The summer transfer window of 2023 has been one of the most exciting and surprising ones in recent history, with many big names changing clubs and breaking records. Here are some of the most notable transfers that have taken place in the world of football so far.
Kane to Bayern Munich
One of the biggest shocks of the window was Harry Kane’s move from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich for a whopping £150 million, making him the most expensive player in history. The England captain had been linked with a move away from Spurs for several seasons, but few expected him to join the Bundesliga champions. Kane said he was delighted to join Bayern and hoped to win many trophies with them.
Mbappe to Real Madrid
Another long-awaited transfer finally materialized as Kylian Mbappe joined Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain for €200 million, becoming the second most expensive player ever. The French superstar had rejected several contract offers from PSG and made it clear that his dream was to play for Real Madrid. Mbappe said he was honored to wear the white shirt and thanked PSG for their support.
Kessie to Barcelona
Barcelona pulled off a coup by signing Franck Kessie from AC Milan on a free transfer, beating off competition from several other clubs. The Ivorian midfielder had run down his contract with Milan and decided to join Barcelona as a replacement for Sergio Busquets, who retired at the end of the season. Kessie said he was thrilled to join Barcelona and hoped to emulate Busquets’ legacy.
Berge to Burnley
Burnley made a statement of intent by signing Sander Berge from Sheffield United for £14 million, breaking their club record. The Norwegian midfielder had impressed in the Premier League and Championship with his physicality and passing ability, and attracted interest from several bigger clubs. Berge said he was happy to join Burnley and believed they could challenge for European places.
Arribas to Almeria
One of the most surprising transfers of the window was Sergio Arribas’ move from Real Madrid to Almeria for £6 million. The young forward had been tipped as one of the brightest prospects in Spain, but struggled to break into the first team at Real Madrid. Arribas said he was looking forward to playing regular football at Almeria and hoped to return to Real Madrid one day.
