The Five Biggest Transfers of the Summer Transfer Window, So Far

This summer has seen some extraordinary transfers between some of the world’s biggest clubs. Many of these transfers have involved Real Madrid, but other clubs, such as Barcelona, have also been involved in the big deals. During this transfer window prices have sky-rocketed to new levels. Before this transfer window, the highest transfer fee paid for a player was £46 million (or €78 million at the time). Real Madrid paid this fee in the summer of 2001 to Juventus, for Zinedine Zidane, during the first “Galacticos” era. This summer has seen that figure (the pound sterling figure) eclipsed twice, or possibly three times if you include the Zlatan Ibrahimovic transfer that was completed yesterday (July 27th). On to this summer’s five biggest transfers.

Number 5: Carlos Tevez to Manchester City

On July 14th, Carlos Tevez completed his move from Manchester United to Manchester City for an estimated £25.5 million (or €29.5m/$41.9m). Technically speaking, he didn’t actually move from Manchester United, seeing as his 2 year loan spell was complete. Regardless of that though, it was quite a significant transfer. It once again signalled Manchester City’s desire to shake up the established order in the Premiership. It also led to Tevez moving from United to the city rivals. As Tevez put it: “If I play for Manchester City I don’t think the United fans will feel I am a traitor”, opposed to if he had moved to Liverpool. Personally, I’m not so sure that that was his motivation behind the move.

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Number 4: Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City

On July 18th, Emmanuel Adebayor completed his move from Arsenal to Manchester City for an estimated £25 million (or €28.8m/$41m). As with the previous Carlos Tevez deal, this was another indication of Manchester City’s desire to become one of England and Europe’s elite clubs. It does seem like quite a peculiar move though for Adebayor, seeing as he was part of an Arsenal team who played in the Champions League last season and qualified for this coming season’s Champions League too. His desire to move could be explained by his new wages of approximately £150,000 per week. This represents almost a 100% wage hike from his previous wages at Arsenal.

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Number 3: Kaka to Real Madrid

This deal was agreed and complete long before the transfer window officially opened on July 1st. Kaka moved from AC Milan to Real Madrid in a deal estimated to be worth approximately £56 million (or €65m/$92m) for the Italian club. Kaka, winner of the Ballon D’or and Fifa World Player of the Year in 2007, signed a 6 year deal with the Spanish club. His transfer fee was a world record, breaking the 8 year record held by Zinedine Zidane. Both Kaka and AC Milan have said the deal was based completely on economic necessity, as the Italian club could not pass up the chance to get €65 million.

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Number 2: Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona

On July 28th, Zlatan Ibrahimovic moved from Inter Milan to Barcelona. Samuel Eto’o moved from Barcelona to Inter Milan as part of the deal. £45 million (or €52.2m/$74m) also went Inter Milan’s way, along with a possible loan deal for Alexander Hleb. The most baffling aspect of this deal is the movement of Samuel Eto’o from Barcelona to Inter Milan as a part of the deal. Widely regarded as one of the best finishers in the world, it is viewed by many to be crazy that he was sent, along with £45 million, to Inter Milan in order to get Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It is common knowledge that Barcelona wished to sell Samuel Eto’o, but surely the could have gotten more for him.

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Number 1: Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid

Unsurprisingly, the biggest transfer on this list is also the biggest transfer in football history. On July 1st, Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid was completed for a mind-boggling £80 million (or €93m/$131.6m). Ronaldo, a Ballon D’or and Fifa World Player of the Year winner in 2008, is also set to earn up to £106 million (or €122.9m/$174.4m) over the course of his 6-year contract. The signing of this deal brought to an end the longest transfer saga in a long time, one which had spanned over 12 months. By the end of the saga, many United supporters were even hoping he would sign for Real Madrid, to put an end to the rumours and stories in the morning tabloids. His deal completely shattered the fee Real Madrid paid for Ronaldo’s new team-mate Kaka, only a number of weeks earlier.

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