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A year after the COVID-19 outbreak wrecked clubs' finances, more and more clubs spent big this summer to strengthen their rosters.
Loan deals continued to be the preferred mode of business for most clubs. But as many as five different clubs spent over €100 million this summer, with four of the top five teams being from the Premier League.
There were a few big-money moves as well this summer, with Arsenal (€165.6 million) emerging as the top spenders. However, after three league games, the Gunners, without a point or a goal scored, are rock bottom in the Premier League.
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Elsewhere, other big money-signings have hit the ground running, though. On that note, here's a look at the most expensive XI that moved this summer. A 3-2-2-3 formation has been considered for the hypothetical XI. So without further ado, let's get started:
Note: All figures are as per transfermarkt unless stated otherwise.
# Goalkeeper - Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal) - €28 million
Aaron Ramsdale was one of a plethora of new arrivals at Arsenal this summer. The Gunners dished out close to €30 million to acquire one of the top young English goalkeepers from relegated Sheffield United.
In a doomed 2020-21 Premier League campaign, Ramsdale was one of the few bright sparks, if any, for Sheffield, who finished rock bottom. The 23-year-old played all 38 league games for the team, keeping five clean sheets. But he was left exposed far too often by a porous Sheffield defense.
Ramsdale kept a clean sheet on his Arsenal debut as the Gunners beat West Bromwich Albion 6-0 in the EFL Cup.
Yet to make his Premier League debut for his new club, Ramsdale appears to be a more than able understudy to the embattled Bernd Leno.
# Centre-back: Ben White (Arsenal) - €58.5 million
Staying with Arsenal, the Gunners raised eyebrows for acquiring Ben White on a €58.5 million transfer.
White, 23, was one of the standout performers for Brighton & Hove Albion last season. But he is largely unproven in the Premier League, having spent only one season in the competition.
The centre-back previously played a whopping 46 Championship games in 2019-20 to help Leeds United return to the Premier League after more than a decade. White made his Arsenal debut on the opening day against Brentford, impressing despite the Gunners enduring a narrow defeat on the night.
He has missed the next two league games for Arsenal after contracting COVID-19, though.
# Centre-back - Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich) - €42.5 million
Bayern Munich had a relatively quiet transfer window. They signed two players on free transfers, Omar Richards and Sven Ulreich, and snapped up the Leipzig duo of Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer.
Among the two, Upamecano can be considered a coup of sorts, as the 22-year-old is regarded as one of the best young defenders in the game. He has played a key role in the emergence of Leipzig as a force to be reckoned with.
After the departures of David Alaba and Jerome Boateng, Upamecano could be a defensive mainstay for the Bavarian giants. The 22-year-old has already provided glimpses of his potential in his three league starts.
# Centre-back - Raphael Varane (Manchester United) - €40 million
Manchester United addressed a key deficiency on their roster this summer when they snapped up Raphael Varane from Real Madrid.
The Frenchman has been a key performer for club and country, winning three La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues apart from the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Varane made a decent start to life at United, providing an assist on his club debut in a 1-0 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers.
The ball-playing centre-back already looks like a significant upgrade to United's other central defensive options to partner captain Harry Maguire. It remains to be seen if the club's new centre-back inspires United to their first Premier League triumph in nearly a decade.
# Right wing-back - Achraf Hakimi (PSG) - €60 million
Achraf Hakimi is widely regarded as one of the best goalscoring full-backs in the game at the moment.
The Moroccan international first rose to prominence during a loan spell at Borussia Dortmund while at Real Madrid. Inexplicably, Madrid sold him to Inter Milan, where Hakimi produced goal contributions galore in the Nerazzurri's first Serie A win in 11 years.
However, owing to their financial woes, Inter were forced to part with a few key first-team players, one of them being Hakimi. The right-back was soon snapped up by PSG, for whom he scored on his club debut in a win against Troyes.
Only 22, the Moroccan has already become one of the first names in Mauricio Pochettino's star-studded team.
# Left wing-back - Marc Cucurella (Brighton & Hove Albion) - €18 million
Determined to stay in the Premier League, Brighton & Hove Albion have acquired the versatile Marc Cucurella from La Liga club Getafe.
The 23-year-old primarily plays in midfield, but can also slot in as a left-back or left wing-back when required. Cucurella, who made 12 goal contributions in his last two La Liga campaigns, is yet to debut for his new club.
It remains to be seen if the Spaniard can hit the ground running in the Premier League. Nevertheless, he'll hope to inspire the Seagulls to a better finish than the 16th they managed last campaign.
# Central Midfielder - Rodrigo de Paul (Atletico Madrid) - €35 million
Rodrigo de Paul has been a star performer for club and country. After excelling in Argentina's triumphant Copa America 2021 campaign, De Paul was snapped up by Atletico Madrid.
Although the reigning La Liga winners haven't made too many additions to their roster this summer, De Paul is one of their prized captures. He arrives at the Rojiblancos after a productive four-season stint at Udinese, where he racked up 70 goal contributions across competitions.
De Paul has already hit the ground running in his new surroundings, picking up an assist in his first three league games. The 27-year-old could be one of the key players for Diego Simeone, who seeks to deliver consecutive league triumphs at Atletico Madrid.
# Central Midfielder - Martin Odegaard (Arsenal) - €35 million
Martin Odegaard is one of the most exciting young midfielders in the game at the moment.
He made his Real Madrid debut almost six years ago, but chances to impress at the Spanish capital were difficult to come by. Despite impressing in a loan stint at Real Sociedad, the Norwegian star struggled to break into the Real Madrid first team.
Odegaard was once again sent out on loan, this time to Arsenal, where he impressed during a short spell in the second half of last season. As things turned out, Odegaard was still surplus to requirements in Madrid. So the Gunners did not hesitate to bring in the midfielder on a permanent deal.
Odegaard recently made his second 'debut' for the club. He could be a key player in turning around Arsenal's wretched start to the season after a busy summer.
# Left Winger - Jack Grealish (Manchester City) - €117.5 million
Jack Grealish had been one of the standout performers for Aston Villa before Manchester City came calling for his services. City did not hesitate to splurge €117.5 million to snap up the midfielder, making Grealish the most expensive player in British football.
The 25-year-old is blessed with flair and creativity, having racked up 32 goal contributions (14 goals, 18 assists) in his last two Premier League campaigns. The versatile attacking midfielder also impressed at Euro 2020 for England.
Grealish, who can also play on the wings, scored on his first Manchester City start. He has also tallied an assist in his three games for his new club.
Grealish already looks like a quality addition to the star-studded City roster. Pep Guardiola will hope that with the addition of Grealish, City will win the Premier League again and possibly their first Champions League title this season.
# Right Winger - Jadon Sancho (Manchester United) - €85 million
Jadon Sancho is one of the most exciting young wingers in the game at the moment.
He made his name as a world-class player during his highly successful four-season stint at Borussia Dortmund. Following a year-long pursuit, Sancho was snapped up by Manchester United, who splurged close to €100 million for his services this summer.
Sancho made over 100 goal contributions across competitions at Dortmund. However, he has made a modest start to life at Old Trafford. The 21-year-old made his first start for United last weekend but is yet to provide a goal contribution in three games.
Nevertheless, with quality teammates around him, especially up front, Sancho should not take too long to get going.
# Centre Forward - Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea) - €115 million
Romelu Lukaku is one of the best strikers in the game at the moment. The Belgian international has returned to Chelsea after almost a decade, following a prolific two-season-long stint at Serie A winners Inter Milan.
He tallied 80 goal contributions (64 goals, 16 assists) in two seasons for the Nerazzurri. But owing to their financial woes, Inter had to let go of their prized asset on a hefty €115-million transfer this summer.
Lukaku, who also enjoyed a prolific Euro 2020 campaign, has hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge.
He scored against Arsenal on his second debut for the Blues. The Belgian could be a key player in Chelsea's quest to win the Premier League this season.
