European Transfer Round-Up

With Euro 2016 into the knockout stages now, the transfer business being done by a lot of European clubs has gone unnoticed – especially with some big names on the move going beneath the radar. The tournament is also a way for players to showcase their talents and ability on the international scene to push for a move away from their current club.

I’ll be going through some of the transfer moves in Europe which you may have missed.

Spain

Plenty of Spanish clubs have started signing reinforcements, with Barcelona the only team from La Liga not to have done any business so far. Atlético Madrid haven’t wasted any time and have already brought two signings to the Vicente Calderón. Nicolas Gaitan has joined Diego Simeone’s side for a fee in the region of £15.5 million, meanwhile, their second arrival has also come from the Portuguese league as Paços de Ferreira attacking midfielder Diogo Jota, 19, signed a five-year deal with Atletico back in March for a price of £7 million.

Real Madrid haven’t wasted too much either, they have ended their search for a new striker by triggering their buy-back clause in Juventus striker Álvaro Morata’s contract, the 23-year-old will cost the club €30 million. The Spain international, currently on duty with his country, has returned to the Santiago Bernabéu after spending two seasons in Italy. Meanwhile, there has been one departure at Real as winger Denis Cheryshev has moved to Villarreal after being surplus to requirements and a loan spell last season at Gary Neville’s Valencia.

The busiest teams in La Liga have been Malaga and Real Betis, both making four signings each.

Germany

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich have been the biggest spenders in Germany so far with just the two arrivals this summer so far. 18-year-old Portuguese international Renato Sanches has made the move from Benfica to Bayern for a fee of €38 million euros, whilst Mats Hummels has also joined for a similar fee after requesting a transfer from rivals Borussia Dortmund. There has been one player to leave the Allianz Arena, as defensive midfielder Sebastian Rode has moved in the opposite direction to Hummels and Sanches.

Dortmund have been the busiest club in the Bundesliga with five signings. Young Turkish international Emre Mor has joined the Black and Yellows from Danish club Nordsjaelland and 19-year-old winger Ousmane Dembélé impressed enough in France’s Ligue 1 to earn a move to Borussia Dortmund. Their highest profile arrival though is probably defender Marc Bartra, who has joined for a £8 million fee from La Liga champions FC Barcelona.

Bayer Leverkusen have also not taken long to strengthen their squad, with the addition of four new players – the stand-out being striker Kevin Volland from Hoffenheim for €20 million euros. Wolfsburg have lost perhaps their star man as Brazilian Naldo has moved to Schalke on a free transfer to replace the departing Joël Matip, who has of course agreed a deal with Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool.

Italy

Not too much to report on from Italy, but Euro 2016 hasn’t stopped the big clubs from doing transfer business. Juventus’ main acquisition has been 26-year-old midfielder Miralem Pjanić from AS Roma, a price tag of near £30 million was thought to have been agreed. This has only fuelled the speculation of the departure of Paul Pogba, who has been linked with some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Roma have completed some permanent deals for loanees from last season, centre-half Antonio Rüdiger joins from Stuttgart and winger Stephan El Shaarawy has agreed a move from AC Milan.

Milan’s rivals Inter have made one signing as of yet, with the capture of Turkish left-back Caner Erkin from Fenerbahçe. Meanwhile, Napoli have spent €10 million euros on former Italy Under-21 international Lorenzo Tonelli, who spent six years at Empoli. Manchester City youngster Seko Fofana has also made the move to Italy, recently agreeing a £3.5 million transfer to Udinese.

Rest of Europe

Benfica have made two signings this summer, with midfielder Andre Horta signing from fellow Primeira Liga club Vitoria Setubal for an undisclosed fee and highly-rated winger Andre Carrillo has moved on a free transfer from Sporting Lisbon.

Scottish giants Rangers are really challenging Celtic after having to climb up the league ladder, he Gers have completed three arrivals at the Ibrox. Former Premier League midfielder Joey Barton joined on a free from Championship winners Burnley, Jordan Rossiter signs from Liverpool after limited chances in the first-team and ex-Queens Park Rangers and Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder Niko Kranjcar put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal from New York Cosmos.

That is all from the ‘bigger’ clubs in Europe in this summer transfer window so far. Let me know if you want me to do a Premier League round-up!

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