The world of soccer has been ablaze with the latest transfer deals during the 2023 summer window. English talent dominated the headlines, with three of the top four moves involving homegrown players. From Chelsea's tussle with Liverpool for Caicedo to Neymar's lucrative switch to the Saudi Pro League, this transfer window has been nothing short of sensational.
Major transfer agreements for the summer of 2023
The 2023 summer transfer season has seen some wild moves, with three of the top four transfers involving English talent. Here's a rundown of the top deals
Moises Caicedo (Brighton to Chelsea - £100m plus additional £15m)
Chelsea outbid Liverpool to secure young talent Moises Caicedo. After a series of negotiations and constant updates from soccer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea finally reached an agreement.
Declan Rice (West Ham to Arsenal - £100m plus £5m add-ons)
Arsenal finally secured Rice, fending off competition from Manchester City. Expectations are high that Rice will surpass the performance of Arsenal's previous record signings.
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid - £88m plus an additional £25.6m)
At just 19 years old, Bellingham's move to Real Madrid appears to be a bargain. The young player's immense talent has been widely recognized, and this transfer proves it. He has also had a perfect start at the Bernabeu.
Harry Kane (Tottenham to Bayern Munich - £86 million plus an additional £14 million)
Kane decided to part ways with his boyhood club Tottenham. Despite late negotiations, Bayern Munich set a club and Bundesliga record with this signing.
Neymar (Paris Saint-Germain to Al-Hilal - £86.3m)
Neymar's move to the Saudi Pro League came as no surprise to many. He is set to earn a whopping £129 million a year, illustrating the financial prowess of clubs in the Middle East.
Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig to Manchester City - £77m)
Despite having numerous central defensive options, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola could not resist signing Gvardiol, especially given that the price was £20 million below his reported release clause.
Kai Havertz (Chelsea to Arsenal - £65m)
Havertz's performance at Chelsea was disappointing, which made this move surprising. However, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta seems to have a plan, and many are waiting to see if Havertz will revive his form. He has had a solid start at Arsenal under Arteta.
Rasmus Hojlund (Atlanta to Manchester United - £64m plus additional £8m)
While many Manchester United fans were hoping for a Harry Kane signing, the club chose Hojlund, a relatively unproven 19-year-old, as a more affordable alternative. This move is seen as a big gamble.
@neymarjr is Blue 😎💙#AlHilal pic.twitter.com/MFg7Cvv1kw
- AlHilal Saudi Club (@Alhilal_EN) August 19, 2023
Dominik Szoboszlai (Leipzig to Liverpool - £60m)
Liverpool acted quickly, signing Szoboszlai just days after showing strong interest. This was impressive with his release clause from Leipzig about to expire.
Jeremy Doku (Rennes to Man City - £55.4m)
Despite interest from other top clubs, Doku joined Manchester City after nearly three years at Rennes. He is an explosive dribbler, and looks set to start games alongside Grealish and Haaland.
Mason Mount (Chelsea to Manchester United - £55m plus £5m add-ons)
Even with only one year remaining on his contract, Mount's transfer fee was significant. Manchester United has acquired a Champions League winner who is only 24 years old.
Romeo Lavia (Southampton to Chelsea - £53 million plus additional £5 million)
Chelsea, having had a bid rejected the previous summer, returned a year later to sign Lavia. They also ended up thwarting Liverpool's bid in the process.
Sandro Tonali (AC Milan to Newcastle - £52 million plus additional £8 million)
There has been some debate about the exact amount. However, what is clear is that Newcastle managed to secure the Italian midfielder for a substantial fee.
Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig to Chelsea - £52m)
Nkunku, after a 16-goal season, has signed a long-term contract with Chelsea, so this is a long-awaited move. He looks set to be a major part of the Blues' future.
Malcom (Zenit to Al-Hilal - £51.4m)
The Brazilian winger's switch from Russia to Saudi Arabia earned Zenit a tidy sum. FC Barcelona also received a 10% sell-on fee.
Otavio (Porto to Al Nassr - £51.4m)
Another significant transfer involving a Portuguese player to a club familiar with Ronaldo. He is one of many players who have made the financial switch to the Middle East.
Manuel Ugarte (Sporting to Paris Saint-Germain - £51.2m)
Chelsea missed out on Ugarte due to his hefty release clause. PSG secured the transfer of the Uruguayan midfielder, with the official announcement being made recently.
Ruben Neves (Wolves to Al Hilal) - £47m
Fans expected a different move from Ruben Neves, especially when a club like Barcelona wanted him. One would not be surprised if he returns to the Premier League, possibly through a stint at Newcastle with the backing of PIF.
Matheus Cunha (Atletico Madrid to Wolves) - £44m
Initially joining Wolves on loan in January with a commitment to buy, Cunha managed to score twice in 17 Premier League games. However, both were in losses.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham to Al-Hilal) - £45m
At the age of 28, Mitrovic chose the financial rewards of the move. Fans are almost past the point of feeling discouraged about it.
