Football: Top 10 European transfers
AFP
August 31, 2016 00:47 MYT
August 31, 2016 00:47 MYT
With the transfer window set to close on Wednesday, AFP Sport looks at the biggest moves in Europe so far this summer:
Paul Pogba
Juventus (ITA) to Manchester United, 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 million)
The summer's most long-running transfer saga concluded with France midfielder Pogba returning to former club United in a world-record move. Allowed to leave Old Trafford in 2012 after failing to win over legendary manager Alex Ferguson, the rangy 23-year-old midfielder with the dazzling haircuts and blistering shot returned as one of the biggest names in the game.
Gonzalo Higuain
Napoli to Juventus, 90 million euros ($98.8m)
Italian champions Juventus dealt a huge blow to their domestic rivals when they signed the 28-year-old Argentina striker Higuain from Napoli, their closest rivals in Serie A last season. Juve paid Napoli close to the full amount of Higuain's 94.7 million-euro buyout clause for the former Real Madrid player, who broke the long-standing Serie A scoring record with 36 goals last season. Signed on a five-year deal, Higuain came off the bench to score the winner against Fiorentina on his competitive debut.
John Stones
Everton to Manchester City, 47.5 million pounds ($61 million)
Elegant centre-back Stones, 22, became the biggest signing of the Pep Guardiola era at City so far after joining from Everton in a deal that made him the second most expensive defender in history behind David Luiz of Paris Saint-Germain. The former Barnsley player had a difficult final season at Everton, but has looked assured in his early outings for City, regularly stepping up into midfield with the ball.
Joao Mario
Sporting Lisbon to Inter Milan, 45 million euros ($50.3 million)
It has been a summer of rebuilding at Inter, who have a new coach in Frank de Boer and several big-money new signings. The biggest signing is Joao Mario, who arrived at the San Siro from Sporting fresh from winning Euro 2016 with Portugal. Sporting revealed the transfer fee was 45 million euros and the player, a Sporting youth product, was unveiled to Inter fans before last Sunday's Serie A match against Palermo.
Leroy Sane
Schalke (GER) to Manchester City, 37 million pounds ($48 million)
Winger Sane, 20, arrived in England with a burgeoning reputation, having scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Schalke last season and earned a place in Germany's Euro 2016 squad. Sidelined to date by a hamstring injury, he could make his debut in the derby against Manchester United on September 10.
Granit Xhaka
Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) to Arsenal, 35 million pounds ($46 million)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger moved to address longstanding concerns about the lack of bite in his team's midfield by sanctioning a big-money move for Switzerland international Xhaka. The 23-year-old's arrival obliged England international Jack Wilshere to seek a loan move elsewhere.
Shkodran Mustafi
Valencia (ESP) to Arsenal, 35 million pounds ($46 million)
With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel sidelined by injury, Wenger plugged a sizeable gap in his back line with a move for Germany centre-back Mustafi on the penultimate day of the window. Mustafi, 24, previously spent three years at Everton, but made just one senior appearance.
Sadio Mane
Southampton to Liverpool, 34 million pounds ($44.6 million)
Following two fine seasons with Southampton, during which he scored 25 goals in all competitions, 24-year-old Senegal flier Mane left St Mary's to join Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool revolution. He has made an impressive start to life at Anfield, netting a fine solo goal in Liverpool's 4-3 win at Arsenal on the opening day.
Michy Batshuayi
Marseille (FRA) to Chelsea, 33.2 million pounds ($43.5 million)
A cunning and unorthodox striker, 22-year-old Belgium international Batshuayi moved to Chelsea following a prolific season at Marseille in which he scored 23 goals. Used mainly from the bench so far, he has scored three goals in four appearances.
Mats Hummels
Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich, 38 million euros ($42.3 million)
The 27-year-old Germany centre-back became the latest big name to swap Dortmund for Bayern when he moved to Bavaria on a five-year deal before Euro 2016. Hummels started his career at Bayern but moved to Dortmund, initially on loan, in 2008 and went on to be a pillar of the side that enjoyed great success under Jurgen Klopp. He was in coach Carlo Ancelotti's starting line-up for the 6-0 win over Werder Bremen on the opening day of the Bundesliga season last weekend.