With the summer transfer window in full swing, teams in Europe’s top football leagues are strengthening their squads ahead of the new season. The 2024/25 season offers plenty of intrigue, with the new Champions League format adding an extra element of unpredictability. Sports betting It’s still in the early stages.
Clubs are looking to strengthen their squad depth to combat the hectic schedule, and there have been some big transfers around the continent so far.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the three biggest summer transfers in Europe so far.
Kylian Mbappé – From Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid
For football fans around the world, the biggest transfer of the summer will come as no surprise: Kylian Mbappe making the inevitable decision to move from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid.
Manager Carlo Ancelotti had hoped to bring the French World Cup winner to the Spanish capital in 2022 when Real Madrid made an offer of more than £100 million, but PSG rejected the move and Mbappe had to wait until the end of his contract at the Parc des Princes.
The 25-year-old scored 44 goals last season as PSG won the Ligue 1 title again despite being gradually removed from the team by manager Luis Enrique.
Following the presentation at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, watched by thousands of spectators, Mbappé will look to bring more speed and dynamism to the current Champions League holders as they bid to win Europe’s biggest club competition for the first time.
Douglas Luiz – Aston Villa to Juventus
Aston Villa finished fourth in the Premier League last season but that wasn’t enough to keep one of manager Unai Emery’s most prized assets, Douglas Luis, who moved to Juventus ahead of the new season.
The Brazilian provided nine goals and five assists last season, becoming a vital part of Villa’s qualification for the Champions League for the first time since 1982. New Juventus manager Thiago Motta made Luiz his first signing since moving to Turin.
The deal is complicated in terms of the transfer fee, with Juventus paying Villa £45m for the 26-year-old, but it also includes two Juventus players, Samuel Illing Junior and Enzo Barrenetxea, who will join Villa on five-year contracts.
Aston Villa have already spent more than £170 million this summer, including a club-record £50 million transfer fee for Amadou Onana, with the Everton midfielder expected to be an immediate complement to Luiz.
Michael Oliseh – Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich
Crystal Palace played some excellent football towards the end of last season, with Oliver Glasner’s attacking style of play impressing many.
The Austrian coach has orchestrated wins over the likes of Liverpool and West Ham United with talented winger Michael Oliseh spearheading his front line.
Oliseh, who narrowly missed out on a place in Didier Deschamps’ France squad for Euro 2024, attracted the interest of Bayern Munich as part of Vincent Kompany’s rebuild of the side for a reported £50 million. Bayern had initially made an offer for Glasner but the 49-year-old rejected a move to the Allianz Arena, so they went after Oliseh instead.
Bayern’s decade-long reign at the top of German football came to an end last season when Bayer Leverkusen went unbeaten to win the Bundesliga title, but Oliseh’s signing has put the Bavarians back in contention for the title.
With former Premier League stars Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry and Harry Kane at the forefront of attack with domestic and European ambitions, Bayern would offer Olliss his first taste of Champions League football, which played a major role in his decision to leave Selhurst Park.
