Some clubs around Europe have spent hundreds of millions to bring in new players over the summer, but while the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal will always grab headlines, it's rare for them to get much value for money in the market due to their size and reputation.
However, that does leave the door open for other clubs to make moves that fly somewhat under the radar, but can turn a young player from unheard-of prospect to superstar.
Here's a few deals, in order of highest fee, from this summer that could work out very well for the club and player.
Ousmane Diomande, 22, CB
Sporting CP to Nottingham Forest, €40 million
Diomande was being linked with an €80 million move a year ago, which means Forest have done well to acquire a defender with such extensive pedigree for his age at this fee. Already a league champion at Sporting and a senior Ivory Coast international, his standing at his club dipped slightly last season as injuries represented a significant factor in his decline.
Powerful in the air and on the ground, Diomande is particularly impressive carrying the ball forward, while his switches of play and disguised passes add another dimension in possession. Several seasons playing in a defensive back three should ease his transition into Oliver Glasner's system, though occasional concentration lapses need to be weeded out if he is to be a success.
Konstantinos Karetsas, 18, AM
Genk to Borussia Dortmund, €35 million
One of the German Bundesliga's more significant summer signings went under the international radar as Karetsas had been persistently linked with Premier League clubs. Yet Dortmund did exceptionally well to land the 18-year-old Greece international. While €35 million is a large fee to pay to sign an 18-year-old in any context, Karetsas enjoyed a massively successful campaign in Belgium last season, scoring three goals and providing 17 assists.
The left-footed No. 10 -- who can also drift in from the right -- created a goal on his Dortmund debut and excels in attacking areas through his close control and effortless changes of direction. He also boasts the vision and creativity to find incisive passing options in tight spaces.
Kerim Alajbegovic, 18, FW
Bayer Leverkusen to Juventus, €32 million
Remarkably, Leverkusen picked up a substantial fee for the transfer of their academy graduate without him even kicking a ball for the first team. The two-footed winger came through the youth ranks, but was allowed to join FC Salzburg on a permanent basis in 2025 -- registering 13 goals in 44 appearances -- before Leverkusen exercised a clause in that contract to re-sign him before moving him on to Juventus.
Powerful and explosive, Alajbegovic carries the ball at great pace, possesses a great shot from distance and can attack from either flank. That flexibility, his brilliant technique and the ability to quickly change direction make him extremely unpredictable and he further enhanced his reputation with some excellent performances for Bosnia -Herzegovina at the World Cup. His limited exposure to senior football may be a risk, but his physical presence, one-on-one ability and end product are already there, so Juventus are clearly thinking long term with this transfer.
Lukás Hornícek, 24, GK
Braga to Newcastle United, €30.6 million
After two Premier League games, the 6-foot-6 Hornicek has saved nine of the 11 shots on target he has faced -- a rate above 80% -- with some outstanding stops in the draw against Liverpool before repeatedly denying Tottenham in Newcastle's 2-0 win last weekend.
Though the fee is substantial for a goalkeeper, Newcastle signed the young No. 1 on the back of an impressive season in Portugal -- he kept 24 clean sheets and excelled during Braga's run to the UEFA Europa League semifinals. Tall and commanding, but also decent with the ball at his feet, the Czechia international has outstanding reach, sharp reactions and makes strong low down. If his opening performances are representative of the way forward, Newcastle may have secured their long-term first choice.
Zadok Yohanna, 19, FW
AIK to Brighton & Hove Albion, €28 million
Any piece on recruitment would be incomplete without a Brighton signing. Yohanna's explosive rise at Swedish side AIK had already attracted considerable Premier League attention, but Brighton got there first and did what they do best: sign a young player who is expensive enough to suggest their talent, with huge potential to make it worthwhile.
Barely a year after leaving Nigeria, the winger became the Swedish Allsvenskan's most impressive one-vs.-one attacker -- with a host of successful dribbles that turned full backs inside out, sharp acceleration, smooth close control and the ability time diagonal runs into the box. Though his sample size at senior level is small, Brighton have clearly picked up an exciting player with some extremely attractive attacking traits.
Rodrigo Mora, 19, AM
FC Porto to AS Roma, €25 million
Expectations are high for a 19-year-old who arrives with proper star potential. Roma paid €25 million for 50% of his economic rights, with the option to acquire the remainder for another €25 million. Though he was taken off early in the second half of his Serie A debut, Mora played an important part in Porto's title win last season.
Technically elegant, he operates best as an advanced box-to-box No. 8 midfielder or a No. 10 operating behind a central striker, where his low center of gravity, quick turns and excellent vision for a pass between the defensive lines allow him to escape pressure and find his teammates. Mora has an instinct for arriving in goal-scoring positions and though Serie A's physical demands will provide a test for his 5-foot-6 frame, Roma have invested in his world-class potential.
António Silva, 22, CB
Benfica to Bournemouth, €25 million
In a market where Premier League clubs are routinely quoted large transfer fees to sign young center backs, Bournemouth's €25 million signing of Silva -- with a further €5m in potential add-ons -- does look a smart move. Though he wasn't considered an undisputed Benfica regular over the past two seasons, he still left Lisbon with over 180 first-team appearances and 20 senior caps for Portugal. His pedigree was also reflected in three consecutive inclusions in ESPN's annual ranking of the world's 39 best U21 players.
A disciplined defender with fine positional sense and alert one-on-one defending, Silva is also precise enough on the ball to progress play from deep areas. The one question is whether a player that plateaued at Benfica can quickly adapt to the greater intensity and physicality of the Premier League.
Karim Coulibaly, 19, CB
Werder Bremen to Strasbourg, €20 million
Coulibaly went from playing academy football to being linked with an array of top European clubs in less than a year. In the end it was Strasbourg who acted first to land the 19-year-old, which suggests that his future pathway could involve a move to Chelsea (Strasbourg's partner club) within a year or two. While the 6-foot-3, left-footed defender has the frame to assert himself properly in duels, he also stands out for his composure, line-breaking distribution from the back, and confidence to advance up the field with the ball.
His defending may still need some polishing -- some positional errors were evident last season -- but his development so far has been exceptional.
Juanlu Sanchez, 23, RB
Sevilla to Bournemouth, €11 million
Bournemouth's recruitment strategy is increasingly starting to resemble that of Brighton at their best, with a finely tuned balance of value and sporting experience or potential. Juanlu fits that model: he's still only 23, but leaves Sevilla with more than 100 first-team appearances and he won an Olympic gold medal with Spain in 2024.
Primarily a right wing-back, Juanlu offers the physicality and stamina to stretch games and, having played higher up the pitch earlier in his career, he carries the ball forward well, makes well-timed runs and has a hunger to attack the final third. His defensive positioning may need some time to adapt, but Sevilla's financial pressure and Juanlu's stalled career progression created a favorable opportunity for Bournemouth to land him on the cheap.
Kennet Eichhorn, 17, DM/CM
Hertha Berlin to Bayer Leverkusen, €8 million
Perhaps the best value signing of the summer, Leverkusen acted swiftly to sign one of Europe's outstanding teenage midfield prospects by activating his release clause. Eichhorn was already playing regularly in Germany's physically demanding second tier at age 16, displaying an extraordinary calmness for his age, and his skillset quickly prompted comparisons to Germany legend Toni Kroos.
Usually deployed at the base of midfield, Eichhorn scans the field constantly, has the passing range to move the ball under pressure, break defensive lines or open the play through long diagonals. Defensively, he reads danger early and compensates for his developing physical power through anticipation and positioning. With Arsenal and Manchester United among several top clubs previously linked, Leverkusen will be delighted to have acquired a potentially top-tier midfielder at an unusually early stage.
Arnau Martínez, 23, RB
Girona to Valencia, €5 million
Despite only being 23, Martínez left Girona with 200 senior appearances, including extensive experience in LaLiga and the Champions League, and captained the club on many occasions. Comfortable at right back or as the right-sided center back in a back three, Martínez is tactically intelligent, good on the ball and capable of progressing the play through dribbling or long passes.
The deal Valencia struck to pay less than his €8 million release clause was clever and opportunistic, as Martínez's contract was expiring in 2027 and Girona's relegation weakened their position. While the defender may not be remarkably quick or physical, the downside is minimal at this price and an impressive first season could quickly multiply Valencia's investment.
