Summer 2026 Transfer Window: The Twenty Biggest Deals as Window Looms

The official whistle hasn't even blown on the 2026 summer transfer window yet, but the big spenders have already been getting their chequebooks out. Come June 15, things will properly get underway, though a host of agreements have already been locked in and new signings paraded by their clubs.

Some of these moves represent fresh deals struck in recent weeks, while others see loan arrangements from previous windows turning into permanent acquisitions—either through pre-agreed options or binding obligations. Here's how the twenty most expensive transfers stack up so far.

1. Anthony Gordon (Newcastle to Barcelona) – £69m

Few saw this one coming, but the England winger has long been coveted by those who know their onions. There's some debate around potential add-ons, and Manchester United will be watching closely when Barcelona start moaning about their finances—especially with Marcus Rashford on their radar.

2. Jeremy Jacquet (Rennes to Liverpool) – £55m

The France Under-21 defender arrived for Arne Slot's tenure but looks set to become a key player under Andoni Iraola, particularly with Ibrahima Konate departing Anfield. Jacquet should be fit and ready for pre-season, having missed action since February.

3. Piero Hincapie (Bayer Leverkusen to Arsenal) – £45m

The loan spell at Arsenal is becoming permanent, though Barcelona are apparently circling. Quite how many financial levers the Catalan club has left to pull remains a mystery.

4. Geovany Quenda (Sporting Lisbon to Chelsea) – £44m

This transfer was agreed way back in March 2025, but Quenda has only now made the switch to Stamford Bridge, with Dario Essugo having arrived earlier. The winger managed just a dozen league and European starts last season due to injury, yet still weighed in with four goals and seven assists.

5. Rasmus Hojlund (Manchester United to Napoli) – £38m

United recouped half their investment when Napoli's Champions League qualification triggered an obligation to buy the Danish striker permanently.

6. Lois Openda (RB Leipzig to Juventus) – £35m

Juventus are contractually bound to sign Openda, despite a grim first season in Italy that yielded just one Serie A goal and minimal minutes since February.

7. Orkun Kokcu (Benfica to Besiktas) – £25.9m

The Turkey midfielder came back to his native land on loan last summer, and Besiktas must now make it permanent. They're not complaining—especially if Kokcu impresses at the World Cup and attracts attention from English heavyweights. Early signs from friendlies look promising.

8. Rodrigo Zalazar (Braga to Sporting Lisbon) – £25.9m

Sporting smashed their domestic transfer record to land the Uruguayan midfielder from Braga, who pocket the biggest fee ever exchanged between two Portuguese clubs.

9. Donyell Malen (Aston Villa to Roma) – £21.65m

The Dutch striker has been on fire in Serie A, banging in 14 goals across 18 appearances since his January arrival from Villa on an initial loan basis.

10. Patrick Zabi (Reims to Paris FC) – £21.6m

The Parisians saw off competition from Manchester United and Newcastle to capture the young midfielder, a remarkable piece of business given Reims originally paid just £100,000 for him two years prior.

11. Merlin Rohl (Freiburg to Everton) – £20m

Everton's survival triggered an obligation to purchase the German midfielder, who featured mostly in the final four matches of the season.

12. Georgiy Sudakov (Shakhtar Donetsk to Benfica) – £17.5m

The attacking midfielder's performances dipped after a bright start at Benfica, though understandably so—his Kyiv apartment took a direct hit from Russian drones in September whilst his wife and child were inside.

13. Rocco Reitz (Borussia Monchengladbach to RB Leipzig) – £17.3m

Agreed in March, this deal sparked fury among Gladbach supporters when the midfielder retained the captaincy through an April clash with his soon-to-be employers.

14. Joane Gadou (RB Salzburg to Borussia Dortmund) – £16.6m

The promising French defender graduated through PSG's academy but never featured at senior level, reaching Luis Enrique's bench before decamping to Salzburg in 2024. He's since become a regular, drawing Dayot Upamecano comparisons.

15. Alex Jimenez (AC Milan to Bournemouth) – £16m

The full-back triggered a permanent switch after meeting appearance requirements, though he's currently serving a suspension pending investigation into social media conduct.

16. Sidiki Cherif (Angers to Fenerbahçe) – £15.6m

Crystal Palace had their eye on the teenage striker before Fenerbahçe swooped in January. He's notched two league goals for the Turkish side thus far.

17. Facundo Medina (Lens to Marseille) – £15.6m

The centre-back joined last summer under Roberto De Zerbi, and took his departure mid-season particularly hard: "I was deeply angered. I was furious."

18. Jannik Schuster (RB Salzburg to Brentford) – £15.57m

The 19-year-old defender has been a regular fixture for Salzburg, who've now shifted two teenage centre-backs this window for north of £30million combined.

19. Jakub Kiwior (Arsenal to Porto) – £14.7m

Porto confirmed in early May they were exercising their option on the centre-back, potentially allowing Arsenal to break even on their £17million Spezia purchase if add-ons materialise.

20. Bilal El Khannouss (Leicester to Stuttgart) – £12.9m

The attacking midfielder heads to the World Cup with Morocco and the Champions League with Stuttgart, whilst Leicester contemplate life in League One.