Reviewing some of this transfer window's biggest moves in men's soccer

After the closure of this summer’s transfer window, let’s review some of the biggest signings in the men’s soccer leagues!

Nico Williams stays put, but Dani Olmo says yes

After his fantastic European Football Championship participation — where he shone with two goals and an assist — rising star Nico Williams decided to remain at his current club Athletic Bilbao as opposed to accepting an offer from FC Barcelona. The Catalan Giants were not too happy with this decision, warning Williams and his agent that the club would not give him a second chance in the next window. According to reports, the young player was reportedly motivated by loyalty to his childhood club. 

His compatriot Dani Olmo — who also garnered widespread praise during Spain’s title run — had an entirely different response to Barcelona’s proposal. A former Barcelona youth player, Olmo enthusiastically accepted a return to his old stomping grounds — a move that cost the Blaugrana approximately 60 million euros.

Outlook: Barcelona had to shift the balance sheet around in order to accommodate new signings. We’ll talk a little bit more about this later on, but I was left wondering whether their big sell-off this window will pay off in the long run. Olmo had a great debut against Rayo Vallecano, so we will see how the rest of the season pans out.

Endrick and Mbappe join Los Merengues

Despite an overwhelmingly successful 2023–2024 season, where Real Madrid clinched La Liga and the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, club president Florentino Perez had a busy summer chasing some of the best talent in the market. French striker Kylian Mbappe finally departed Paris for Madrid after a “will they or won’t they” saga that lasted nearly six years, leaving as a free agent after completing his Paris St.Germain contract. 

The Merengues also snapped up Endrick from his boyhood club Palmeiras, a promising talent that drew comparisons to the legendary Pelé after earning his first caps for the Brazilian national team before turning 18. 

Outlook: Real Madrid already has a star-studded roster especially up at the front. It could be difficult to jostle demand for playing minutes amongst all these players; at the same time, coach Carlo Ancelotti will have less to fear in terms of injuries than he did last season.

Chelsea spends big

Chelsea F.C. sought out to make a splash in this summer’s transfer window, picking up 12 new players and releasing 21. The Blues’ transfer strategy confused pundits and fans alike, leading to manifestations of disappointment at Stamford Bridge — fans chanted academy talent Conor Gallagher’s name in an apparent disapproval of the club’s management, which has isolated beloved players and is yet to win any trophies. 

New owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital did not take this episode into mind, selling Gallagher to Atlético Madrid a few days later. In exchange, they acquired Atlético’s João Felix, who they had previously declined signing on after the Portuguese youngster’s loan spell at the club in 2022. Chelsea was active until the very end of the transfer window, securing a last minute agreement with Jadon Sancho, who had a difficult spell in Manchester. 

Outlook: According to a recent poll, around 80% of Chelsea fans expressed that they were “unsure” or “unhappy” with their club’s strategy in this transfer window. Although Stamford Bridge has gained talented players, I am not sure that the club’s current structure is conducive to success: who needs eight goalkeepers? ESPN’s Ryan Hanlon has an interesting perspective on this subject which you can check out here. 

Atlético Madrid goes on an uncharacteristic spending spree

Los Colchoneros cleared out the roster this summer as they sold João Felix, Alvaro Morata and Samu Omorodion to other European clubs, as well as sent several players out on loan. They then sought to sign several reinforcements, acquiring some impressive new players like Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher and Robin Le Normand. Atlético also received Barcelona’s Clément Lenglet on a full season loan as well as picking up some left and right wingers on loan from other Spanish clubs. 

Outlook: One of Atlético’s key weaknesses last season was its somewhat wavering defensive line. I think they’ve done a good job of signing transfers that will address this — namely Le Normand and Lenglet. It’s too early to diagnose whether these two have fixed the defense issue, but the start has certainly encouraged fans. Overall, I think Los Colchoneros have conducted a good transfer policy as they prepare to challenge rivals Barcelona and Real Madrid. 

Additional signings that rocked the market

İlkay Gündoğan’s move back to Manchester City was hailed by City fans as they welcomed back a player that not only captained the team but also won 14 titles in seven years. After just a year at Barcelona, Gundogan is on his way back to Manchester; his spell at the Spanish side was interrupted as the team sought to free up financial resources in order to sign new players. Although this move was a surprise, it’s understandable given that the midfielder had a strong season with Barcelona. Considering they also signed breakout Brazilian winger Savinho, this may be what manager Pep Guardiola needs to attempt another treble.

Romelu Lukaku’s move to Napoli ended a three year spell at Chelsea that was disappointing for both the player and the team. The Belgian national spent the first two years on loan to Italian Serie A clubs and has not played a game for the Stamford Bridge side since May 2022. Lukaku has an impressive record when it comes to Italian football, so this was a smart signing for Napoli. 

After losing Mbappe this summer, Paris St. Germain sought to build up a new team. One of their primary targets was young Portuguese star João Neves, whose exploits in Benfica earned him a spot in coach Luis Enrique’s team. The signing of a talented central midfielder could be key to rebuilding the team and launching another campaign for the Champions League. 

Lastly, Manchester United sought to build up their back line through agreements with Matthijs De Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui and Leny Yoro. These players were all great options for a team that seeks to rebuild after a bad spell in the English Premier League. So far, it seems to have paid off, as especially De Ligt and Mazroui have been in great form.