Havertz leads top XI of most expensive signings - First summer without €100m deal since 2015
There would be “no announcements of transfers being completed soon – and certainly not for fees of €120 million or more”, Bayern Munich boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge predicted in a Sportbuzzer column in March. At least in part, he was to be right. The transfers came: Until October 5, there were fewer deals in the top 5 leagues than in previous years, but still many. 302 signings in the Premier League (322 in the summer of 2019), 259 in the Bundesliga (301) and so on. But the big global records were not even approached. For the first time since 2015, no player was transferred for over €100 million.
Five years ago, Kevin De Bruyne, who moved from Wolfsburg to Manchester City for the then Bundesliga record sum of €76 million, was the most expensive player of the summer. Five years later, Kai Havertz, this time the player with the highest fee, at least set a new German record with his €80 million move from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea.
The 25 most expensive summer transfers in 2020
From Havertz to Werner: Chelsea the only big spenders on 2019 level
As usual, Transfermarkt set up the top eleven of the most expensive summer transfers. In addition to Havertz, Timo Werner is another Germany international at the top of the statistics. The striker also moved to Stamford Bridge – for €53 million from RB Leipzig. Chelsea, who had ample reserves for transfers due to their transfer ban in 2019 and the sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, have four players in the side. The summer’s most expensive goalkeeper, Edouard Mendy, and the most expensive left-back, Ben Chilwell, also play for head coach Frank Lampard’s team now.
Meanwhile, Man City lived up to their reputation as buyers of expensive defenders and with Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké, the two centre-backs with the highest fees of the summer. Together, the Portuguese and Dutch players cost €113.3 million. City are now responsible for six of the twelve most expensive transfers of defensive players.
Morata & Co.: Many valuable loan transfers this summer
Meanwhile, the Bundesliga is not represented in the eleven on the signings side – although Leroy Sané, with a fee of €45 million, for which he moved from City to Bayern, is not far behind. The same applies to the most expensive player of deadline day: Arsenal activated the €50 million exit clause in defensive midfielder Thomas’s Atlético Madrid contract. The LaLiga club, in turn, had to pay €56 million to Chelsea for striker Álvaro Morata due to an obligation to buy. The Spaniard no longer plays for the Rojiblancos, however, but was loaned to Juventus for €10 million with an option to buy.
In any case, the loan model is also a welcome tool of strengthening the team in the short term in 2020/21. 24 players with a market value of at least €20 million temporarily changed their club – two more than a year ago. So, the summer transfer window 2020 has set an own record in the end.
Guendouzi, Bale & Co. - The most valuable loan deals of the summer
- Date of birth/Age:
- Jun 11, 1999 (24)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Arsenal FC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2028
- Position:
- Attacking Midfield
- Market Value:
- €60.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Aug 12, 1996 (27)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- ACF Fiorentina
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2024
- Position:
- Defensive Midfield
- Market Value:
- €15.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Apr 2, 1990 (34)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Sharjah FC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2024
- Position:
- Central Midfield
- Market Value:
- €4.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- May 14, 1997 (26)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Manchester City
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2027
- Position:
- Centre-Back
- Market Value:
- €80.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Dec 29, 1998 (25)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- SSC Napoli
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2026
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €110.00m