Best Transfers of Summer 2024 - One Once-in-a-Century Arrival, Many Perfect Fits

The summer window of 2024 hasn’t been that saga-filled, nor it has furthered the descent into madness of transfer fee lavishness. Yet it has possibly the best value-to-cost acquisition in the history of the sport. But the best transfers of summer 2024 all come with specific insight into how teams are made, as several clubs do feel like they found the perfect puzzle. Perhaps even - or especially - those which were discarded easily by their prior employers.

Looking at the transfers from the point of view of the buyers, taking into account price, age, suit for the team, and quality, here are the 10 best transfers of summer 2024.

#10 Savinho from Troyes to Manchester City for €25,000,000

The 20-year-old winger is only 10th on the list of 2024's best summer signings because of the corporate backstory of his transfer. Landing the reincarnation of Riyad Mahrez for €25,000,000 and him showing the capability to break into Pep Guardiola's side immediately would make him a candidate for the top three spots. But there is an asterisk. The club from which he came to Etihad, Troyes, is a member of the City Group network of clubs, which includes Man City.

The club where Savinho had his breakthrough season past term is also in the corporate portfolio. The Brazilian played 41 games for Girona in the 2023/2024 campaign, making it memorable with 11 goals and 10 assists.

#9 Strahinja Pavlovic from RB Salzburg to Milan for €18,000,000

Aged 23, Strahinja Pavlovic has already played 40 games for Serbia, meaning Milan bagged a future most-capped player of a European country for a mere €18,000,000. While the transfer has passed slightly under the radar in the broader market, the Rossoneri themselves are quite hyped. Comparing the Serbian with their legendary centre-back Jap Staam in the signing video. Besides the number, height, and (lack of) facial expressions, Pavlovic is obviously not that close to one of the best CBs of all time.

But the Serbian is a modern defender in a classic CB body - strong on the ball, likes to push forward and plays with his heart. He has already bounced around several European clubs, but in Italy, he is at the best garage shop on the continent to fine-tune his positioning and anticipation.

#8 Artem Dovbyk from Girona to Roma for €30,000,000

After lighting La Liga ablaze and making the Spanish national championship somewhat interesting in the 2023/2024 campaign with his 24 goals to push Girona, it was a wonder the Premier League big boys didn't break the bank on Artem Dovbyk. Roma making the signing alone is already considered one of the best moves of their recruitment team in a while Docbyk has also assisted in his last season, making 10 in 41 games across all competitions in his lone season at the club. His record for Ukraine is solid as well, 10 goals and four assists in 31 games. All while being 27 and entering his prime with a desire to prove himself as more than a one-season wonder.

#7 Charles De Ketelaere from Milan to Atalanta for €22,000,000

After season-in, season-out of making the right bargain purchases, Atalanta has earned the irrefutable crown of the most consistently correct buyer in Italy. The symbol of which is the last year's Europa League triumph. Of which Charles De Ketelaere was a major part of, playing in 11 games, with four goal involvements (2G/2A). Overall in his loan season, he played in 50 matches, scoring 14 goals and making 11 assists!

The Belgian flopped with a big fee of €36,500,000 to Milan, but in Bergamo, he showed that the manager and the team is a great fit for him. So for only €22,000,000, at the age of 23 and a proven track record, De Ketelaere reignited his career and his move to Milan most likely won't be his biggest fee.

#6 Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna to Arsenal for €45,000,000

One of the players who shined the brightest from the get-go of the Euro 2024 group stages. But the Italian also had a tremendous season behind him, helping Bologna get to a Champions League spot with 30 games in the league. The 22-year-old centre-back wasn't cheap, and after only two and a half seasons' worth of football, with 38 games the most he played for a single club - Basel.

He also arrives at a pretty solidified Arsenal defence and as versatile as he is, that can be a detriment to players capable of filling holes - they don't get to establish a permanent space for them.

#5 Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain to Manchester United for €50,000,000

One of two departures from PSG that make the top 10 transfers of summer 2024. In the shadow of the #1 biggest transfer of the year was this move that the Saints allowed to transpire. Despite paying the Uruguayan combative midfielder €10,000,000 more a year prior.

The 23-times capped representative of the country known for its fighting, work-rate spirit will have work to do at Old Trafford. Even a player like this could bog down in the swamp of the red part of Manchester, but it's a symbol of a better transfer policy at Theatre of Dreams. Aged only 23, Ugarte is a young lion eager to prove himself, not a heavy-legged veteran with his best years behind him.

#4 Robin Le Normand from Real Sociedad to Atletico Madrid for €34,500,000

No longer picking up scraps, Atletico Madrid is a consolidated big player on the European, not just Spanish market. But it feels particularly good for the Atleti fans to get a Spanish national team member, especially after a Euro triumph in which he was a consistent starter. Robin Le Normand arrives from the same club their biggest modern legend Antoine Griezmann arrived from - Real Sociedad.

Aged 27, Le Normand is entering his prime with 221 games played for Sociedad, and 19 for Spain. An all-round great centre-back, he might have to adapt and grow to meet the rugged sensibilities of his new coach. Gladly, as Cholo Simeone built some of the most memorable centre-backs of the last decade. Now, he perhaps has the most precious material in front of him.

#3 Conor Gallagher from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid for €42,000,000

Chelsea's transfer policy continues to baffle the mind of the rest of footballing Europe. As the worrying shopaholic had a domestic academy product that dominated all the advanced defensive stats in the previous season, and still allowed itself to lose him. For not a game-changing sum of €42,000,000.

Conor Gallagher is used to the high pace tempo of the Premier League with 136 games in it, and 31 goal involvements. Arriving at a combativeness-fertile Wanda Metropolitano stadium, at the age of 24, Gallagher took an unusual transfer route for an English player. Yet seemingly a logical one.

#2 Ilkay Gundogan from Barcelona to Manchester City for free

Anti-climactic, but undoubtedly a correct choice. Manchester City received the pitch architect of its treble with no fee, after just a season away. The player who is most often prophetised as the future manager of the crew just needs to shake a few new hands and is back in familiar turf. One where he played 306 games, scoring 60 goals and making 38 assists. With five Premier League trophies too.

In his season away he wasn't slouching too, making 14 assists and scoring five times in 51 games for Barca. Gundo is turning 34 this autumn, but with a yearly contract signed, and him being a perfect fit for the coach and the team, it is one of the very best transfers of the summer 2024.

#1 Kylian Mbappe from Paris Saint-Germain to Real Madrid for free

Understandable, unquestionable, undeniable. Not just one of the best transfers of summer 2024 but an early candidate for one of the best transfers ever. Because Real Madrid got one of the two superstars of today without paying his former club a dime. Kylian Mbappe's transfer saga never stopped while he was in Paris and he joins Real Madrid with at least eight years time to make his legend all that great. In a team that is already assembled. Which is the only potential roadblock seen on his highway to make Santiago Bernabeu his. But also history. And football.