Each European transfer window, Goal.com International decides on the best acquisitions, in order from 1 to 20, and we encourage you to let us know your thoughts.
We judge based on:
- The player's overall ability (this being the most important factor)
- How the player will fit into his new line-up
- How the player will adapt to his new surroundings, and vice-versa
- The transfer fee payable, if any, and any other financial details known. (Transfer fees unconfirmed by either club or otherwise unknown are given as approximations and are marked in italics.)
With all of that explained, it's time to see the final list! It was updated at 03:17 BST on Wednesday 1 September - for the last time this summer.
1 Last week: 1 | David VILLA | Barcelona - Valencia - €40m One of the blockbuster deals of the summer - and the best of the bunch by a margin. 'El Guaje' will add more firepower to an already explosive Barcelona attack. After his successful World Cup exploits with Spain, he should be the odds on favourite to win the Pichichi. |
2 New Entry | Javier MASCHERANO | Barcelona - Liverpool - €21m They say good things come to those who wait. Well, Masch had to cool his heels at Anfield for a season longer than he'd have liked, but now he's got his wish. Barcelona missed out on Cesc Fabregas, but in Javier they have a midfielder who may well be the final piece of the puzzle. |
3 New Entry | Zlatan IBRAHIMOVIC | AC Milan - Barcelona - €8m+€24m The up-front fee isn't surely known, but the final one is. Ibrahimovic will almost certainly justify his price tag at Milan. He knows how to score in Serie A better than anyone, and despite being labled a Barca flop he is one of the world's best at scoring a match's first goal. |
4 Last week: 4 | Marouane CHAMAKH | Arsenal - Bordeaux - Free A classic Arsenal value buy that has the potential to be an extremely savvy signing. The ex-Bordeaux striker gives the Gunners a much needed aerial presence up front and could terrorise opposing backlines this season with Robin van Persie. |
5 Last Week: 5 | DIEGO | Wolfsburg - Juventus - €15.5m His sole season at Juventus was ignominious, but his year at Wolfsburg won't be. Diego is one of the Bundesliga's biggest talents - it's a league built for him, and he it. |
6 Last Week: 6 | Yaya TOURE | Manchester City - Barcelona - €29m City have flexed their financial muscle this summer and the Ivorian adds more steel to an already industrial strength midfield. Will team up with brother Kolo on the defensive side for the Citizens. |
7 New Entry | ROBINHO | AC Milan - Manchester City - €18m An absolute steal at €18m - well, plus bonuses. Robinho can be seriously discussed as one of the world's great talents. The only sticking points: his attitude, and if he and Ronaldinho can play together if Robinho's not up front - which he won't be. If Milan can get past that, they're onto a winner. |
8 Last week: 6 | Simon KJAER | Wolfsburg - Palermo - €14m Wolfsburg pulled one the coups of the summer by luring the defensive stalwart to the Bundesliga. The German outfit beat such heavyweights as Manchester United, Liverpool and AC Milan to the punch to land the highly-rated Danish defender. |
9 Last week: 9 | Mario BALOTELLI | Manchester City - Inter - €30m Undoubtedly the most protracted summer transfer soap opera that actually went through. After weeks of negotiations, Man City and inter agreed on his transfer fee long after 'Super Mario' had reached personal terms with his new club. Finally, his much awaited reunion with former mentor Roberto Mancini is realised. |
10 Last week: 7 | Mesut OEZIL | Real Madrid - Werder Bremen - €15m One of Germanys' 2010 World Cup star could've left Werder for free this time next year, but Real Madrid were in no mood to wrangle with their rivals across Europe. The move was completed in a space of four days, and it was a visit to Florentino Perez's chalet which closed the deal. |
11 Last week: 5 | Ricardo CARVALHO | Real Madrid- Chelsea - €8m Not the modest transfer you'd normally associate with Real Madrid, or Chelsea for that matter. But the 32-year-old centre-back will be seen as one of the more vital signings for Los Blancos this summer as he gives the team invaluable experience and security in defence. |
12 NEW ENTRY | Yoann GOURCUFF | Lyon - Bordeaux - €22m His time at Bordeaux was mightily impressive: even if he tailed off slightly last season there is no doubting Gourcuff's natural talent. That's why Lyon have dropped so much money on him, and that's why they're almost certain to have made a wise investment. |
13 Last week: 8 | Milos KRASIC | Juventus - CSKA Moscow - €15m Like many transfers involving Juventus this summer, the Krasic deal went on and off countless times over the past few months. The talented Serbian winger/attacking midfielder only ever wanted to join the Old Lady, but CSKA and Juve haggled for months until both could agree on a tranfer fee. |
14 Last week: 9 | David SILVA | Manchester City - Valencia - €30.2m The uber-talented winger takes his trickery to Manchester after seven years in Spain. Did not play a major role in la Furia Roja's triumph in South Africa but will hope to justify his lofty price-tag by helping City qualify for the Champions League. |
15 New Entry | Nicolas BURDISSO | Roma - Inter - €8m As risk-free as it comes. He was one of Roma's best players last season and will now join the capital club on a permanent basis. The Argentine defender is strong and versatile. What's not to like? |
16 Last week: 10 | Loic REMY | Marseille - Nice- €15m One of the most sought after young strikers in Europe over the summer was widely expected to be heading to the Premier League. But the 23-year-old decided to stay in Ligue 1 after being seduced by reigning French champions Marseille. Not even a slight heart problem during his medical could scupper the move. |
17 Last week: 11 | RAMIRES | Chelsea - Benfica - €22m The Brazilian midfielder's move to Stamford Bridge was one of many on-again-off-again transfer sagas this summer. After a hard-fought haggle with Benfica, the Blues finally got their man on a four-year contract to replenish a midfield that has seen Deco and Michael Ballack depart. |
18 Last week: 12 | Stephen IRELAND | Aston Villa - Manchester City - €9.8m The Irish midfielder was involved in the convoluted player-plus-cash James Milner transfer saga which saw the two players exchange clubs. Many would argue that with Milner costing Man City €27m, and Ireland valued at just under €10m, it was Aston Villa who got the better end of the bargain. |
19 Last week: 16 | Carlos EDUARDO | Rubin Kazan - Hoffenheim - €20m Russian clubs continue to show their spending and pulling power as Rubin Kazan splashed out a reported €20 million to sign the promising and under-rated Brazilian attacking midfielder from Hoffenheim. |
20 Last week: 19 | Aleksandr KOLAROV | Manchester City - Lazio - €19.3m The Serb will be keen to show off his rocket of a left foot for the Citizens. His marauding runs into opposition territory will sorely be missed by Lazio fans but will be a thing to behold for the City faithful at Eastlands. |
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