Unlike ever before, the English Premier League clubs splashed out on the final day of a record-breaking, billion-pound mid-year transfer window.
In late deals, Brazil defender Luiz returned after two years at Paris Saint-Germain, while France midfielder Moussa Sissoko left Newcastle United for Tottenham Hotspur.
The two moves took spending for England’s top flight to about £1.17 billion ($1.54 billion, 1.38 billion euros) — smashing the record of £870 million for a single transfer window set last year.
Enriched by a new £5.14 billion domestic TV rights deal, 13 of the 20 Premier League clubs broke their transfer records during the two-month window, in a spree that put Europe’s other top divisions in the shade.
The big leagues of Italy, Spain, Germany and France spent far less. Italy’s Serie A, the next biggest spender, parted with £595 million (700 million euros), according to industry website transfermarkt.com.
Paul Pogba – World Record
Juventus to Manchester United, 89 million pounds (105 million euros, $116 million)
The summer’s most long-running transfer saga concluded with France midfielder Pogba returning to former club United in a world-record move. Allowed to leave Old Trafford in 2012 after failing to win over legendary manager Alex Ferguson, the rangy 23-year-old midfielder with the dazzling haircuts and blistering shot returned as one of the biggest names in the game.
Home. #POGBACK pic.twitter.com/N0irgKbuv5
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 8, 2016
Gonzalo Higuain
Napoli to Juventus, 90 million euros ($98.8m)
Not sure what is more surprising- Juve paying Higuain €90 million exit clause or Hart joining Torino. What a summer window
— David Amoyal (@DavidAmoyal) August 30, 2016
Italian champions Juventus dealt a huge blow to their domestic rivals when they signed the 28-year-old Argentina striker Higuain from Napoli, their closest rivals in Serie A last season. Juve paid Napoli close to the full amount of Higuain’s 94.7 million-euro buyout clause for the former Real Madrid player, who broke the long-standing Serie A scoring record with 36 goals last season. Signed on a five-year deal, Higuain came off the bench to score the winner against Fiorentina on his competitive debut.
John Stones
Everton to Manchester City, 47.5 million pounds ($61 million)
John Stones – Is he Worth it? pic.twitter.com/jIgvhrpiMA
— 8 Troll Football (@8TrollFootball) August 25, 2016
Elegant centre-back Stones, 22, became the biggest signing of the Pep Guardiola era at City after joining from Everton in a deal that made him the second most expensive defender in history behind David Luiz. The former Barnsley player had a difficult final season at Everton, but has looked assured in his early outings for City, regularly stepping up into midfield with the ball.
Joao Mario
Sporting Lisbon to Inter Milan, 45 million euros ($50.3 million)
It has been a summer of rebuilding at Inter, who have a new coach in Frank de Boer and several big-money new signings. The biggest is Joao Mario, who arrived at the San Siro from Sporting fresh from winning Euro 2016 with Portugal. Sporting revealed the transfer fee was 45 million euros and the player, a Sporting youth product, was unveiled to Inter fans before last Sunday’s Serie A match against Palermo.
Leroy Sane
Schalke (GER) to Manchester City, 37 million pounds ($48 million)
Winger Sane, 20, arrived in England with a burgeoning reputation, having scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Schalke last season and earned a place in Germany’s Euro 2016 squad. Sidelined to date by a hamstring injury, he could make his debut in the derby against Manchester United on September 10.
Granit Xhaka
Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) to Arsenal, 35 million pounds ($46 million)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger moved to address longstanding concerns about the lack of bite in his team’s midfield by sanctioning a big-money move for Switzerland international Xhaka. The 23-year-old’s arrival obliged England international Jack Wilshere to seek a loan move elsewhere.
Shkodran Mustafi
Valencia (ESP) to Arsenal, 35 million pounds ($46 million)
With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel sidelined by injury, Wenger plugged a sizeable gap in his back line with a move for Germany centre-back Mustafi on the penultimate day of the window. Mustafi, 24, previously spent three years at Everton, but made just one senior appearance.
David Luiz
Paris Saint-Germain to Chelsea, 34 million pounds
($44.7 million)
The shaggy-haired Brazilian’s deadline-day return to Chelsea was one of the biggest surprises of the transfer window, after PSG paid £50 million to make him the world’s most expensive defender just two years earlier. However, Luiz, 29, was tipped to lose his place to compatriot Marquinhos at PSG, and has returned to Stamford Bridge for a reported fee of around £34 million.
Sadio Mane
Southampton to Liverpool, 34 million pounds ($44.7 million)
Following two fine seasons with Southampton, during which he scored 25 goals in all competitions, 24-year-old Senegal flier Mane left St Mary’s to join Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool revolution. He has made an impressive start to life at Anfield, netting a fine solo goal in Liverpool’s 4-3 win at Arsenal on the opening day.
Michy Batshuayi
Marseille (FRA) to Chelsea, 33.2 million pounds ($43.5 million)
A cunning and unorthodox striker, 22-year-old Belgium international Batshuayi moved to Chelsea following a prolific season at Marseille in which he scored 23 goals. Used mainly from the bench so far, he has scored three goals in four appearances.
THAT IS SOME INSANE MONEY!