5 best Bosman transfers of this Transfer Window

Preston North End v West Ham United - Pre-Season Friendly
Wilshere joined West Ham on a free transfer

The summer transfer window closes on August 9 for English clubs and on August 31 for other top leagues around the world. Most of the top clubs have been busy strengthening their squads in order to compete for glory home and abroad.

In these times of extremely high transfer budgets, many clubs have still managed to find out some really peachy deals by managing to sign some world class players on a free. Free transfer, also known as Bosman Transfer takes place when a player's contract expires and he is ready to negotiate and sign a new deal with any other deal without the involvement of any transfer fee.

There have been quite successful Bosman transfers in the Premier League and other top leagues in recent years like Zlatan Ibrahimovic's transfer to Manchester United in 2016, and there have been many free transfers this transfer window too which could turn out to be hugely beneficial for the clubs in a similar manner.

Let us have a look at some of the best Bosman Transfers this summer...


#5 Stefan de Vrij

FC Internazionale v SS Lazio - Serie A
He was one of the best players for Lazio last season

Stefan De Vrij is a Dutch international who earned a free transfer from Lazio to Serie A rivals Inter Milan this summer after four years at the Roman Club. He is a central defender who can play the role of a sweeper as he has the ability to play with both feet.

Stefan started his career at boyhood club Feyenoord and made his debut in Eredivisie in 2009 and played there till 2014 before earning a transfer to Lazio.

He was one of the most dependable players at the 2014 World Cup for the Netherlands and was also one of the scorers in the famous 5-1 win over Spain in the group stage. At the end of the tournament, he was selected in the Team of the tournament along with Arjen Robben.

He was one of the best players for Lazio last season as along with marshalling the defence, he shared the goal scoring responsibilities, hitting six goals in 36 appearances in the league.

Comically enough, he was the player who gave a crucial penalty against Inter Milan in their ultimate game of the season as it enabled the Milan team to leapfrog Lazio in the league table and qualify for the Champions League.

At 26, he is expected to achieve his prime and lead Inter Milan back to the summit of the Serie A.

#4 Stephan Lichtsteiner

Switzerland v Costa Rica: Group E - 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia
Lichtsteiner is known as an extremely energetic player whose playing style is characterized by energetic runs up and down the wing along with creating plenty of chances with his crosses

Stephan Lichtsteiner joined Premier league club Arsenal this summer after seven successful years at Juventus. A Switzerland professional, Lichtsteiner plays as an attacking right-back or wing back.

Lichtsteiner is known as an extremely energetic player whose playing style is characterized by energetic runs up and down the wing along with creating plenty of chances with his crosses. He started his playing career at Grasshoppers, and then went on to play for Lille and Lazio before joining Juventus.

His time at the Turin based club was extremely successful where he won seven consecutive Serie A titles among 14 major honours apart from reaching two Champions League finals. Though aged 34, the man nicknamed Forrest Gump still has got much to offer to Arsenal in terms of his incredible wing play and vast experience.

#3 Jack Wilshere

Ipswich Town v West Ham United - Pre-Season Friendly
Wilshere was touted as the next big thing in English football when he made his debut for Arsenal at less than 17 years of age

Jack Wilshere joined London Rivals West Ham on a free transfer when he signed a three-year deal for the Hammers after spending 17 years at childhood club Arsenal after being told by new boss Unai Emery that he was not a part of his plans for the upcoming season.

Wilshere was touted as the next big thing in English football when he made his debut for Arsenal at less than 17 years of age and that performance of his against Barcelona in the Champions league when a teenager bossed the midfield in the presence of stalwarts like Iniesta and Xavi complemented the feeling.

During a breakthrough 2010-11 season, he was awarded the PFA Young Player of the year and Arsenal Player of the Year awards.

Arsene Wenger used to say about Wilshere that he was a player with an English heart but Spanish technique.

But his career has ever since ravaged by injuries, and after a campaign in which he played a bit part role for Arsenal, he decided to join West Ham in order to gain regular playing time. Still 26, Wilshere has got age on his side and could still fulfill his potential.

#2 Emre Can

Liverpool Training Session - UEFA Champions League Final Previews
Can has been a mainstay for Liverpool

Emre Can is a German central midfielder who transferred from Liverpool to Serie A champions Juventus this transfer window after spending four years at the English club.

Juventus started his professional career at Bayern Munich, but a lack of playing opportunities led him to Bayer Leverkusen and soon enough, Liverpool came knocking and signed the youngster for a measly fee of £9.75m.

A dynamic midfielder whose playing style has been compared to German legend Bastian Schweinsteiger, he went on to be a mainstay in Liverpool's midfield amassing more than 150 appearances.

He is a versatile midfielder who has also played in defence when needed and was a player who perfectly fitted into the high-intensity tactics used by Jurgen Klopp. Despite the best of Klopp's efforts,

Liverpool couldn't persuade him to sign a new deal with the club and instead he chose to sign a new four-year deal with Juventus. Now with the arrival of Can along with Cristiano Ronaldo, Juventus can realistically aim to conquer Europe this year.

#1 Gianluigi Buffon

Arsenal v Paris Saint Germain - International Champions Cup 2018
Buffon has had a very illustrious career with Italy and Juventus

Everybody believed that Buffon had retired for good when he announced his retirement from Juventus after a hugely successful 17 years with the Old Lady. But the world was stunned when he Paris Saint-Germain announced the signing of the Italian legend on a one-year deal.

Regarded as one of the best goalkeepers ever to grace the game, Buffon has had a very illustrious career with Italy and Juventus.

He has won a record nine Serie A titles with the club among 18 major trophies apart from the three other major trophies he won with parent club Parma.

At the international stage, he was instrumental in Italy's 2006 World Cup triumph and is the most capped player in Italian history. The only major trophy missing from Buffon's trophy cabinet is the Champions League despite reaching the finals on three different occasions.

Now that PSG can boast of Neymar, Cavani and Mbappe in their attack, and Buffon between the sticks, they can sincerely dream of achieving the target of winning the Champions League.

Hope Buffon can also finish his career on a high and collect the only missing piece of silverware from his trophy cabinet.

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Edited by Alan John
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