We take a look at some of the transfer talk ahead of the summer!
Transfer Market 2023 – What We Know So Far
The 2022/23 football season is nearing an end and attention will soon turn to the summer transfer market. Every club around Europe will be looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the next campaign, while some sides will face a battle to keep hold of their brightest stars. Keep an eye on our football odds for transfer markets during the summer.
The transfer window in most European countries will open on June 10 and close on September 1. That gives teams almost three months to conduct their business before the deadline.
Let’s explore the summer transfer market 2023 in a little more detail, looking at potential deals, the structure of the window and plenty more points of interest.
How Do Football Transfers Work?
For most of football history, clubs were permitted to conduct transfers throughout the year. By the late 1990s, though, it became clear to all that such a system was not satisfactory.
Clubs could in effect be forced to sell their players to direct rivals in the middle of the season, which affected the integrity of the sporting competition.
The current transfer window system was introduced ahead of the 2002/03 campaign. The world football’s governing body gives individual leagues the power to set the start and end dates, but the market cannot be open for more than 12 weeks.
For a transfer to go through, agreement must be found between three parties: the buying club, the selling club and the player himself.
Transfer Window Dates
- England: June 10 – September 1
- France: June 10 – September 1
- Spain: July 1 – September 2
- Italy: July 1 – September 2
- Germany: July 1 – September 1
Transfer Market Rumours
Which high-profile footballers might be on the move this summer? Let’s take a look at five players who might soon have new employers.
1. Lionel Messi to Barcelona?
Two years after bidding farewell to Barcelona, Lionel Messi could be on his way back to the club for whom he made 778 appearances and scored 672 goals. The Argentina international is out of contract at Paris Saint-Germain on June 30 and is unlikely to sign a new deal at the Parc des Princes.
Messi will not come cheap in terms of wages, though, and he may ultimately be out of Barcelona’s reach. The 35-year-old also has a lucrative offer on the table from a Saudi Arabian club.
2. Declan Rice to Arsenal?
Declan Rice has been a rare bright spot for West Ham United in a difficult Premier League season. Out of contract in 2024, the Hammers are expected to cash in on their most prized asset in the summer transfer market.
Several English clubs have been linked with his signature, but Arsenal has emerged as the likeliest destination of late. Mikel Arteta will hope to have Rice in his team come the start of next season.
3. Harry Kane to Manchester United?
Harry Kane is another England international whose current contract is due to run out next year. Tottenham Hotspur will be loath to lose their talisman this summer, but it would make financial sense to sell him.
Manchester United are on the lookout for a centre-forward and could make a move for Kane in the weeks ahead. The striker has also been linked with Bayern Munich, but he would probably prefer to remain in the Premier League.
4. Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid?
Wherever Jude Bellingham ends up, it will be one of the most expensive football transfers in 2023. The Borussia Dortmund midfielder is a target for the likes of Manchester City, Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but it looks like Real Madrid are closing in on a deal to sign him.
Bellingham is one of the most talented young midfielders in the world and he could serve as a long-term successor to Toni Kroos, even though there are stylistic differences between the pair.
5. Victor Osimhen to Bayern Munich?
By their high standards, Bayern Munich have struggled this season. One of their main issues has been the absence of a top-class centre-forward to replace Robert Lewandowski, who joined Barcelona in 2022.
Bayern will look to address that deficiency this summer. Victor Osimhen, whose goals have fired Napoli to the Serie A title this term, is thought to be at the top of the German club’s wish list.
Football Transfers Summer 2023
In this section we have picked out five clubs that could be worth keeping an eye on in the summer transfer market 2023.
1. Chelsea
Chelsea were the most active major team in Europe in the transfer market 2022, but their huge expenditure of close to €700m did not do them much good.
There will be plenty of departures from Stamford Bridge this summer, but the incoming manager Mauricio Pochettino will want to sign some of his own players too.
2. Napoli
Napoli may lose Victor Osimhen this summer, but they will hope to keep hold of Kim Min-jae and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, both of whom only moved to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona last summer.
Napoli’s recruitment was superb in 2022, so do not write them off even if they lose one or two big names this time around.
3. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund should receive a sizable windfall from the sale of Jude Bellingham. The German side are masters at developing young talent and selling it on for a profit, so we can expect them to target some up-and-comers this summer.
However, Dortmund will need to strike the right balance between youth and experience if they want to challenge for the Bundesliga title again.
4. Liverpool
Liverpool may yet finish in the top four of the Premier League, but this has still been an underwhelming season for the Reds. Jurgen Klopp has already confirmed that he will look to strengthen his squad in several departments this summer.
A couple of new midfielders could arrive at Anfield, while Liverpool may also be in the market for a centre-back.
5. Barcelona
Cash-strapped Barcelona defied expectations last summer, spending large sums of money on new players despite being in financial difficulty. The gamble paid off in the short term with Xavi Hernandez’s side winning La Liga, but the long-term implications are unclear.
Will it be more of the same at the Camp Nou in 2023, or might we see a quieter window this time around?
Confirmed Football Transfers 2023
A handful of transfers have already been arranged, even if they will not officially go through until the window opens. You can check out three of them below.
1. Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea
One of the biggest football transfers that has already been confirmed will see Christopher Nkunku swap RB Leipzig for Chelsea.
The France international will join a squad which is already too big, but his quality up front will be welcome given the Blues have struggled to score goals this season.
2. Caglar Soyuncu to Atletico Madrid
Left out of the Leicester City starting XI for much of the season, Caglar Soyuncu has been brought back into the fold by Dean Smith in recent weeks.
The Foxes are in the Premier League relegation zone but Soyuncu will not be playing in the Championship next season: he has agreed terms with Atletico Madrid and will officially join the Spanish side on July 1.
3. Houssem Aouar to Roma
After six full seasons at Lyon, Houssem Aouar will seek pastures new this summer. The Frenchman has reportedly chosen Roma as his next club, with the Italian side having agreed a deal with Aouar.
The 24-year-old will join up with Jose Mourinho’s squad in the summer, as Roma attempt to seal a return to the Champions League.
Top January Transfers
European clubs are also permitted to sign new players during the month of January. Here are some success stories from the first month of this year.
1. Cody Gakpo to Liverpool
Liverpool acted decisively to sign Cody Gakpo in January, with the deal agreed so that he could make the move on the first day of the month. The Reds beat Manchester United, their arch-rivals, to the Dutchman’s signature.
Gakpo has enjoyed a promising start to his Liverpool career. Primarily deployed in a central attacking role, he has contributed goals and assists while helping to link the play too.
2. Memphis Depay to Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid had to pay just 3 million euro to sign Memphis Depay from Barcelona in January. That is a remarkably low fee in 2023, and it meant the Dutchman would be a bargain if he contributed only a few good performances.
Antoine Griezmann has been Atletico’s best player this season but Depay has added speed, trickery and an additional goal threat to their attack.
3. Leandro Trossard to Arsenal
Arsenal fans were disappointed when Chelsea beat their team to the signing of Mykhailo Mudryk. That prompted the Gunners to turn to Leandro Trossard, who has been a valuable player for Mikel Arteta’s men since his January transfer.
Able to play anywhere across the front three, Trossard has given Arsenal greater attacking depth for their Premier League title challenge.
