 2023 summer football window might have come and gone, but it will, for many reasons, go down in history as one of the most exciting transfer windows of all time.
From the Saudi Arabia Pro League making a statement in the football world by signing top players from Europe to top players moving to rival clubs, there is no doubt that the recently closed football window market will not be quickly forgotten in football history for many reasons.
Sporting Tribune takes a look at the top 10 most expensive players of the summer window, which was opened on June 14 and closed at 11 p.m. on Friday, September 1, 2023.
1. Moises Caicedo (Brighton to Chelsea) – £100m plus £15m add-ons
This should probably be termed the ‘most dramatic transfer’. In an effort to restructure the team, Chelsea Football Club was very busy signing different top players in the just-concluded transfer window. One of whom is the highly sought-after Ecuadorian midfielder, Moises Caicedo. The now most expensive midfielder in Premier League history joined Chelsea after turning down a deal from Liverpool.
2. Declan Rice (West Ham to Arsenal) – £100m plus £5m add-ons
On the list as the second most expensive player of the summer is former West Ham captain, Rice. The England international who captained West Ham to the UEFA Europa Conference League trophy last season, joined Arsenal despite interest from other top teams in Europe.
3. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid) – £88m plus £25.6m add-ons
At the very young age of 20, Bellingham became one of the most expensive English players in history after joining Madrid on a mouth-watering deal from Dortmund. Despite interest from top teams in England, the English international decided to pitch his tent with Spanish giant, Madrid.
4. Harry Kane (Tottenham to Bayern Munich) – £86m plus £14m add-ons
In what could be a perfect replacement for Lewandowski who left Bayern last summer, Kane joined Bayern in a deal worth £86m. Kane, who is the England and Tottenham highest goal scorer in history, will be looking forward to finally having his hands on a major trophy after years of trophy-less football seasons with Tottenham.
5. Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal) – £86.3m
In one of the most surprising signings this season, highly-rated Brazilian forward, Neymar Jr. joined Saudi Pro League side, Al-Hilal for a record fee of £86.3m in the Arab league. The former PSG star joined the likes of 5-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Roberto Firmino among other top players who have joined the league in recent times.
6. Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig to Manchester City) – £77m
Highly-rated Croatian defender, Josko Gvardiol, joined Premier League champion, Manchester City, as the latest addition to the team. The young defender will have to fight for a place among Gurdiola’s center-back options, which already boasts of top defenders such as John Stones and Nathan Ake.
7. Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt to PSG) – £76.4m
In a last-day transfer, France international Kolo Muani signed for League 1 giant, Paris Saint-Germain. Muani, who was an integral part of the France team that reached the Final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, will be joining the likes of Ousmane Dembele as the latest addition to the League 1 champion.
8. Kai Havertz (Chelsea to Arsenal) – £65m
Arsenal and Chelsea have always been known for switching players in what can be described as a tradition-like phenomenon that has been ongoing for a while. In the latest exchange of footballers between the London clubs, German forward Havertz signed for last season’s Premier League runner-up side, Arsenal.
9. Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta to Manchester United) – £64m plus £8m add-ons
Danish talent, Hojlund, joined Manchester United from Italian side Atalanta this summer. The 20-year-old forward, who played his first international matches for Denmark against Croatia and France during the UEFA Nations League in September 2022, has been tipped to succeed in the Premier League.
10. Dominik Szoboszlai (Leipzig to Liverpool) – £60m
Last on our list is Hungarian professional footballer, Szoboszlai, who joined Liverpool from the German side, Leipzig. Liverpool beat Champions League-bound Newcastle to the signing of the highly sought-after attacking midfielder.
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