Man Utd offers Matthijs de Ligt his final chance to prove his world-class potential: GOAL grades the biggest deals from the 2024 summer transfer window

All summer long, GOAL will be handing out grades for the biggest transfers from around the world

For some football fans, the off-season is the part of the calendar that they look forward to the most, as that can only mean one thing: It’s time for transfers! And even while the window edges towards its closure, the biggest names continue to be linked with the biggest clubs, as speculation goes into overdrive.

We all know that some transfers turn out well for all parties involved, but there are plenty where at least one of the clubs, or even the player, are left wondering what might have been had they made a different decision while at the negotiating table.

GOAL is here, then, to ensure you know who did the best out of every massive deal before the ink is even dry on the contracts. Throughout the summer window, we are grading every done deal as it happens, letting you track the big winners – and losers – of transfer season.

Check out our latest grades below, and let us know what you think in the comments section…

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August 13: Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern Munich to Manchester United, £43m)

For Bayern Munich: Decent business. Bayern appeared to have pulled off a masterstroke by signing De Ligt from Juventus for far less than the Italians had paid for him in 2022, but after initially looking like he might become a mainstay of the Bavarians’ backline for years to come, the Dutchman ended up being nothing like the magnificent centre-half we’d seen at Ajax. He remained a regular until the end of Thomas Tuchel’s tenure but the mere fact that Bayern were so keen to sell is telling – as is his tally of precisely zero minutes for Netherlands at Euro 2024. Bayern will be happy to have recouped a significant chunk of the fee they paid for a player they no longer wanted. Grade: B+

For Manchester United: A risk worth taking. There are definitely concerns that De Ligt was overrated during his time in Amsterdam – he’s just not proven himself capable of delivering on a consistent basis at the very highest level. But the fee is hardly astronomical and there’s undoubtedly still a top centre-half in there, so who better than former Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to bring it back out? Also, let’s face it, De Ligt is significantly more talented than many of the centre-backs United had on their books last season! Grade: B

For De Ligt: Potentially his last chance to prove himself at a club of this size. De Ligt is still only 24, but if he flops at United, after underwhelming at both Juventus and Bayern, it’s hard to envisage another member of Europe’s elite paying top dollar for his services. The world-class potential is certainly there: he’s a two-footed and physically imposing centre-half. But there are ongoing questions over his pace and propensity for making unforced errors and costly lapses in concentration. The onus is very much on De Ligt to prove that he can cope with the pressure of delivering in every single game for a top team. He should get plenty of chances to do so under Ten Hag at Old Trafford. Grade: B+

August 13: Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern Munich to Manchester United, £17m)

For Bayern: An understandable decision. Mazraoui proved a useful squad player, capable of filling in at either left-back or right-back, but he was never really first-choice in either position when everyone was fully fit. If either Joshua Kimmich or Alphonso Davies had left this summer, things perhaps would have been different. But when one considers that Sacha Boey and Raphael Guerreiro are also still at the club, and the fact that new signing Hiroki Ito can also play at left-back, cashing in on Mazraoui makes sense. Grade: B

For United: A definite upgrade on Aaron Wan-Bissaka. United have been involved in an awful lot of disastrous deals over the past decade, but they’ve done well here by effectively paying for Mazraoui by selling Wan-Bissaka to West Ham. The Moroccan is not only more versatile, he’s also far more comfortable on the front foot, meaning he should prove a solid attacking outlet no matter where he’s deployed. Grade: B+

For Mazraoui: An opportunity to lock down a starting spot at one of the biggest clubs in world football – and under one of his former bosses. Mazraoui showed both at Ajax and during Morocco’s marvellous run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup that he has the talent and composure to shine at the very highest level. Working in tandem with fellow full-back Achraf Hakimi in Qatar, he helped keep opponents at bay while also causing problems going forward. Although not on the same level as his international colleague, Mazraoui is capable of becoming a low-key crowd favourite at Old Trafford. Grade: A

August 12: Julian Alvarez (Manchester City to Atletico Madrid, €75m)

For Manchester City: Another huge windfall from the sale of a player that they didn’t necessarily need. City have cashed in on the likes of Raheem Sterling, Ferran Torres, Gabriel Jesus, Leroy Sane and Cole Palmer in recent seasons – and not one of those exits affected the club’s unprecedented cycle of Premier League success. Alvarez is a fine player – he’s proven that at both club and international level – but the summer signing of Savinho meant that the competition for starting spots around undisputed first-choice No.9 Erling Haaland had only intensified. It’s not in the least bit surprising, then, that City have accepted a massive offer, which could end up totalling €95m, for their €21m signing from River Plate. Grade: A+

For Atletico Madrid: A colossal statement of intent. During a relatively quiet summer transfer window so far, Atletico had already stood out as one of the more active participants, bringing in the likes of Alexander Sorloth, Robin Le Normand and Conor Gallagher. The acquisition of Alvarez, though, is on a whole other level. The Argentine is a multi-functional forward who has already won pretty much every major trophy in the game at 24 years of age. He’s also managed to score goals consistently despite restricted game time and being regularly played outside of his preferred position. The fee may be big, but Alvarez’s potential is even greater. He could explode at the Metropolitano next season. Grade: B+

For Alvarez: The opportunity he’s long craved. We’ve long known that Alvarez is good enough to lead the line on a weekly basis for a top team; it was only the presence of Haaland that was holding him back at the Etihad. Now he has the chance to prove that he can become an elite striker in his own right. He’s certainly got all the tools to do so; he’s quick, physically strong, technically gifted and an incredibly hard worker – he’s basically everything that Diego Simeone wants in a No.9. Given the size of the investment in his services, Alvarez will come under plenty of scrutiny this season, but as he showed at Qatar 2022 and while leading the line for City during Haaland’s injury-enforced absences, he has the talent and temperament to become one of the game’s best centre-forwards. Expect him to embrace the pressure of playing for such an ambitious club and before such passionate supporters. Grade: A

August 11: Pedro Neto (Wolves to Chelsea, £54m)

For Wolves: Disappointing, but decent money all the same. Neto is one of the top chance-creators in the Premier League and his loss will be keenly felt next season. Still, it’s not as if Wolves haven’t got used to playing without the injury-prone winger. Gary O’Neil’s team will undoubtedly prove a lot less threatening without Neto, but the hope will be that they can sign a promising replacement – and they’re almost inevitably being linked with another young Portuguese player in Ajax’s Carlos Forbes. And besides, Neto was always going to move on at some stage and Wolves, to their credit, have managed to procure a fine fee for a player that was sidelined twice last season alone with hamstring injuries. Grade: B+

For Chelsea: Yet another gamble. Neto is a proven Premier League player but he’s also got a concerning track record of missing matches. Indeed, he’s had four significant lay-offs in the past three years. If Chelsea can keep him fit, he should prove a productive addition – he’s quick, creative, dynamic and hard-working – but, based on what we’ve seen so far, that’s a pretty big ‘if’. Consequently, this feels like quite a lot of money for Chelsea’s version of Diogo Jota: a talented Portuguese player signed from Wolves plagued by injury problems. Grade: B

For Neto: An overdue step up in class. With all due respect to Wolves, it’s been clear for some time that Neto deserved a crack at a really big club. He’s got that now, although whether Chelsea is really the right move remains to be seen. The Blues’ squad is horribly bloated, the owners appear to have little idea of what they’re doing and several expensive signings have already struggled to settle at Stamford Bridge. Neto certainly has the talent to thrive at a top team but he definitely needs to add goals to his game (he’s never scored more than five across a single Premier League season) if he’s to succeed where so many others have failed before him. Grade: B-

August 10: Dominic Solanke (Bournemouth to Tottenham, £65m)

For Bournemouth: Massive profit but also a major problem. Bournemouth have lost their best forward just over a week before the start of the new season. It had been coming, of course, and owner Bill Foley said last month that the club had “two or three candidates lined up” to replace Solanke in the event of his departure. Whether any of them will be capable of replicating the 19 goals that the England international scored last season is doubtful. There have been links with the likes of Ivan Toney and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but it’s hard to see either player moving to Dean Court. Still, the fee is colossal, even if it’s important to note that Solanke’s former club Liverpool reportedly inserted a 20 percent sell-on clause in his contract when he joined the Cherries for £19m in 2019. Grade: B

For Tottenham: A truly stunning outlay from a chairman still considered parsimonious. Solanke was excellent last season and his impressive all-round game has already seen him touted as Harry Kane’s belated successor at Spurs. However, there’s no hiding the fact that this is a colossal amount of money for a 26-year-old forward with just one good Premier League campaign under his belt. Still, if Spurs can convince Richarlison to accept a big-money move to the Saudi Pro League, Daniel Levy will deem £65m a price well worth paying, especially as Solanke appears well suited to Ange Postecoglou’s style of play. Grade: B-

For Solanke: A third – and probably final – chance to show that he can cut it at a top club. The Chelsea academy product failed to make the grade at Anfield but he slowly managed to turn his career around at the Vitality Stadium and was understandably desperate to make this move happen. The immense challenge now facing him is justifying his massive transfer fee. Spurs are not exactly Liverpool or Chelsea, though, and the level of competition he’s previously had to deal with won’t be anywhere near as intense in north London. He should be a certain starter, in fact, and while doubts persist over his finishing, Solanke is the kind of complete centre-forward that should link well with the likes of Son Heung-min and James Maddison. Grade: A

August 9: Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig to Barcelona, €55m)

For RB Leipzig: A transfer that had been coming for quite some time, which is why they fought so hard to hold onto Xavi Simons. Olmo has long been linked with a move away from the Red Bull Arena, so his stellar showing at Euro 2024 made his departure a formality. On the face of it, the fee might appear a little low for one of the key players in Spain’s triumph in Germany, but we’re talking about a 26-year-old attacker who never managed to score more than five times across a single season in the Bundesliga. Leipzig have also effectively pocketed twice what they paid for Olmo when they signed him from Dinamo Zagreb all the way back in 2020. Grade: B+

For Barcelona: Welcome relief. It’s fair to say that Barcelona fans were getting a little antsy with the new season approaching and the club yet to sign a single player. The return of a former youth team star will obviously defuse the tension a tad. There will, of course, be questions over what exactly Hansi Flick intends to do with Olmo – and whether his arrival will result in the sale of a fellow forward – but the Spain international is capable of playing on either flank, as well as in the No.10 role which he performed so effectively for his country at the Euros. Being back at Barca could well bring the best out of Olmo. Grade: B

For Olmo: A belated chance to become a star at Barcelona. Olmo stunned the club when he decided to leave for Dinamo in the summer of 2014, when he was still only 16 years of age, but he would argue that leaving La Masia benefited his development as a player and a person in the long run. Still, the challenge now for Olmo is to achieve the kind of consistency that has eluded him up until this stage of his career. We know he’s been blessed with wonderful technique – we saw that at the Euros – but his final product has always been a problem. The onus is now very much on Olmo to prove that he can deliver on a weekly basis at one of the biggest clubs in the world. Grade: A

August 6: Conor Gallagher (Chelsea to Atletico Madrid, €40m)

For Chelsea: A damning indictment of the club’s farcical transfer policy. Gallagher was one of Chelsea’s best players last season; he ranked third for Premier League goal involvements, with only Cole Palmer registering more assists, while he also won possession more times (221) than any of his team-mates. And yet he’s been sold simply because he’s an academy product, meaning the pure profit made on his exit will help resolve some of the financial problems caused by the owners’ shambolic spending spree. It’s been argued that Gallagher doesn’t suit Enzo Maresca’s style of play, but the supporters aren’t completely stupid: the England international is far more adaptable and talented than many members of an overinflated squad filled with flops. A homegrown hero has been unceremoniously shown the door solely to balance the books. Shameful. Grade: F

For Atletico Madrid: A fascinating move that could go either way. Few expected Atletico to make Gallagher to make the most expensive signing of the Liga transfer window so far, but he could slot nicely into Diego Simeone’s starting line-up. Gallagher is the kind of all-action midfielder that the Argentine loves, a pressing machine that should immediately endear himself to his new coach and the club’s supporters. Of course, the pressure will also obviously be on the 24-year-old to prove that he has the requisite level of technique to thrive in Spain. Gallagher has his limitations, as we briefly saw at the Euros, while there is stiff competition for midfield berths at the Metropolitano. Still, he could prove something of a bargain buy, given his high-energy game is, on paper at least, suited to Simeone’s intensive style of play. Grade: B

For Gallagher: One hell of a challenge – but one he should enjoy. Gallagher clearly would have preferred to stay at Stamford Bridge, given he’s been on Chelsea’s books since he was eight years of age. Even after it became clear that he’d have to leave his childhood club, he probably would have favoured a switch to another Premier League side, and it’s been reported that he had serious doubts over moving to Madrid. However, the likes of Jude Bellingham have showcased the benefits of playing on the continent in recent years and Gallagher’s game really should benefit from working with Simeone, who should be able to teach the Englishman a thing or two about the art of tenacious midfield play. Gallagher is also joining Atletico at a very exciting time, with the capital club clearly targeting next season’s Liga title after a busy summer window. It might not feel like it right now, but being forced out of Chelsea might prove a blessing in disguise. Grade: B+

August 5: Joao Neves (Benfica to Paris Saint-Germain, €70m)

For Benfica: Seriously mixed emotions. Benfica have once again banked an enormous fee for one of their star players, but the fans are unsurprisingly devastated by the exit of such an exciting academy graduate after so little time in the first team. President Rui Costa says he both understands and shares the supporters’ pain, but pointed out that PSG made an offer for a teenager that was simply too good to turn down. This deal has only enhanced Benfica’s reputation as the masters of the transfer market in terms of procuring massive transfer fees for promising players (just look at the obscene amounts of money they’ve made on Darwin Nunez and Enzo Fernandez in recent windows), but that’s little consolation to the Eagles’ frustrated fans right now, particularly as there’s a real risk that Neves could actually end up proving undervalued. Grade: B

For PSG: A remainder that the Qatari-backed club remain capable of statement signings. Granted, this is a serious sum of money for a 19-year-old, but Neves’ world-class potential is undeniable. We really could be talking about a generational talent here, so PSG have done very well to pick Neves up for only €20m more than Bayern Munich paid for another Portuguese defensive midfielder, Joao Palhinha, who has 10 years on his international team-mate. The Ligue 1 champions remain renowned for wasting millions in the transfer market, but the recent, Luis Campos-led shift in recruitment policy away from superstar signings to young players of enormous potential should eventually pay off for the Parisians. Certainly, Neves, who was wanted by a number of top European teams, could become a Parc des Princes regular for years to come. Grade: A

For Neves: Plenty of pros and cons. Parc des Princes is not the most stable of environments and it’s worth noting that Manuel Ugarte, who arrived at PSG from Portugal last summer for a similar fee, was unable to lock down a place in Luis Enrique’s midfield last season. Neves, though, already appears to have even more about him than the Uruguayan and could form a formidable midfield with compatriot Vitinha, fellow teenage sensation Warren Zaire-Emery and maybe even Fabian Ruiz should the Spain star stay put. Much will be expected of Neves, but he should thrive in Ligue 1 while also building upon what was an impressive Champions League group-stage campaign with Benfica last season. Grade: B+

August 5: Niclas Fullkrug (Borussia Dortmund to West Ham, £27m)

For Dortmund: A tremendous fee for a 31-year-old centre-forward. Fullkrug was Dortmund’s joint-top scorer last season and he played a pivotal role in their remarkable run to the final of the Champions League, with big goals against both Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain. He also impressed off the bench for Germany at the Euros. At the end of the day, though, Dortmund have younger, more attractive attacking options and have banked double what they paid for Fullkrug a year ago – that’s great business by any rationale. Grade: A

For West Ham: Something of a surprise. The Hammers were obviously in dire need of a new No.9, given both Michail Antonio and Danny Ings are both the wrong side of 30, but for that very reason it was presumed that they’d bring in a much younger player, such as Jhon Duran. Instead, they’ve ended up with Fullkrug, whose best years are no doubt behind him. In that sense, the fee is eyebrow-raising, but that’s not to say that the Germany international won’t prove a valuable addition, at least in the short-term. Indeed, he has the style and personality to become a cult hero at the London Stadium if he hits the ground running. Grade: B-

For Fullkrug: A crack at the Premier League that he really should relish. Fullkrug appears ideally suited and constructed for the physicality of the English game, while his underrated technique could see him become an excellent target man for the likes of Mohammed Kudus and Jarrod Bowen to play off. As he showed during the Euros, he’s a player capable of making a big impact on games, even when he doesn’t start. Grade: B+

August 5: Xavi Simons (Paris Saint-Germain to RB Leipzig, loan)

For PSG: Hardly ideal for a club still looking to strengthen their squad. A permanent move away from Parc des Princes appeared to suit both PSG and Simons, who has only made seven Ligue 1 appearances since being prised away from Barcelona in 2019. Instead, a final decision over the Dutchman’s long-term future has been postponed for another season. Of course, PSG could yet end up making even more money on Simons next summer if he enjoys another impressive campaign in Leipzig, but one imagines that they would have the Parisians would have preferred to cash in on a player that Luis Enrique clearly feels he can do without, given the external interest in the attacker’s services only intensified after his strong showing at the Euros. Grade: C

For RB Leipzig: A delightful development. After hitting double figures for both goals and assists during last season’s loan spell at the Red Bull Arena, Simons appeared almost certain to join one of Europe’s elite this summer. Worse still, the 21-year-old appeared bound for Leipzig’s Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich, which would have been a seriously bitter pill for the supporters to swallow. So, Rouven Schroder & Co. deserve enormous credit for convincing Simons that his career would be best served by spending a second season on loan in Leipzig. If the club can also now hold onto Dani Olmo, this would be a wonderful summer for coach Marco Rose – no matter what else happens between now and the close of the transfer window. Grade: A

For Simons: A surprising but perhaps sensible decision. Simons appeared ready to make another step up in class, having first proven his worth at PSV before excelling in Leipzig last season. However, the word is that after initially agreeing to move to Munich, he began to have doubts over just how much game time he would see at the Allianz Arena. Consequently, he was lured back to Leipzig by the promise of a role of even greater responsibility and importance for the coming campaign. It could well prove the correct call. Simons is still incredibly young and, just like Benjamin Sesko, who has also decided to remain at the Red Bull Arena amid incessant transfer talk, he could benefit from another year at a club renowned for nurturing top talent before moving on. Grade: B+

July 30: Filip Jorgensen (Villarreal to Chelsea, £21m)

For Villarreal: Always a pleasure doing business with Chelsea. Last summer, Villarreal sold Nicolas Jackson to the Blues for £32m after the striker’s purple patch during the second half of the 2022-23 season. Now, they’ve banked another £21m for a player that only made his Liga debut in January of last year. It’s pure profit, too, as Jorgensen came through Villarreal’s youth sector. The Denmark Under-21 international may have been the Yellow Submarine’s first-choice goalkeeper, but this was another offer from Chelsea that the Spanish side simply couldn’t refuse. Grade: B+

For Chelsea: Entirely in keeping with the club’s recent transfer strategy of buying as many promising young players as possible and giving them long-term contracts. Jorgensen could prove money well spent, though. He’s clearly lacking in experience, as he only became Villarreal’s No.1 last season, but he ended up making more saves than any other goalkeeper in La Liga (143) and his impressive distribution is the main reason why the Blues believe that the Swedish-born shot-stopper will prove ideally suited to Enzo Maresca’s style of play. Grade: B-

For Jorgensen: “A dream come true”, as he said himself. This time last year, Jorgensen never could have imagined that he’d be snapped up by one of the most high-profile clubs on the planet during the 2024 summer transfer window. However, he came on leaps and bounds at El Madrigal last season and is now quite rightly talking optimistically about establishing himself as Chelsea’s starting goalkeeper, given Robert Sanchez and Djordje Petrovic are not exactly elite-level performers. Jorgensen remains a raw talent, but the truth of the matter is that, for all the chaos and confusion at Stamford Bridge, he wouldn’t have got such an unexpected opportunity at any other ‘top’ team. Grade: A

July 29: Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna to Arsenal, £42m)

For Bologna: Another painful loss in a summer of devastating departures. Bologna may have stunned Serie A by qualifying for this season’s Champions League, but they’ve since seen coach Thiago Motta leave for Juventus and striker Joshua Zirkee move to Manchester United. Calafiori’s exit has only accentuated the heartbreak. The fact that Bologna will only get half the fee because of the sell-on clause Basel shrewdly included in the contract Calafiori signed last summer is also tough to take. The Rossoblu have still made a tidy profit on a player for just €4m, but to not even get a second season out of the 22-year-old is a bitter blow. Still, at least he didn’t join another Serie A side… Grade: B-

For Arsenal: A player made for Mikel Arteta and his aim to create a fantastically fluid football team. Some Arsenal fans have questioned this signing, given the Gunners have a settled centre-back pairing in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, while the versatile Jurrien Timber is also going to be fully fit for the start of the new season. Such scepticism is understandable. But Calafiori is a multi-talented player and his signing is only going to give Arteta even more options. This is a defender so good on the ball that Luciano Spalletti even utilised him as a No.10 in an Italy training match during the Euros, while his line-breaking ability was perfectly illustrated by his wonderful assist for Italy’s vital equaliser in the decisive group game against Croatia. Where will Calafiori fit in at Arsenal? Pretty much anywhere Arteta decides to use him. Grade: A

For Calafiori: An offer too good to turn down. Clearly it would have made more sense for Calafiori to follow Motta to Juve, given it was the former Italy international who played the most pivotal role in his transformation from an attack-minded left-back into a ball-playing centre-half. But the 22-year-old should also enjoy playing under Arteta, who most likely sees him as a significant upgrade on Oleksandr Zinchenko, a left-sided defender capable of serving as an auxiliary midfielder. Calafiori will obviously need time to get to grips with a new league and language, but don’t let the hairband and the good looks fool you: this is an extremely determined individual with the requisite talent to become Italy’s next great defender. Grade: A-

July 22: Amadou Onana (Everton to Aston Villa, £50m)

For Everton: An unsurprising sale. Everton have well-documented financial issues that made the sale of a first-team regular imperative. The fans will, thus, be hoping that Onana’s exit means that they won’t also have to cash in on the far more popular Jarrad Branthwaite. While there is an acceptance at Goodison Park that the Belgium international has the potential to develop into a world-class defensive midfielder, there was also a feeling that he viewed the club as a stepping stone and only ever showed up in big games to put himself in the shop window. In that sense, all the supporters care about is holding onto Manchester United target Branthwaite and seeing some of the Onana fee – which is undeniably decent for such an inconsistent performer – reinvested into Sean Dyche’s squad. Grade: B

For Aston Villa: The Douglas Luiz replacement? The 22-year-old is not yet as complete a midfielder as Luiz, who joined Juventus last month, meaning it’s likely he’ll just be asked to sit in front of the back four by Unai Emery – but Onana is adamant that he is capable of becoming a true box-to-box midfielder. He doesn’t yet offer anything like the same goal threat as Luiz, of course, but he’s physically imposing, strong in the air and a decent distributor of the ball. Honestly, the price feels a little high, but Onana definitely has a high ceiling and is the kind of imposing presence Villa’s midfield had been missing. Grade: B-

For Onana: A chance to show what he’s really all about at a resurgent club that will be playing Champions League football next season. Onana is rated highly by Belgium boss Domenico Tedesco and played every minute of the Red Devils’ Euro 2024 campaign – but he wasn’t particularly impressive and clearly has to work on the offensive side of his game. Still, the presence of international colleague Youri Tielemans should help him settle quickly into Emery’s engine room, while he could end up proving the perfect foil for Boubacar Kamara in a midfield pivot when the Frenchman eventually returns from injury. Indeed, no matter what way one looks at the deal, Onana should, at the very least, benefit from playing under a better coach at Villa Park – and alongside better players too. Grade: B

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July 18: Leny Yoro (Lille to Manchester United, £52m)

For Lille: An incredible fee for a teenager with just one year left on his contract. Lille’s primary concern last season was holding onto Yoro during the January transfer window so as to help sustain their bid to qualify for the Champions League. With that twin-objective realised, Yoro was always going to depart this summer – the only question was, for how much? Lille have done sensationally well, then, to convince Yoro to join United instead of Real Madrid, given the Old Trafford outfit offered significantly more money. Losing such a promising player is obviously a major setback for a club that also saw coach Paulo Fonseca leave for AC Milan during the summer, but funds will be made available to strengthen the squad ahead of the Champions League third qualifying round. Grade: A

For Manchester United: An encouraging sign. Let’s face it, most United fans have probably never seen Yoro play but it’s no surprise that his imminent arrival is being so widely celebrated, given the club’s struggles of late, coupled with Madrid’s interest in the centre-back. Yono is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most exciting young players in Europe, an 18-year-old with 60 Ligue 1 appearances under his belt that has drawn comparisons with William Saliba because of his comfort on the ball. There are legitimate concerns over the Frenchman’s physique – he’ll clearly need to bulk up to cope with the physicality of the Premier League – but Yoro’s enormous potential is beyond dispute. There’s undeniably a temptation to sarcastically congratulate United for “saying the biggest number”, given they’ve paid well above market value, but the new powerbrokers at Old Trafford do deserve credit for capturing such a coveted prospect without being able to offer Champions League football. Grade: B+

For Yoro: A little risky. Old Trafford has proven something of a career-killer in recent years. Plenty of top talents with far more experience than Yoro have been chewed up and spit out by a club in a constant state of flux. In truth, he probably would have been better off joining Madrid, whose very astute squad building contrasts starkly with United’s scattergun approach to the transfer market. His two compatriots Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga certainly don’t appear to have any regrets about joining Los Blancos at a young age. Still, United are seriously short on quality in the centre of defence, meaning Yoro should see plenty of game time at what remains one of the biggest clubs in the world. The possible arrival of Matthijs de Ligt may also prove a positive for Yoro as there would be far more pressure on the Dutchman to deliver right away than the youngster, who should hopefully be given time to find his feet in Manchester. Grade: B

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July 18: Mason Greenwood (Manchester United to Marseille, €30m)

For Manchester United: An end to one of the most depressing and dreadfully drawn-out sagas in the club’s history. United have handled the entire Greenwood case horribly from start to finish, having alienated and upset numerous supporters and staff members over the past two years. From a purely financial standpoint, United have done well to secure such a big fee for a player that most teams across Europe wouldn’t have even considered signing. They’ve also managed to insert a hefty sell-on clause in his Marseille contract but, to be brutally honest, it just feels distasteful that United are likely to make more money on Greenwood, who should have been got rid of the moment the Red Devils decided he was no longer fit to represent the club. Grade: F

For Marseille: A predictably divisive deal. Even the mayor of Marseille has weighed in, arguing that buying Greenwood goes against “the values” of the city and the club. OM believe that this was a chance too good to pass up, given Greenwood is a rare talent that a team of their limited financial resources never would have normally been able to attain. The club will argue that the former England international was never found guilty of any crime and that they were well within their rights to sign a versatile striker that should add a lot to Roberto De Zerbi’s team. Marseille are also acutely aware that modern football fans are both fickle and terribly tribalistic. If Greenwood scores goals, the supporters will quickly forget the furore that surrounded his arrival and defend the deal until the death. It’s awfully sad but it’s the way of the modern game. Ethics no longer come into the equation. Grade: F

For Greenwood: Another step back up the footballing ladder. After being cast out by United, Greenwood kick-started his career during a very successful loan spell at Getafe, for whom he contributed 14 goals in 33 appearances last season. The challenge now is for him to maintain that momentum in Marseille. It’s a chaotic environment but an enormous club, meaning Greenwood has a golden opportunity to re-establish himself as one of the best young attackers in football. Certainly, working with De Zerbi has the potential to take his game to a whole new level. The more goals he scores, and the more time passes, the more likely it is that he’ll be back playing in the Premier League in a few years’ time. Grade: B+

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July 18: Savinho (Troyes to Manchester City, £30m)

For Troyes: A very modern affair – and a glaring example of the perils of multi-club ownership. Savinho signed for Troyes two years ago but he never played a single game for the club. They were – and still are – a pawn in someone else’s game. Troyes will obviously receive a significant sum of money from their owner, the City Football Group (CFG), but is that going to make the fans feel any better about the fact that they’ve suffered back-to-back relegations since Savinho became their record signing? Expect more bitterly sarcastic chants of ‘Merci, City!’ when Troyes kick off their Championnat National campaign next month. Grade: F

For Manchester City: The perfect illustration of why the CFG stockpile talent. City signed an exciting Brazilian teenager from Atletico Mineiro via Troyes, allowed him to learn his trade at PSV, watched him grow at Girona and then finally brought him to the Etihad. Savinho is essentially proof that their system works and illustrates why other club owners are trying to copy it. In this instance, there’s no real point in analysing the fee. It’s essentially irrelevant. But, from a footballing perspective, Savinho should prove a fine addition to the City squad. He’s just 20 years of age but has already been capped seven times by Brazil – and one can understand why. He both scores and creates goals, can play on either flank and is a devastating dribbler (he completed more than anyone else in La Liga last season). Basically, Savinho and Jeremy Doku are going to be a serious problem for the Premier League next season. Grade: A

For Savinho: The obvious next step. The hope was that Savinho would prove himself good enough to make the move to Manchester and he did exactly that at Girona last term, with his nine goals and 10 assists playing a pivotal part in the Catalans qualifying for the Champions League for the first time ever by finishing third in La Liga. Of course, he won’t be one of the key players at City – at least not immediately – given the intense competition for places in Pep Guardiola’s starting line-up. But there’s a changing of the guard coming at City and Savinho should be a big part of the process. He may take a little time to get to grips with the Premier League – and Pep’s demands – but it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see the winger quickly become a fan favourite at the Etihad. Grade: A

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July 17: Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid to AC Milan, €13.5m)

For Atletico Madrid: An unsurprising exit. Morata may be a European Championship-winning captain coming off the most prolific campaign of his entire club career (21 goals in 48 appearances) – but it was obvious during what was a difficult second half of the season that he was losing the trust of Diego Simone, who even hauled the striker off at half-time in the Champions League semi-final loss to Borussia Dortmund. In that context, €13.5m (£11.3m/$14.7m) is not a bad fee for a 31-year-old No.9 – and that money will now go towards buying a younger and far more clinical finisher. Grade: B

For AC Milan: A gamble worth taking. Morata is a complex character who has struggled with his mental health throughout his career but when he’s happy, he’s a formidable forward – and he should, in theory, be very happy in Milan, given his wife is Italian and he’s returning to Serie A on a high after leading Spain to victory in Germany. Indeed, there’s justifiable optimism at San Siro that Morata will have a positive impact on the dressing room, and Milan’s younger players in particular. After Olivier Giroud’s exit, the Rossoneri also wanted an experienced, hard-working forward capable of creating time and space for their talented wingers. In Morata, that’s exactly what they’ve got – and for a low price, too. Grade: B-

For Morata: A predictable return to Italy. Morata has many fond memories of his time in Turin and could find Milan just as enjoyable. He should certainly relish playing alongside Rafael Leao and Christian Pulisic, while new coach Paulo Fonseca reportedly viewed Morata as a better fit for his style of football than Joshua Zirkzee, who ended up joining Manchester United instead. Is Morata a certain starter? It’s hard to say at this point. The word is that the Rossoneri are still said to be searching for at least one other strikers for next season, which makes sense, given it’s never been a good idea for any team to rely on Morata to score goals (he managed just one at the Euros). However, at this stage of his career, the Spain skipper would probably accept a rotational role. Furthermore, it’s clear that he was no longer comfortable in Madrid, whereas he and his family will feel right at home in Milan. Grade: A

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July 14: Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna to Manchester United, £34m)

For Bologna: A bitter blow but utterly unavoidable. It’s been clear for a couple of months now that Bologna had no chance of holding onto a promising player that had a €40m buy-out clause. The final fee will be ever so slightly higher, but the Rossoblu will only get half the money anyway, given the sell-on clause Bayern Munich inserted in the striker’s contract. It’s thus hard not to feel so sorry for the fans, who were buzzing after their team’s shock qualification for next season’s Champions League but have now seen their coach (Thiago Motta) and their star striker leave the Renato Dall’Ara, with Riccardo Calafiori set to follow. Grade: D

For Man Utd: An intriguing transfer. Zirkzee is coming off the best season of his career, with his fine form earning him a late call-up to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024, and given his Zlatan Ibrahimovic-like technique, he should prove wonderfully adept at creating space and opportunities for the likes of Alejandro Garnacho. United have also done well to beat off stiff competition for Zirkzee’s services from AC Milan, while Juventus and Arsenal were also linked with the Dutchman in recent months. It’s also a decent deal from a financial perspective: Zirkzee is a player with a high ceiling who’s arrived at Old Trafford for a low price. But whether he’s the answer to United’s goal-scoring problems remains to be seen. After all, Zirkzee scored just 12 goals in all competitions last season… Grade: B

For Zirkzee: A surprising turn of events. The word in Italy was that Zirkzee wanted to stay in Serie A and only had eyes for AC Milan. He’s also been very vocal about his desire to play in the Champions League, so it’s interesting to see him join United, a club in a seemingly constant state of chaos that is by no means guaranteed to achieve any sort of stability next season. Indeed, one would have thought that Rasmus Hojlund’s struggles would have put Zirkzee off moving to Manchester. Still, the 23-year-old does not lack confidence and undoubtedly has the kind of skillset that could quickly endear him to the Old Trafford faithful. Grade: B+

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July 11: Joao Palhinha (Fulham to Bayern Munich, €50m)

For Fulham: An inevitable exit. Fulham were always going to lose one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League; the only surprise is that it took this long. Palhinha is obviously going to be a major miss for Marco Silva’s side, but the good thing is that the Cottagers have handled his exit as best they could. By getting Palhinha to sign a new contract last September, Fulham have managed to get a decent fee for a player about to turn 29, while also giving themselves plenty of time to prepare for his departure. Grade: B

For Bayern: Better late than never! Who knows how last season would have turned out had Bayern not failed to get this transfer over the line on deadline day? Thomas Tuchel would certainly be forgiven for feeling a little frustrated right now! Still, this is no time for looking backwards. Bayern can only focus on the future after a traumatising and turbulent 2023-24 – and Palhinha should help them do precisely that. As the Portuguese showed at the Euros, there are few better ball-winners in the game today. He should quickly become a key player at the Allianz Arena, meaning his arrival is well worth celebrating. Bayern have finally got their man – and his arrival should soften the blow of Joshua Kimmich’s likely exit too. Grade: B+

For Palhinha: The move he’s long desired – and deserved. Palhinha has earned the chance to play for one of Europe’s elite with his performances for Fulham and Portugal over the last couple of years. It may have taken a little longer than he would have liked, but that means he’ll savour every moment all the more. With all due respect to Fulham, he should also benefit from playing alongside far better players on a weekly basis. Grade: A

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July 7: Michael Olise (Crystal Palace to Bayern Munich, €60m)

For Crystal Palace: The best they could have done in the circumstances. Olise was always going to leave Palace this summer; truth be told, they’ve probably been lucky to hold onto him this long. The objective, then, was always to get good money for such an exciting talent. Palace have realised that goal – and they’ve managed to find an overseas buyer, meaning they won’t have to face Olise next season. Indeed, seeing him sign for Chelsea, who dropped out of the race late in the day, would have been tough to take for supporters! Grade: A

For Bayern Munich: Another serious show of intent after the Joao Palhinha deal. It’s unquestionably a significant chunk of money for a 22-year-old who has yet to be capped at senior international level by France and has no experience of European football. There will also be some concern over Olise’s recent hamstring issues. However, this is a player of enormous potential, a wonderful dribbler with a keen eye for a pass. He fits perfectly with the desire to start an exciting new project in Bavaria. Several big Premier League clubs wanted Olise; Bayern have got him, making him a signing worth celebrating. Grade: B+

For Michael Olise: The right call. Returning to Chelsea would have been a horribly risky move and while there’s intense competition for places at the Allianz Arena, it’s highly likely that at least one of Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry will be sold this summer. Indeed, one could argue that all three of those players are in decline (or at least stagnating) while Olise is on the rise. There’s every chance that the France Under-21 international will form a thrilling attacking partnership with Jamal Musiala that will evoke memories of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, while Harry Kane should benefit enormously from Olise’s creativity. Olise wanted Champions League football. He wanted the chance to prove himself at the highest level. He’ll get both at one of the biggest clubs in world football. Grade: A

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July 2: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (Leicester to Chelsea, £30m)

For Leicester: A sadly inevitable consequence of reckless spending. It’s been clear for some time that Leicester would eventually pay a price for falling foul of financial regulations, meaning the sale of an academy product for pure profit was only a matter of time, but that doesn’t make Dewsbury-Hall’s departure any easier to palate for the fans. There’s something not quite right about the fact that Leicester are back in the Premier League but they’ll arrive without a homegrown hero who played a pivotal part in their return. What’s more, he’s been sold for less than his market value. Grim. Grade: D

For Chelsea: A decent bit of business – with the absolute emphasis on business. Is Dewsbury-Hall an upgrade on Conor Gallagher, who has been pushed ever closer to the exit door at Stamford Bridge by this deal? No, not at all. But he could prove a solid rotational player, given he’s just coming off the best season of his career under Chelsea’s new manager Enzo Maresca, and has arrived for a knockdown fee, with the Blues having taken advantage of another club’s PSR problems for once. Grade: C

For Dewsbury-Hall: An unexpected opportunity to prove he belongs in the Premier League. Dewsbury-Hall is 26 and he’s never been capped at any age group by England, but he’s now put himself in an excellent position to show that he can be a top midfielder. Of course, the endemic chaos at Chelsea could count against him, and there are far more talented players than he in the midfield pecking order, but Dewsbury-Hall’s energy, honesty and fine left foot could end up endearing him to his new club’s notoriously fickle fans. Grade: B+

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July 2: Archie Gray (Leeds to Tottenham, £30m)

For Leeds: A bitter blow. As soon as Leeds lost the Championship play-off final to Southampton, it was clear that the club would have to sell one of its most valuable assets to balance the books. With Gray’s sale, Leeds have done precisely that – but it’s still a tougher transfer to take. Gray is still only 18 and, given his lineage, it feels like selling the family silver. The one positive that they’ve managed to agree a far more agreeable deal with Spurs, which includes Wales international Joe Rodon, than the package put forward by Brentford. Grade: C+

For Tottenham: A potential bargain buy. Plenty of Premier League clubs were impressed by Gray’s performances last season, both in the Championship and the FA Cup, so this is a noteworthy deal for Spurs. Liverpool and Chelsea were among those said to be interested in signing the England Under-21 international. It’s also a very reasonable price for a player capable of playing at right-back or in midfield. Ange Postecoglou will be seriously looking forward to working with Gray, who looks ideal for his project. Grade: B+

For Gray: A move that could work out very well indeed. Gray probably would have preferred to stay at Leeds, at least for another season, but their promotion failure made his departure a formality. He’s already shown enough in his fledgling career to suggest that he deserves to be playing regular Premier League football- which is exactly what he should get at Spurs next season. Gray could have got lost at Chelsea and would not have been guaranteed game time at Liverpool, but he should see plenty of game time in north London. Gray is definitely one to watch in 2024-25. Grade: A-

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June 30: Douglas Luiz (Aston Villa to Juventus, €28m + Enzo Barrenechea & Samuel Iling-Junior)

For Aston Villa: A necessary evil. Villa’s PSR problems necessitated the sale of a valuable asset and Luiz rather unfortunately fit the bill as a much-coveted midfielder with two years left on his contract who was acquired for a bargain £15m ($19m). Losing the Brazilian is nonetheless a massive blow. It has been pointed out that his form tailed off a little towards the end of last season, but he still ended up contributing nine goals and five assists to Villa’s fourth-placed finish in the Premier League. Barrenechea is obviously arriving from Juve, along with forward Iling-Junior, but there is no guarantee that the Argentine will adapt to the Premier League after an underwhelming loan spell at Frosinone last season. Indeed, it’s worth noting that the bang-average Weston McKennie was originally meant to be part of the deal! Grade: C-

For Juventus: A timely boost. With Adrien Rabiot’s future still up in the air and no real progress being made in the pursuit of Teun Koopmeiners, Juve’s notoriously weak midfield was crying out for reinforcement. Luiz’s goal threat will be most welcome in Turin and renowned sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, who joined from Napoli last summer, deserves credit for managing to bring in one of the club’s top targets while simultaneously offloading two reserves. Grade: B+

For Douglas Luiz: The right move at the right time, perhaps. Luiz has been regularly linked with a move away from Villa Park and this feels like a deal that suits everyone involved, albeit for different reasons. From Luiz’s perspective, he gets to play for one of the most famous clubs in Juve – and just as they’re likely to undergo a dramatic (and long overdue) – transformation in playing style under Thiago Motta, who worked wonders at Bologna last season. Indeed, it’s quite easy to see the former Italy midfielder taking Luiz’s game to another level in Turin, making him a key component in a team that will be expected to challenge for major honours next season. This is an exciting time for the 26-year-old and his new club. Grade: B+

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June 28: Ian Maatsen (Chelsea to Aston Villa, £37.5m)

For Chelsea: Some of that precious pure profit! Chelsea needed to sell players before the end of June to avoid any potential punishment for breaching financial regulations and they already have a couple of international left-backs on their books, so cashing in on an academy product like Maatsen (signed from PSV as a teenager) was a no-brainer. The fact that the 22-year-old would be a better option at left-back next season than either Marc Cucurella or Ben Chilwell doesn’t even come into the equation. This is strictly business. Grade: C+

For Aston Villa: A possible solution to their left-back problem. Maatsen’s name has obviously featured heavily in several stories on the controversial ‘swap weekend’ embraced by several Premier Leagues hoping to get around Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) before the end of June, but while the fee might be slightly inflated, this deal is different to others involving Villa, Chelsea, Everton and Newcastle in that it also makes sense from a sporting perspective. Maatsen was so good during his six-month loan spell at Borussia Dortmund that he even made it into UEFA’s Champions League Team of the Season before then earning a late call-up to the Netherlands squad for Euro 2024. So, with this transfer, Villa are essentially killing two birds with one stone. Grade: B

For Maatsen: A fine alternative to Dortmund. The Dutchman probably would have been better served by continuing at BVB after making such an instant impact at Signal Iduna Park, but the Germans were understandably put off by Chelsea’s asking price. Still, a move to Villa could work out wonderfully well for Maatsen, given this is a team quite clearly going places under Unai Emery, who has done a sensational job since replacing Steven Gerrard as manager just over 18 months ago. Unlike Chelsea, Villa will be in the Champions League next season, meaning Maatsen will have another, immediate chance to shine on the club game’s grandest stage. Right now, for a player like Maatsen, Villa definitely represent a step up from Chelsea in terms of quality and stability. Grade: B+

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June 22: Estevao Willian (Palmeiras to Chelsea, £29m)

For Palmeiras: They’ve done it again! A year after agreeing a €60 million (£51m/$64m) deal with Real Madrid for Endrick, Palmeiras have brokered another bumper deal (which could rise to £52m/$65m) for a teenager with a massive European club – and, once again, they get to hold onto their potential superstar until he turns 18. Of course, it’s sad that such talents leave Brazil so soon, but this is the depressing nature of the transfer market today. Most clubs now rely on their academies to make ends meet. There are also no guarantees that promising players will succeed at the very highest level, so Palmeiras deserve praise for not only developing Estevao and giving him a chance to shine, but also securing such a lofty fee for one so young. Grade: A

For Chelsea: Quite the coup. The club’s recruitment policy isn’t very sophisticated: buy as many highly-rated young players as possible in the hope that at least one of them turns out to be the next Cole Palmer. Estevao, though, looks as close as a club can possibly get to a sure thing, which is why Arsenal, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Bayern Munich were also keen on signing ‘Messinho’. Indeed, World Cup winner Branco says Estevao is the best player born in Brazil since Neymar. He won’t arrive at Stamford Bridge until next summer, but based on everything we’ve seen so far, the winger will prove well worth the wait. Grade: A

For Estevao: An undeniable risk. As already mentioned, Estevao had his pick of Europe’s elite. In that sense, Chelsea is a strange choice. It’s a club in a constant state of chaos in which several young players – Palmer excluded – have almost inevitably failed to justify massive transfer fees. The Blues won’t be in the Champions League next season and, having once again changed manager, there’s no guarantee that they will be when Estevao arrives either. It’s no surprise, then, that the decision to move to Chelsea has bemused many Brazilians, particularly as Estevao said all along that his dream was to join Barcelona. Now, the Catalans’ cash-flow problems obviously made that impossible (for now, at least) and the word coming out of the player’s camp is that they feel he’s more likely to get game time at Stamford Bridge, as opposed to the Etihad, the Emirates, Parc des Princes or the Allianz Arena, but the fear is that Estevao will struggle to break through at Chelsea as much as his compatriot Andrey Santos, who spent all of last season out on loan. Grade: C

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June 7: Tosin Adarabioyo (Fulham to Chelsea, free)

For Fulham: A significant but unsurprising blow. As soon as Adarabioyo turned down an offer that would have made him one of the highest-paid players at the club, it was clear that his days at Craven Cottage were numbered. Still, seeing the centre-back leave on a free transfer – and then promptly join Chelsea – will obviously be a tough one for both the club and the fans to take. Grade: F

For Chelsea: Not exactly a signing to set pulses racing at Stamford Bridge. Adarabioyo is hardly going to fill the colossal void left behind by Thiago Silva. On the contrary, his arrival is likely to hasten the departure of academy product Trevoh Chalobah as Chelsea look to balance the books after an unprecedented, two-year spending spree. Adarabioyo is solid, he should prove a decent squad player and, from a purely financial perspective, the Blues will feel this deal makes an awful lot of sense. Grade: C+

For Adarabioyo: The right time to try his luck at a higher level. He’s 26 now and the word is that while Chelsea offered him a better financial package than Newcastle, the main reason he picked west London over Tyneside was the chance to play in continental competition. Adarabioyo certainly won’t go straight into the starting line-up and there’s an obvious risk that comes with joining such a chaotic club, but the familiarity with his surroundings and the lack of pressure on his shoulders should at least make it easier for him to produce his best football. Grade: B

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June 3: Kylian Mbappe (PSG to Real Madrid, free)

For Paris Saint-Germain: Nasser Al-Khelaifi stated several times that there was no way PSG would allow the best player in the world to leave on a free transfer. Well, it’s happened, so this cannot be portrayed as anything but a sporting and financial disaster for the French champions. Yes, PSG will save a fortune in wages. Yes, Mbappe’s behaviour had become a major problem. But losing him for nothing reflects horribly on those in power at the Parc des Princes. In a way, Mbappe may well have done PSG a favour by exposing the folly of pursuing and indulging “flash, bling-bling” superstars, and there are already signs that the club’s Qatari owners have seen the error of their ways. However, the damage already done to their brand is colossal. PSG really do risk irrelevance without their most marketable player. Mbappe, remember, was PSG’s poster boy, their homegrown hero and the “cornerstone” of their entire project; instead, he’s left it on the verge of complete collapse. Grade: F

For Real Madrid: Pure perfection. Florentino Perez has finally got his man – and without having to pay a transfer fee. Obviously, Madrid are still handing over a king’s ransom to land Mbappe, in terms of his salary and signing on-fee, but this has worked out better than anyone connected to the club could have expected. It may have taken longer than they would have wanted, but the World Cup winner is still only 25, meaning his peak years are still ahead of him. In that sense, it feels a lot like Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival in Madrid all the way back in 2009: an already world-class talent perfectly primed to take his game to a whole other level at the biggest club in the world. Mbappe’s arrogance is obviously off the scale and there are question marks over where exactly he will play – but who better than Carlo Ancelotti, the master of managing egos, to make it work?! Grade: A+

For Mbappe: A dream come true. Mbappe has wanted this since he was a kid. He probably needs it at this stage of his career, too. There were those within French football who believed Mbappe was stagnating in Paris, that he really needed a new challenge away from his hometown. Now, he’s got the biggest one in football: proving his greatness at Real Madrid. Obviously anything other than Champions League glory and a first Ballon d’Or will be deemed failure, but let’s face it, if Mbappe stays fit, he’ll run riot in Spain, no matter what position he plays in. He’s just that good. Grade: A+