Osimhen to Galatasaray and the 11 strangest transfers of the summer

Tom Weber

• Updated: 5 Sept 2024 09:09 BST
• 6 min read

The 2024 summer transfer window saw plenty of head-scratching transfers.

It was another summer of lavish spending in the world of football, with a record number of transfers taking place, according to FIFA. Due to the sheer number of transactions, there were bound to be some that, well, raised eyebrows.

Be it eye-watering fees getting splashed on decidedly average players or moves happening - or collapsing - in dramatic fashion, the 2024 summer window had it all.

Intriguingly, some of the weirdest deals to have materialised actually came after most of the big European windows had closed as some clubs were still scrambling to offload unwanted players. So, here are the strangest transfers of the summer...

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Victor Osimhen - Napoli to Galatasaray (Loan)

The most recent transfer and arguably the strangest one of them all saw one of Europe's most coveted players head to the Turkish Super Lig in the prime of his career.

In-demand Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan after transfers to PSG, Chelsea and Al-Ahli collapsed, with clubs either baulking at the Serie A side's demands or failing to reach an agreement with the player.

The 25-year-old's dream of playing in the Premier League has had to be postponed and after being frozen out at Napoli, he will now spend the next six to 12 months in Istanbul.

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Douglas Luiz - Aston Villa to Juventus (€51.5m)

The summer window started off with a bang as Aston Villa sold star midfielder Douglas Luiz to Juventus. Given the stature of Juventus, it doesn't seem to be such an odd move at first glance.

However, it was anything but a straightforward transfer. Villa desperately had to sell to balance the books and agreed to offload Luiz for just €51.5m after previously demanding around €100m.

Moreover, the deal involved a grand total of four players, albeit not officially. In exchange for Luiz, Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior joined Villa - and were subsequently loaned out - while Luiz's partner, Alisha Lehmann, moved from Villa's women's team to Juventus as well.

Conor Gallagher - Chelsea to Atletico Madrid (€42m)

Chelsea's decision to offload Conor Gallagher came under heavy fire from fans after the England midfielder had been one of their best players last season. Moreover, the 24-year-old is Chelsea through and through.

However, spending rules forced the Blues to sell their academy product, but Gallagher did not end up at another Premier League club despite heavy interest over the past 12 months.

Instead, he completed a surprising move to Atletico Madrid for €42m that saw Joao Felix head the other way for €52m after a deal for Samu Omorodion collapsed. The latter subsequently joined Porto for just €15m, while Chelsea were initially set to pay €42m!

Omari Kellyman - Aston Villa to Chelsea (€22.5m)

Perhaps the dodgiest transfer on this list, the aforementioned spending rules were also responsible for Aston Villa selling Omari Kellyman for €22.5m. Chelsea agreed to pay such a whopping fee for a player with six senior appearances because in exchange Villa paid €44.5m for Ian Maatsen.

Thus, both clubs made vital 'pure profit' that helped them comply with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules. At the time of his transfer, Kellyman had an Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) of €400,000.

Emerson Royal - Tottenham to AC Milan (€15m)

Emerson Royal has not managed to set the world alight in recent years, yet AC Milan were ready to splash €15m of their limited budget on the Brazilian.

A decidedly average player, the full-back failed to impress at Tottenham and his start to life at Milan has been nothing short of a disaster. Spurs played a blinder here.

Michy Batshuayi - Fenerbahce to Galatasaray (Free transfer)

In another Galatasaray deal, former Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi traded Istanbul for Istanbul this summer. Well, the Asian half for the European half.

The Belgian journeyman did the unthinkable of moving directly from Fenerbahce to hated rivals Galatasaray, albeit on a free transfer. The former Blues flop has been prolific in Turkey and he seems to be loving life in Istanbul - he also previously lined up for Besiktas.

John Lundstram - Rangers to Trabzonspor (Free transfer)

John Lundstram used to be a decent Premier League midfielder on his day, but things have gone downhill quite a bit in recent years. The former Everton and Sheffield United man joined Rangers in 2021 and he departed on a Bosman this summer.

His destination, however, was quite unexpected. Lundstram had never before played outside of Britain but, at 30 years old, he decided to move to Turkey, joining Trabzonspor.

Ollie McBurnie - Sheffield United to Las Palmas (Free transfer)

The next former Sheffield United man on this list, striker Ollie McBurnie departed the Blades on a free transfer this summer. He left the UK for the first time in his career to complete a dream move to...Gran Canaria.

The Scotsman joined LaLiga outfit Las Palmas in one of the oddest deals of the summer. If the meme 'What is a polar bear doing in Arlington, Texas?' ever applied to a transfer, it is this one.

Scott McTominay - Man Utd to Napoli (€30m)

Our second Scot and first Scott, Man Utd midfielder Scott McTominay left his boyhood club after 22 years this summer. Despite being the subject of several bids from Fulham, he actually made the move to Serie A.

McTominay joined 2023 champions Napoli in a €30m deal that allowed Man Utd to sign Manuel Ugarte. If you had told him a few weeks ago that he would be playing in Italy alongside Billy Gilmour under coach Antonio Conte, he probably wouldn't have believed you.

Jamal Lewis - Newcastle to Sao Paulo (Loan)

Jamal Lewis used to be a highly-rated left-back at Norwich, but things have not worked out for him in the Premier League since joining Newcastle. After spending the previous season on loan at Watford, the Northern Irishmen again left St. James' Park on a temporary deal.

However, rather than joining Preston or Oxford, he moved halfway across the world, becoming the first British player in the history of Brazilian side Sao Paulo. There, he will line up alongside former Bayern stars Rafinha and Luiz Gustavo and ex-Spurs winger Lucas Moura.

Brad Young - The New Saints to Al-Orobah (€226k)

Brad Young is only 21 and he has already experienced more than many will experience in a lifetime. The Aston Villa academy product was the victim of a stabbing in 2020 and his life was seriously at risk.

However, after making a miraculous recovery, he returned to the pitch. After failing to break through at Villa, he made a permanent move to Wales, joining The New Saints.

After finishing the bygone season as the Welsh top flight's top scorer, he was rewarded with the most random of moves. Promoted Saudi Pro League side Al-Orobah paid €226,000 to lure the young striker to the oasis town of Sakakah.