The summer transfer window for 2016 is over. Three teams, all from the Premier League, appear in the top 10 of the most expensive signings this summer: Manchester United with Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Paul Pogba, Manchester City with Leroy Sane and John Stones, and Arsenal with Shkodran Mustafi and Granit Xhaka.
Joao Mario, Sporting to Inter: €40 million
New money going into Inter combined with a strong Euro 2016 for the 23-year old right winger resulted in his arrival at the Nerazzurri, instead of Chelsea who also went after him. Mario appeared in 64 league matches for Sporting since joining the senior team, scoring six goals last season.
Shkodran Mustafi, Valencia to Arsenal: €41 million
The German international has never played club football in Germany, and was actually part of the Everton squad for three years, never getting a chance to play. After a summer of rumors, the 24-year old centre back enjoyed the pressure on Arsene Wenger to make a signing, bringing over Mustafi from Valencia. Mustafi appeared in 61 matches for Valencia in his two years there, scoring six goals.
Sadio Mane, Southampton to Liverpool: €41.2 million
The 24-year old Senegalese winger is another player in the long line of those who made the move from Southampton to Liverpool, joining the Reds after two seasons with the Saints, scoring 21 league goals. He has already scored once for Liverpool in 3 league appearances, and is currently the most expensive African player ever.
Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Dortmund to Manchester United: €42 million
Three years after snubbing Liverpool and joining Dortmund, Mkhitaryan arrives in the Premier League to play for Jose Mourinho, although he hasn’t left much of an impression at Old Trafford since arriving. The 27-year old winger is a 59-time international for Armenia, and scored 11 goals last season in the Bundesliga, his best season with Dortmund.
Granit Xhaka, Monchengladbach to Arsenal: €45 million
Arsenal completed the signing of Xhaka from Borussia Monchengladbach before Euro 2016 began (Xhaka appeared for Switzerland), which helped the perception of Wenger not doing anything in the transfer window. The 23-year old midfielder appeared 108 times for Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga, scoring a career high 3 league goals last season.
Leroy Sane, Schalke to Manchester City: €50 million
Sane is only 20 years old, but has already appeared 47 times for Schalke before helping them fill up the war chest, scoring 8 goals in 33 appearances last season. The electrifying winger has 4 appearances for the German national team.
John Stones, Everton to Manchester City: €55.6 million
Chelsea wouldn’t pay Everton a similar sum one year ago for Stones, who at 22 already has 10 caps for England. He appeared 77 times in the Premier League with Everton since 2013 (joined them from Barnsley). He was in the Euro 2016 squad, but didn’t play in the tournament.
Hulk, Zenit to Shanghai SPG: €55.8 million
It’s been an interesting career trajectory for Hulk, who spent the last four seasons in Russia with Zenit, scoring 56 goals for them in 97 league appearances. His signing is the most expensive ever in the history of Asian football, and he’s making €384,000 per week, accumulating to €20 million a year.
Gonzalo Higuain, Napoli to Juventus: €90 million
Probably one of the more controversial transfers this summer, leaving Napoli for the team that has won the last five league titles in Italy. Higuain set a few records with his transfer, becoming the most expensive South American footballer of all-time, the most expensive signing by an Italian club, and the most expensive signing between teams in the same league. He scored 71 goals in 104 appearances for Napoli, including 36 Serie A goals last season. He already netted one for Juventus.
Paul Pogba, Juventus to Manchester United: €105 million
Juventus were able to spend so much on Higuain thanks to Manchester United turning Paul Pogba into the most expensive footballer in history, signing the 23-year old French midfielder for £89.3 million. Jose Mourinho loves making a splash, and finally got to break the world transfer fee record. Pogba played for Manchester United as a teenager but famously left to Italy in 2012. He helped lead Juve to four Serie A titles and the Champions League final, scoring 34 goals in all competitions. He has made 38 appearances for France, being part of the squad in the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, which wasn’t that successful for him.