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This has been the craziest and most exciting transfer window in ages. Fashioned out of the financial issues caused in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, clubs have been more open than ever about selling players.
We have seen an incredible amount of players swap clubs this summer. We witnessed plenty of expensive deals going over the line and transfer records being broken. Premier League clubs, in particular, have been quite enterprising about bolstering their squads this summer.
We had a deadline day that matched the overall energy of this summer's transfer window. All hell broke loose in the final hours of the window with multiple high-profile deals being negotiated and finalized.
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Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best transfer deals conducted on deadline day.
#5 Luuk de Jong to Barcelona
Following Lionel Messi's departure, Ronald Koeman has been keen to bolster his attack. With Sergio Aguero ruled out until October, the Catalans were starting to get desperate about signing another forward.
They managed to sign Dutch striker Luuk de Jong from Sevilla. The 31-year-old joins Barcelona on a season-long loan deal. The Catalans will pay him his wages in full and they have the option of making the deal permanent at the end of the 2021-22 campaign.
Barcelona were also linked with Edinson Cavani and Joao Felix on deadline day. De Jong's is a last-minute deal and he has not been in good goalscoring form either. He scored nine goals and provided an assist in 48 appearances across all competitions last term.
#4 Daniel James to Leeds United
Daniel James has been a loyal servant to Manchester United for two years. He is not the most technically refined player and he still has plenty of room for improvement. If James stayed put at Manchester United, he wouldn't be able to get enough minutes needed to hone his skills.
James had almost joined Leeds United in January 2019 but a last-hour change of plans from Swansea forced the Welshman to stay. But the 23-year-old has finally joined Leeds United. They are a club that suits James' style of play and they will undoubtedly benefit from having him in their squad.
James is a hard-working individual who is ready to run himself to the ground for his team. He will fit right in at Leeds United and it looks like £30 million well spent.
#3 Saul Niguez to Chelsea
Saul Niguez was tipped to leave Atletico Madrid this summer. Chelsea and Manchester United had been heavily linked with the 26-year-old. Ultimately, it's the Blues that have added him to their already rich midfield department.
Chelsea signed Saul in the final hours of transfer deadline day on a season-long loan deal. They have the option to make it permanent at the end of the season for €40 million. Saul joins a midfield that already has players like Jorginho, N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.
The depth that Chelsea have at the centre of the park is arguably the best in the Premier League now following Saul's arrival. Chelsea now have a squad that is capable of challenging on all fronts and Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia underscored the same. She said:
‘We welcome Saul to the club and believe he completes our squad as we compete for honours in five different competitions this season. He is a proven winner, a player with huge experience and we know he will be very well-suited to the challenges that face us on all fronts in the coming year.’
#2 Eduardo Camavinga to Real Madrid
Real Madrid have signed 18-year-old French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes on a deal reportedly worth £25 million. Camavinga had been linked with an exit all throughout the summer and Manchester United were also reportedly in the race to sign him.
However, the holding midfielder had his eyes set on a dream move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid were expected to be all caught up on deadline day trying to get the Kylian Mbappe deal over the line.
As such, Camavinga's deal came as a surprise to fans, who are jubilant about having signed one of the best young midfield prospects in the business. As a central midfielder who excels in a holding role, Camavinga will need to compete with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Fede Valverde for minutes.
So it's clear as day that the youngster will need to put his head down and work incredibly hard if he is to displace such world-class players from the team.
#1 Antoine Griezmann to Atletico Madrid
It has most definitely been a transfer window of sensational returns. Romelu Lukaku has returned to Chelsea as a proven goalscorer. Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at Manchester United sent the globe into meltdown. So it was only fitting that the deadline day saw yet another high-profile star return to his former club.
Despite affirmations to the contrary, Antoine Griezmann has left Barcelona and joined Atletico Madrid. It was a move that shocked one and all. The French forward joins the Rojiblancos on a season-long loan deal with a €40 million obligation to buy at the end of the season.
It's a deal that signifies a major power shift in La Liga. Reigning champions Atletico Madrid have an extremely strong squad. Barcelona have lost two of their top scorers from the 2020-21 season and have a rather weak-looking frontline in the absence of Sergio Aguero.
