The transfer window is over at last, and it’s been one of the most eventful of recent years as some of the world’s biggest names have made moves to new clubs this summer.
Not only has Lionel Messi ended his long association with Barcelona by moving to Paris Saint-Germain, but Cristiano Ronaldo is also back at Manchester United after 12 years away.
Some elite young talents like Jadon Sancho and Eduardo Camavinga have also been on the move, while PSG added a few other world class superstars to their team alongside Messi.
In no particular order, here is our pick for the ten best signings of the summer, plus a few more honourable mentions at the end…
Cristiano Ronaldo
Still a world class goal-scorer, still one of the biggest names in world sport, let alone football – Cristiano Ronaldo is back in the Premier League.
The 36-year-old may not be the player he was in his first spell at Man Utd, but everyone is surely excited to see him back in English football, with the Portugal international looking an ideal signing to give Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side more of a goal threat.
United finished 2nd in the Premier League last season but didn’t quite have enough in them to keep up with Manchester City, though a huge signing like Ronaldo could make the difference.
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Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi has finally left Barcelona and is sure to be an incredible signing for PSG.
The Argentine is still arguably the best footballer on the planet and he’ll now have the pleasure of linking up with Neymar and Kylian Mbappe at the Parc des Princes, in a front three comparable to the legendary ‘MSN’ of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez at Barcelona a few years ago.
PSG may have missed out on the Ligue 1 title as Lille earned a surprise victory last season, but the arrival of Messi surely makes PSG the comfortable title favourites and among the main contenders for the Champions League.
Sergio Ramos
In what has been a remarkable summer for PSG, Sergio Ramos has also joined the club on a free transfer from Real Madrid.
It’s pretty surreal to think of Ramos and Messi in the same team after they were rivals in La Liga for so long, but it’s sure to give Mauricio Pochettino a heck of a squad to work with.
Ramos is an elite defender and a serial winner whose experience could be crucial to helping PSG make that step up in Europe in particular.
Achraf Hakimi
After just one successful season at Inter Milan, Achraf Hakimi made the transfer to PSG and is another of their superb signings this summer.
The Morocco international is one of the finest wing-backs in the game and has already made his mark in Paris with a strong start to the 2021/22 campaign.
It would have been nice to see Hakimi in the Premier League, as he’s sure to be one of the most influential players in the game in years to come as full-backs continue to become more important in the modern game.
Georginio Wijnaldum
We’re not done with PSG signings yet I’m afraid, with Georginio Wijnaldum another superb piece of business as he joined the Ligue 1 giants on a free from Liverpool.
The Netherlands international was a star player for the Reds, and has arguably been one of the most underrated players in Europe for a number of years.
Liverpool fans will miss Wijnaldum’s influence, and his combination of work rate, intelligent play and eye for goal from the middle of the park should make him a real asset to PSG.
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Gianluigi Donnarumma
And finally from PSG, Gianluigi Donnarumma has also joined the club from AC Milan, following a great start to his career in Serie A and with the Italian national team.
Still only 22 years of age, Donnarumma is sure to go down as one of the finest goalkeepers in the game and is another top class addition who could help take PSG up a level in the European game.
Astonishingly, like Messi, Wijnaldum and Ramos, Donnarumma was another free transfer by PSG, who clearly know how to work the market even if it doesn’t always involve paying mega-money fees.
Eduardo Camavinga
Real Madrid didn’t have the best summer, but they did manage to secure the signature of one of the most exciting young talents in world football with a deadline day move for Eduardo Camavinga.
The 18-year-old shone during his time at Rennes and could surely have had his pick of Europe’s biggest clubs, but he’s ended up making the move to the Bernabeu.
This should prove a terrific signing for Real, with Camavinga’s qualities making him an ideal long-term successor to ageing midfield duo Luka Modric and Toni Kroos.
Raphael Varane
One of the finest defenders in Europe, Raphael Varane has made the move to Manchester United this summer after coming to the final year of his contract at Real Madrid.
The France international won it all in his time in Spain and is also a World Cup winner with his country, so his experience could be invaluable to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side as they finally try to get their hands on silverware.
Harry Maguire hasn’t always been at his best for Man Utd, but part of that is down to the lack of a top quality partner, but Varane can finally complement the England international at the back and give the Red Devils a much stronger back-line.
Jadon Sancho
As well as Ronaldo and Varane providing experience and winning know-how to Solskjaer’s squad, Jadon Sancho should also be an exciting injection of youth and quality up front.
The England international showed huge promise in his time at Borussia Dortmund, and looks like he can give United exactly what they need as an upgrade on inconsistent performers like Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.
Sancho will also have the benefit of learning from Ronaldo, who is the ideal mentor to help the youngster become the club’s next great no.7.
Romelu Lukaku
Finally, Romelu Lukaku completes our list of this summer’s best signings, with the Belgian goal machine providing Chelsea with a major upgrade on the under-performing Timo Werner up front.
Lukaku was immense in his two seasons with Inter Milan and has made a strong start to life at Stamford Bridge, helping give Thomas Tuchel a squad looking more capable of competing for the title than the one that only just scraped into the top four last term.
It’s also just generally good to see Lukaku back in the Premier League and looking back to his best after we never really saw the best of him at Manchester United.
Honourable mentions:
Saul Niguez – perhaps not the player he once was, but a smart loan signing for Chelsea to give them more options in midfield.
Antoine Griezmann – he flopped at Barcelona, but he’s now back at Atletico Madrid and could get back to his best at the club where he enjoyed the best form of his career.
Jack Grealish – an elite talent who looks a dream fit for Manchester City’s style of play, even if they arguably needed a 30-goal-a-season striker more.
Ibrahima Konate – still young and raw, plus a little injury-prone, but Ibrahima Konate should prove an important signing to give Liverpool more options in defence after their issues there last term.
David Alaba – a fine signing on a free for Real Madrid, but the Austria international has big boots to fill after both Ramos and Varane left.