The five biggest bargains of the summer transfer window

Tom Weber

Updated: 31 Aug 2024 15:59 BST
5 min read

Federico Chiesa, Kylian Mbappe — © IMAGO

The 2024 summer window once again saw lavish spending, but there were also some very shrewd deals.

Be they transfers for cut-price fees or a player moving on a Bosman, there is always value to be found for relatively little money if you only know where to look.

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Some clubs have made a habit of unearthing cheap gems, while others simply pounced on so-called 'market opportunities.' There were many deals that deserve to be mentioned, but we have whittled our list down to just five.

So here are the five biggest bargains of the summer transfer window...

Kylian Mbappe - PSG to Real Madrid (Free transfer)

One of the biggest free transfers in football history, arguably the best player in the world, Kylian Mbappe left PSG for Real Madrid after a lengthy transfer saga.

The French megastar has by no means come cheap. Real Madrid had to shell out a massive signing-on fee and he also earns a handsome salary.

However, securing Mbappe on a Bosman without having to pay a €200+ million transfer fee has to be considered a bargain.

Ilkay Gundogan - Barcelona to Man City (Free transfer)

Another free transfer, Ilkay Gundogan returned to Man City to help alleviate Barcelona's financial problems. When Pep Guardiola heard of the German's availability, he immediately picked up the phone to get in touch.

The Man City club legend did not cost a single penny in a transfer fee due to Barcelona agreeing to let him walk for nothing despite the fact that he was still under contract for two more years.

If the veteran midfielder can have a similar impact to the one he had during his first stint at City, this will be a hugely successful comeback.

Federico Chiesa - Juventus to Liverpool (€12m)

Liverpool finally got their hands on long-time target this summer, doing so by pouncing on one of these aforementioned 'market opportunities.'

The Italian had been deemed surplus to requirements by new Juventus coach Thiago Motta and Liverpool struck, signing him for just €12m.

To be sure, Chiesa has lost a step since his unfortunate ACL injury, but he is still an eminently talented player and will fancy himself to have a big impact at Anfield.

Hugo Ekitike - PSG to Eintracht Frankfurt (€16.5m)

A real wildcard entry onto this list, Hugo Ekitike won't be a name Premier League fans will be intimately familiar with, though he was previously linked to the likes of West Ham.

Frozen out of PSG after refusing to leave in the summer of 2023, the French striker joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan in January 2024 and the deal was made permanent for €16.5m in the summer.

PSG once shelled out almost €30m on him and the 22-year-old has shown exactly why he used to be so highly rated. He has struck up a deadly partnership with Omar Marmoush and could soon become another talent that was bought cheap by Frankfurt and then sold on for a massive profit.

Serhou Guirassy - VfB Stuttgart - Borussia Dortmund (€18m)

The subject of intense speculation for the best part of a year, Serhou Guirassy finally got his big move in the summer, joining Borussia Dortmund.

Due to his cheap release clause, he cost the Black and Yellow just €18m, which is an absurdly low fee for a player who scored 30 goals in 30 games at VfB Stuttgart in 2023/24.

Whether he can replicate this form at Dortmund remains to be seen, but the 28-year-old certainly looks to have been one of the shrewdest pieces of business of the summer window.