The transfer window is finally closed! (Phew!) and we've witnessed a lot of transfer records being broken across Europe. Manchester United beat Real Madrid in their own game, plenty of Premier League clubs utilised a lot of the TV money they earned by breaking their own records multiple times during the window and more.
The Premier League continues to be the biggest attraction in Europe apart from the two juggernauts in Spain and it will reflect in the list that is to follow. Here are the ten most expensive transfers in the 2016 / 2017 summer transfer window:
#10 Joao Mario (€40 million)
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Joao Mario left Sporting Lisbon to join Serie A giants Internazionale for a club-record fee of €40 million. The Portuguese international – who just won the UEFA European Championships earlier this summer – is a central midfielder capable of attacking and defending equally well and will further strengthen Frank de Boer's Inter squad in the middle of the park.
Inter were missing a central attacking midfielder who could make a lethal final third pass and Mario will do just that to ensure his team progress the ball a lot better than they have in recent seasons. With the likes of Antonio Candreva and Gabriel Barbosa who could play out wide, the team were missing a midfielder in the centre to feed Mauro Icardi. Here's hoping Mario does well to lift Inter from their current slump.
#9 Shkodran Mustafi (€41 million)
Perhaps one of the best drawn out transfer of the window, Shkodran Mustafi has been linked with Arsenal for what seems like an eternity now. The German international was first linked with the club when club captain Per Mertesacker picked up an injury but signed with Arsene Wenger's side only a few days before the window closed.
The 24-year-old is a solid tough-tackling defender who can outpace most forwards in the Premier League. Having already played in England before, Mustafi knows the language and is acclimatised with how physical and quick the game is.
The former Valencia and Everton man is the kind of centre back Arsenal have needed for a while and looks like a promising prospect who could set right Arsenal's frailties at the back.
#8 Sadio Mane (€41.20 million)
Perhaps one of the most underrated signings of the summer, Sadio Mane, has taken the Premier League by storm under Jurgen Klopp. The Senegalese international has all the right ingredients to succeed at a club like Liverpool. And he showed us exactly what those were against Arsenal on the opening weekend.
Mane is Liverpool's quickest player on the field and is capable of dribbling, beating and shooting inside the box – something like Liverpool lack due to Daniel Sturridge's consistent injury problems. Having already played in the Premier League for almost two years, Mane needs no time to settle and has already showed us how valuable an addition he is to this Jurgen Klopp side.
#7 Henrikh Mkhitaryan (€42 million)
It's a little surprising to see Henrikh Mkhitaryan on this list, agreed, but the Armenian deserves to be on this list much like most of its other inhabitants. The former Borussia Dortmund man has yet to make his mark with Jose Mourinho's Manchester United side but will get his chance soon.
The 27-year-old was Europe's highest assist-provider last year just behind Arsenal's Mesut Ozil and that speaks volumes about the kind of player he is and what he can provide to a Manchester United side who at times last season, failed to score enough to kill games.
With Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Anthony Martial, Wayne Rooney, and Juan Mata in the squad, a player like Mkhitaryan will help bring the best out of them. Jose Mourinho will thoroughly enjoy managing him and is sure to bring out the best in the midfielder this season or the coming ones while at Manchester United.
#6 Granit Xhaka (€45 million)
If you'd told me 10 years back that Arsenal would have two players within the top 10 in a single window, I'd laugh you out the closest door but Arsene Wenger has regained some of the charisma that he brought when he just came to England and its working.
Xhaka is the kind of midfield player Arsenal have needed for a while. He's no Patrick Vieira-esque player. He can't put in the kind of tackles the Frenchman did but given how Arsenal have changed from a counter-attacking side to a side that relishes holding on to the ball, Xhaka is the perfect successor to Mikel Arteta.
He hasn't made more than 3 starts for the Gunners and its already evident that he's one of their best passers. The weight of the ball, the accuracy and the backspin he generates to release someone like Theo Walcott and Alexis Sanchez was breathtaking at times in recent weeks. They've needed a deep-lying passer like him for a while now and Wenger did the right thing but loosening the purse strings to buy the Swiss international.
#5 Leroy Sane (€50 million)
Nobody is talking about Manchester City's superstar signing because he's a bit of an unknown entity. Sane is young, exciting tricky winger who's got Pep Guardiola's attention. The 20-year-old made his senior debut for Schalke two seasons ago and has grown from strength to strength in every of the 47 appearances he made for the club.
Known for his bursts into the box, Sane is a real threat for Manchester City this season. Raheem Sterling and Nolito might get more starts under Pep this season but Sane will soon be the one who could dominate with the Citizens.
He's got an eye for goal, the ability to dribble past most defenders and the outright pace that's much needed in the Premier League. All he's missing is the experience in England and that'll come in time.
#4 John Stones (€55.60 million)
Ever since Pep Guardiola was linked with Manchester City, John Stones was, too. The former Evertonian is one of the few ball-playing centre-backs in Europe and that's why Pep ensured that he got his man.
Stones is a confidence player capable of out-tricking most forwards and midfielders in the league with the ball at his feet. At Manchester City, given how Pep wants all his players to be able to pass and create chances on their own, Stones will improve considerably – which is also great news for the English national team.
Stones' value is staggeringly this high simply because he's English; although he does have enough experience within the country to prove his worth. Time will tell whether he turns out to be amongst the likes of Gerard Pique and Jerome Boateng – both of whom shot up in football after learning under Pep.
#3 Hulk (€55.80 million)
Sven Goran-Eriksen pulled off one of the customary massive multi-million dollar moves of the window by signing Zenit St Petersburg's Hulk this window for Shanghai SIPG. The Brazilian winger seems like he's spent a lifetime chasing large money contracts instead of spending time with a club who could provide him with ample opportunities in the UEFA Champions League and Europe's top leagues.
Nonetheless, the fact that the 30-year-old is capable of drawing such huge wages is testament to his hard work and goal-scoring prowess on the field. Hulk was once touted as one of the many incredible stars to come out of Brazil but by playing in Russia and now in China, his time in the spotlight is likely done; there's also the matter of his age.
#2 Gonzalo Higuain (€90 million)
What a leap from number 3 to number 2. Gonzalo Higuain made a stunning move from Napoli to Juventus this season that saw the Turin club spend a majority of their Paul Pogba money on one player – and its right way to do things. Unlike what Tottenham did with Gareth Bale's money.
Higuain is a proven goalscorer. He showed that by scoring 38 goals in 42 appearances for Napoli last season. The Argentine, however, had a poor Copa America and was expected to stay at Napoli but Juventus badly needed a goalscorer to lead their team and who better in the Serie A than the former Real Madrid man?
Higuain has already scored for Juventus this season – in his first game – and if he keeps it up, he'll likely be the top scorer in Italy once again.
#1 Paul Pogba (€105 million)
Yes, we see you. Coming to the last slide to know who the highest player is. You should've known by now, really. Nonetheless, Paul Pogba is the most expensive player of not just this window but of footballing history with his incredible €105 million move back to Manchester United.
The Frenchman is a born winner and if not for a few scuffles with Sir Alex Ferguson, would've helped the Red Devils go through a less turbulent time than what they have in recent seasons. Pogba dominated the Serie A with Juventus winning four league titles in a row and that is testament enough to know how incredible a talent he is.
In the UEFA European Championships, he helped his country reach the finals of the tournament and has already caught the eye with his performances with Jose Mourinho's side in the Premier League this season. It's a shame we won't see him in the UEFA Champions League this season.
