The summer of 2023 will go down in history as the most expensive single transfer window of all time, Reelradio.com.ng reports.
But which players contributed most towards it? We put together the priciest summer XI in a 3-4-3 formation Pep Guardiola would be proud of.
GK: AndrƩ Onana
Inter toĀ Manchester United, ā¬52.5m
After over a decade at Old Trafford, United stalwart David de Gea was replaced byĀ InterĀ standout Onana in an initial deal that sees him become the fourth most expensive goalkeeper ever, but he could leapfrog Gianluigi Buffon into third place if certain bonuses are met.
CB: Kim Min-jae
Napoli toĀ Bayern Munich, ā¬50m
After just one successful season in Italy that saw the South Korean spearhead a defence which bolsteredĀ NapoliĀ en route to only their third Scudetto ever,Ā Bayern MunichĀ saw enough to swoop for the imposing centre-backās services.
CB: JoŔko Gvardiol
Leipzig toĀ Manchester City, ā¬90m
The Croatian came so close to becoming the most expensive defender of all time when he swapped Leipzig forĀ Manchester CityĀ but ultimately that is a record that Harry Maguire continues to hold onto. For the time being at least.
CB: Lucas HernƔndez
Bayern Munich toĀ PSG, ā¬45m
PSG have had a tumultuous summer so you would be forgiven if this addition escaped your attention, which hasnāt been the case for the clubās ultras, who werenāt exactly welcoming to the new arrival given his links to their old rivals to the south. āWe all make mistakes,ā read a banner reserved for him on his debut. āBeing born in Marseille is one of them.ā Ouch.
DM: Declan Rice
West Ham toĀ Arsenal, ā¬117m
Bellinghamās England midfield team-mate fills all of the same boxes and is sure to be the beating heart of the revitalised Gunners for years to come. His blockbuster move across London from West Ham saw him briefly become the most expensive transfer in British history. Until ā¦
CM: MoisƩs Caicedo
Brighton toĀ Chelsea, ā¬133m
So in demand was the Ecuadorian this summer that he found two teams willing to break Riceās recent record deal in order to have him in their midfield. Ultimately,Ā ChelseaĀ won out over Liverpool, who had agreed a similar fee, as the staggering spending of the Todd Boehly era continued.
CM: Jude Bellingham
Borussia Dortmund toĀ Real Madrid, ā¬103m
How much will we look back on this fee of just over ā¬100m in the years ahead and think of it as a bargain for Real Madrid? The England international has taken to his new surroundings like a duck to water, becoming only the third LaLiga player this century to directly contribute to four goals in his first two games. He truly is a phenom.
AM: Kai Havertz
Chelsea toĀ Arsenal, ā¬75m
Arsenal have had a busy and big-spending summer, with the Germany international racking up a big fee when he opted to swap Stamford Bridge for the Emirates, where he will play in a deeper midfield role in Mikel Artetaās system.
RW: Randal Kolo Muani
Eintracht Frankfurt toĀ PSG, ā¬95m
While not strictly a right winger (the most expensive player for that particular position this summer would be Manchester Cityās new recruit JĆ©rĆ©my Doku), PSGās big deadline day recruit simply has to be included in the forward by virtue of the huge fee it took to sign him from Eintracht Frankfurt.
ST: Harry Kane
Tottenham toĀ Bayern Munich, ā¬100m
After a lengthy pursuit which dragged on throughout the summer,Ā BayernĀ finally got their man in August when they agreed a nine-figure deal for Tottenham legendĀ Harry KaneĀ ā a move which saw him become the most expensive import in Bundesliga history.
LW: Neymar
PSG toĀ Al-Hilal, ā¬90m
Although he has only moved clubs three times in his career, the amounts which require those deals to be done mean thatĀ NeymarĀ has become the most expensive player of all time, with no other player accounting for more money in transfer fees than the Brazilian.
