The summer transfer window for the 2024-25 season is well underway, with clubs from around the world still looking to strengthen their squads in the final days of the window. Last year saw global spending records shattered, with over £6.5bn spent on more than 1,600 players. The Premier League and Saudi Pro League clubs were at the forefront of this spending spree, with eye-watering sums splashed out.
As we look ahead to the 2024 summer transfer window, let’s take a closer look at when it opens and closes in some of the top leagues worldwide, as well as some of the potential high-profile deals that could be completed before the start of the new campaign.
The window for the Premier League usually opens a few weeks after the end of the previous season, preceding the likes of La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga, and Ligue 1. Most European leagues will see their transfer windows close by the end of August or the beginning of September, with a few exceptions like Turkey and Portugal having later closing dates. Brazil and the USA follow a similar pattern to Europe, while Saudi Arabia’s window extends all the way to October 6, giving them more time to secure their desired targets.
In terms of high-profile deals, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, now the majority shareholder at Manchester United, is overseeing some major changes at the club. Players like Mason Greenwood and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have already left permanently, with uncertainties surrounding the futures of Jadon Sancho, Casemiro, and Scott McTominay.
The search for a new centre-forward seems to be a common theme among some of Europe’s top clubs. Julian Alvarez and Dominic Solanke have made big-money moves to Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, while Ivan Toney, Jonathan David, and Victor Osimhen are among the sought-after strikers looking to make moves. Rumors of a swap deal between Chelsea and Napoli involving Romelu Lukaku and Osimhen have also surfaced.
The midfield has also seen significant movement this summer, with Euro 2024 star Dani Olmo joining Barcelona, Joao Neves moving to PSG, and Aston Villa making moves for players like Amadou Onana. Douglas Luiz has left Villa Park for Juventus, while Arsenal signed Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. Chelsea, on the other hand, has been one of the biggest spenders, bringing in 10 new players such as Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jorgensen, and Pedro Neto. There are talks of Joao Felix potentially joining Chelsea in a deal that would see Conor Gallagher move to Atletico Madrid.
