It has been another hectic summer in the world of football, with several high-profile players moving clubs for eye-watering figures. The inclusion of Saudi Arabian teams now taking a slice of the action has upped the competition further, with several big names in Europe being linked with a move there.
This article will profile some of the most surprising deals to have been struck ahead of the new campaign, and you can check out online casino and sports betting sites to assess the odds of your favourite players making a switch.
Ruben Neves: Wolves to Al Hilal – £47m
The Portugal international began his career with Porto playing in the Champions League, and was happy to drop down to the English second tier to join Wolves in 2017. Helping the Molineux club to promotion and Europe, the 26-year-old has again taken the decision to switch to a lower-profile league to take the next step of his career.
A fan favourite linked with a host of top clubs on the continent, seeing Neves make a switch to Saudi on the brink of his prime took some supporters by surprise.
Sandro Tonali: AC Milan to Newcastle – £52m with £8m in add-ons
The Italian was lauded as a generational talent when he came through the ranks with Brescia, making his debut at the age of 17. A big move to Milan followed when he was 20, and Tonali helped the Rossoneri win the Serie A title in 2022.
Newcastle’s takeover has allowed them to splash the cash, and football fans will soon become accustomed to the Magpies spending big. However, this early into the project, it still feels quite surreal seeing a title-winning Milan player swap the Italian capital for the Northeast.
Dominik Szoboszlai: Leipzig to Liverpool – £60m
Liverpool paying big money to sign a top player in Europe is nothing out of the ordinary. However, Dominik Szoboszlai’s switch to the red half of Merseyside did feel like it came out of the blue after the Hungarian was heavily linked with a switch to Newcastle.
The 22-year-old midfielder signed a five-year deal at Anfield and will wear the number 8 shirt, synonymous with Liverpool hero Steven Gerrard. Big boots to fill, indeed.
Kai Havertz: Chelsea to Arsenal – £65m
Seeing a player switch shirts between Chelsea and Arsenal always look a little surreal due to the intense rivalry these London giants have. However, the switch raised some eyebrows as Havertz struggled for the Blues last season. It was curious then to see an Arsenal side that finished second last season signing the German as they look to improve.
Despite this, it has to be said Chelsea struggled across the board last season, and Havertz is clearly a top player. Perhaps utilised in a different system under Mikel Arteta will see the 24-year-old return to his best.
Overall, it has been a strange summer of transfers. Not least because Kylian Mbappe, regarded by many as the man to take the crown from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player on the planet, was also the subject of a giant offer from Saudi Arabia. It will be interesting to see how the moves there and in the Premier League unfold this season.
