The 2024-25 season is underway and clubs across the world are still seeking to strengthen their squads in the remaining days of the summer transfer window.
Global spending records were broken in the summer of 2023 as more than £6.5bn was forked out on over 1,600 players, with Premier League (£2.1bn) and Saudi Pro League (£728m) clubs leading the way by splashing out mouthwatering sums.
Here, Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at when the 2024 summer transfer window opens and closes in some of the top leagues across the globe, and picks out some of the high-profile deals that could be completed ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.
When does the 2024 summer transfer window open and close?
FIFA have issued a list of the current registration dates for each member association, confirming when the respective transfer windows for each nation open and close this summer.
The majority of the confirmed dates follow a similar pattern to previous years, with the Premier League's window opening around three weeks after the 2023-24 season had ended and a few weeks before their top European counterparts such as La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.
Almost all of the European leagues will see their transfer windows close between the end of August and beginning of September, but there are a few exceptions, including Turkey and Portugal where their windows will close on September 13 and 16 respectively.
The transfer windows for both Brazil and USA follow a similar pattern to the European leagues, albeit opening slightly later in mid-July, but Saudi Arabia's transfer window will be open for much longer as they will not be shutting up shop until October 6, giving the Middle Eastern powerhouses an additional month or so to recruit their desired targets - something the European leagues must be wary of when conducting their business.
What high-profile deals could take place this summer?
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Arguably the biggest deal has already been completed this summer, and without a penny spent on a transfer fee, as Real Madrid have completed the signing of Kylian Mbappe, who has joined from Paris Saint-Germain and scored on his competitive debut in the UEFA Super Cup win over Atalanta BC on August 14.
Another European giant in the form of Manchester United have also bolstered their frontline by signing Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for a fee of around £42m, while the Red Devils have also recruited defensive trio Leny Yoro, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui for a combined fee just over £100m.
With all footballing operations now controlled by minority shareholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Man United are also set to see a few high-profile players depart; Mason Greenwood and Aaron Wan-Bissaka have already left permanently, while the long-term futures of Jadon Sancho, Casemiro and Scott McTominay remain uncertain.
The addition of a new centre-forward seems to be high on the agenda for a number of top European clubs this summer. Both Julian Alvarez and Dominic Solanke have completed big-money moves to Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, while the likes of Brentford's Ivan Toney, Lille's Jonathan David and Napoli's Victor Osimhen are among a number of in-demand strikers believed to be keen to seek pastures, the latter of whom is allagelly the subject of a proposed swap deal between Chelsea and Napoli involving Romelu Lukaku.
There have also been plenty of high-profile midfield movements this summer; Euro 2024 star Dani Olmo has joined Barcelona from RB Leipzig for a fee in excess of €60m, Joao Neves has completed a £70m move from Benfica to PSG, Aston Villa have forked out £50m to sign Amadou Onana from Everton, while Douglas Luiz has departed Villa Park and joined Juventus for around £42m.
Elsewhere, Arsenal have completed the signing of Italy international defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna for £42m, while big spenders Chelsea have already bolstered their squad with 10 new players, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Filip Jorgensen and Pedro Neto. Joao Felix could soon be the next to arrive if the Blues strike a deal with Atletico which would see Conor Gallagher head in the opposite direction.
Manchester City's sole signing of the summer thus far is Brazilian winger Savio from Troyes for an initial £21m, but following the exit of Alvarez and long-term injury of Oscar Bobb, the reigning Premier League champions are expected to delve into the transfer market for a new attacker and centre-midfielder, with both Eberechi Eze and Bruno Guimaraes believed to be high on their list of targets.
Oliver Thomas
