There’s Chelsea and the rest: the Top 10 biggest transfers this winter
We say it, we repeat it, for most clubs, the summer transfer window only serves to refine the workers, to find the rare pearl that can bring extra quality for the end of the season. Except that some, blinded by millions, don’t necessarily hear it that way and spend too much. Chelsea, who monopolize the top of the ranking of the biggest spenders, are the best example. Exactly, let’s take a look at the 10 biggest transfers this winter. You see, there’s the Blues… then the rest.
1. Enzo Fernandez (22 years old, from Benfica to Chelsea for 121 million)
From his XXL career with Argentina at the World Cup, Enzo Fernandez burst into the eyes of the general public. His rating has logically increased, especially since he lined up the selection marks at Benfica. Sensing the right move, Chelsea obviously jumped at the chance. Except the Blues really want to make sure Fernandez signs for them. Suddenly they swing 121 million while the market value of the player does not exceed… 55 million. Chelsea and her delusions of grandeur.
2. Mykhaylo Mudryk (22, from Shakhtar to Chelsea for 70 million)
Especially since the Blues also obviously monopolize the 2nd place on the podium with their other cracks in this transfer window: convincing the Ukrainian nugget, Mykhailo Mudryk to sign them. Left for Arsenal for weeks, the Ukrainian finally surrendered millions to Chelsea, infuriating Gunners supporters. With little top-level experience on the legs but an eye-popping potential, Mudryk intrigues. It remains to clear one place in the competitive jungle that is Chelsea’s locker room.
3. Joao Cancelo (29, from Manchester City to Bayern, on loan with option to buy 70 million)
The big surprise of this winter transfer window is without a doubt. The foundation stone of the system Pep Guardiola in the City for a long month, João Cancelo suddenly became persona non grata among Cityzens after the World Cup. Inevitably, his ego took a hit and his relationship with the Catalan coach soured. Always on the lookout for the smallest good move, Bayern came to the information and finally seized the loan (with an option to buy) from the Portuguese side. And even if it is, at the moment, just a loan, it is hard to imagine that the Bavarians will let Cancelo go at the end of the season. Even if you have to pay the 70 million requested by the City. When we have the chance to line up a pair of Davies-Cancelo sides, we won’t pass it up.
4. Anthony Gordon (21, from Everton to Newcastle for 45.6 million)
These English people are crazy. Galvanized by its petrodollars and obsessed with the Champions League, Newcastle have also decided to offer one of the trending players of the Premier League: Anthony Gordon. A youth international, the Everton left winger has 3 goals in 16 games this season. At the Magpies, he paid for the departure of Chris Wood, who left for Nottingham Forrest. Anthony Gordon in the Top 10 biggest transfers of a transfer window. We’ll have to look for it, that name, when we do tests in a few years…
5. Cody Gakpo (23, from PSV to Liverpool for 42 million)
When we see the crazy amount that Chelsea spent, we tell ourselves that the 42 million that Liverpool paid for Cody Gakpo good business stinks. Because the 23-year-old Dutchman has, on paper, all the assets to polish the Reds’ game and (finally) compensate for the departure of Sadio Mané. And that he is surfing on the confidence built up in the World Cup where he was (without question) the best Dutchman. So far, he has been scoreless at Liverpool in two matches. A matter of time, no doubt.
6. Benoît Badiashile (21, from Monaco to Chelsea for 38 million)
We almost missed the Blues, here we go again. At 21, Benoit Badiashile made the jump to the Premier League from Monaco. Price of this transaction? 38 million euros. A two-time French international, the colossus left the rock after 135 matches for his training club. Since his arrival, he has played two full games in the Premier League. Graham Potter is certainly counting on him, despite the stiff competition.
7. Noni Madueke (20 years old, from PSV to… Chelsea for 35 million)
Trained at Crystal Palace then Tottenham before leaving to harden at PSV (where he exploded), the Englishman Noni Madueke thus finding the Premier League for his excellent professional debut in his homeland. Gody Gakpo’s acolyte in front of the Batavian attack, he left the Eredivisie at the same time as his friend. A left winger or playmaker, he is recovering from a serious ankle injury that ruled him out of the start of the season at PSV. Poached for 35 million euros by the Blues, he has to prove himself to win.
8. Vitinha (22, from Braga to Marseille for 32 million euros)
Sometimes not custom, it is not PSG who monopolizes the top of the ranking of the biggest spenders in Ligue 1. It is Marseille, who agreed to burst his piggy bank to make a profit Vitinha the largest transfer in its history (32 million). The Portuguese striker, who scored a hat-trick against Union in the Europa League, therefore arrived at the Vélodrome with a sacred placard plastered on his back. But he has potential. He was even considered one of the most promising young attackers in the Portuguese league. In Ruslan Malinovskyi and Azzedine Ounahi are in any case one of the headliners of an Olympian transfer window placed under the sign of courage.
9. Malo Gusto (19, from Lyon to Chelsea for 30 million)
5th and final appearance for Chelsea in this ranking of the biggest spenders of the winter. This time, it’s to treat yourself Malo want, Lyon’s right side, that the Blues surrendered. The French arrived at Stamford Bridge against 30 million (+ 5 million potential bonus) but was loaned to Les Gones until the end of the season. While he is only fifty pro matches into the lead, Gusto still has 6 months to harden up. Before attempting the big jump to Chelsea where the competition on the laterals is the toughest.
10. Georginio Rutter (20, from Hoffenheim to Leeds for 28 million euros)
We started this ranking with an English team, we finish it… with an English team. Stuck at the bottom of the classification (15th), Leeds held on Georginio Rutter, a young French striker who played for Hoffenheim. To do this, the Peacocks had to pick up the checkbook as this affair cost them a tidy sum of 28 million euros. A nice little expense for a player who has bagged two goals in 15 appearances for Hoffenheim this season.
