The 10 most expensive transfers in the summer 2024 window, including Man Utd and Tottenham signings

Dominic Solanke at Tottenham, Julian Alvarez at Atletico Madrid and Leny Yoro playing for Man Utd

Dominic Solanke, Julian Alvarez and Leny Yoro were among the most expensive signings in the summer window

The summer transfer window saw clubs from Europe and Saudi Arabia spend a lot of money in order to strengthen their ranks for the 2024/25 campaign.

While some clubs had to operate within a relatively small budget, the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea were still able to complete big-money deals.

We’ve taken a look at the 10 most expensive deals that were completed in the 2024 summer transfer window.

Note: we’ve only used the initial transfer fees and haven’t taken into account any potential add-ons.

10. Teun Koopmeiners – £43.7m

After replacing Massimiliano Allegri in the Juventus dugout, Thiago Motta identified their midfield as an area that they needed to improve.

They bought Khephren Thuram from OGC Nice in a deal worth an initial £16.9million and also paid Aston Villa an initial £42.35million for Douglas Luiz.

But the most expensive signing was Koopmeiners, who cost an initial £43.7million and another £5.9million in potential add-ons.

The 26-year-old midfielder has spent the last three seasons at Atalanta and was a key part of the side that beat Bayer Leverkusen in the 2023/24 Europa League final.

9. Michael Olise – £45m

Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign as Bundesliga champions came to an end in 2023/24 as they finished third behind Stuttgart and champions Bayer Leverkusen.

They are looking to reclaim the title and fought off competition from Chelsea and Newcastle to sign Olise from Crystal Palace in a deal worth an initial £45million and another £5million in potential add-ons.

“I don’t look at the headlines or prices,” he said when asked about the transfer fee. “That’s not important. The club wants me to do a job, and I’m here to do that.”

The 22-year-old winger registered an assist two minutes into his debut as Bayern beat SSV Ulm 4-0 in the DFB-Pokal.

 

8. Dani Olmo – £47m

A La Masia academy graduate, Olmo left Barcelona at the age of 16 before enjoying successful spells with Dinamo Zagreb and RB Leipzig.

He also played an integral role in Spain’s successful Euro 2024 campaign, registering three goals and two assists at the tournament.

Barcelona have now spent an initial £47million and another £6million in potential add-ons to bring the 26-year-old midfielder back to Camp Nou.

He missed the first two games of the 2024/25 season due to a registration issue but has since scored two goals in two La Liga appearances.

7= Joao Neves – £50m

Neves’ brilliant performances for Benfica in 2023/24 attracted interest from Europe’s biggest clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

Paris Saint-Germain won the race for his signature after agreeing to pay Benfica an initial £50million and another £10million in potential add-ons.

“I’ve known him since I was 10 years old and it’s hard to see him leave,” Benfica president Rui Costa said.

“People have to understand that we postponed this transfer for a long time, we clearly rejected the first proposals, but we reached certain moments and numbers that made the transfer inevitable. Funds of €70 million are not possible for the club to give up.”

The 19-year-old midfielder has already started to justify that price tag by registering four assists in his first three Ligue 1 appearances.

7= Amadou Onana – £50m

After selling Douglas Luiz to Juventus, Aston Villa identified Onana as the perfect replacement for the Brazil international.

Villa spent £50million to prize the Belgium international away from Everton, making him the most expensive signing in the club’s history.

He made a dream start to his Villa career, scoring just four minutes into his debut to help Unai Emery’s side secure a 2-1 win over West Ham United.

The 23-year-old also scored the opener in their 2-1 win over Leicester City, and he has now matched his Premier League goal tally from the 2023/24 season.

5. Moussa Diaby – £50.4m

Diaby previously held the title of Aston Villa’s most expensive signing, having joined the club last summer in a deal worth an initial £43million.

But he had an underwhelming debut season in the Premier League and has now joined the list of high-profile players who have moved to the Saudi Pro League.

Villa turned a profit on the France international by selling him to Al-Ittihad for a fee of £50.4million, and he has signed a £250,000-per-week contract with the Saudi Arabian side.

4. Pedro Neto – £51.4m

Enzo Maresca spent over £200million and made 11 first-team signings during his first transfer window as Chelsea manager.

The most expensive of those is the signing of Pedro Neto from Wolves, with the winger costing an initial £51.4million and another £2.6million in potential add-ons.

“I’m very excited, he can offer many things,” Maresca said. “He can play on the right side, he can play on the left side, he’s very good one-on-one.

“It is one more option we have because there will be many, many games in the season, so we need a big squad.”

The 24-year-old returned to Molineux two weeks after the deal was completed and registered an assist in a 6-2 win for Maresca’s side.

3. Leny Yoro – £52.1m

After making two unsuccessful bids for Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite, Manchester United switched their attention to Yoro.

The centre-back – who was entering the final year of his Lille contract – was also linked with Real Madrid, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain but United won the race for his signature.

They forked out an initial £52.1million on the 18-year-old, making him the sixth most expensive teenager of all time.

But he will miss the start of the 2024/25 season after fracturing the fifth metatarsal on his left foot in a friendly against Arsenal.

2. Dominic Solanke – £55m

Having failed to replace Harry Kane in the summer of 2023, Tottenham identified Solanke as one of their top transfer targets for this window.

The striker enjoyed the best season of his career in 2023/24, scoring 19 goals in 38 Premier League appearances four Bournemouth.

Spurs secured his signature after agreeing to pay the Cherries an initial £55million, but the fee could rise to £65million with potential add-ons.

If the 26-year-old triggers those add-ons, he will usurp Tanguy Ndombele as the most expensive signing in Tottenham’s history.

Dominic Solanke on his Tottenham debut
Dominic Solanke on his Tottenham debut

1. Julian Alvarez – £64.4million

Alvarez was the most expensive signing in the summer of 2024, having joined Atletico Madrid from Manchester City in a deal worth an initial £64.4million and another £17.1million in add-ons.

“I felt that I needed a change in my career,” the Argentina international said during his official unveiling with the La Liga side.

“I needed to look for a new challenge, and I believe that this club gives me the tools to give my best. I learned a lot there [at City] and I’m grateful for the two years I’ve been there.”

The deal also represents an extraordinary profit for City, who bought the 24-year-old from River Plate in a £14.1million deal in January 2022.

READ MORE: Every transfer that broke the world record over the last 30 years, featuring FIVE Real Madrid signings

Dominic Solanke Julian Alvarez Leny Yoro

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