Here are six transfers will feel you might just have missed this summer but are a must read...
SEBASTIAN HALLER
Borussia Dortmund to Leganes
West Ham's former record transfer, the 30 year old completed a surprise deadline day move to LaLiga side CD Leganes on loan.
The Frenchman was an unused substitute for Dortmund's opening day 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt and had seen himself pushed further down the pecking order after the summer arrivals of strikers Sehrou Guirassy and Maximillian Beier.
After training in Bremen on deadline day, ahead of his teams first away game of the season a few hours later it was announced that the goal scorer would be a late addition to Borja Jimenez's squad at Leganes travelling to Spain for a medical.
Haller's move to Borussia Dortmund has been affected by his diagnosis of testicular cancer in July 2022, which saw the Frenchman sidelined for seven months due to surgery and chemotherapy in his debut season.
He scored nine goals in 19 appearances after his return, but struggled last season to re-discover his scoring form showcased at Ajax where he scored 47 goals in 66 appearances for the Eredivisie club.
Leganes secured promotion to La Liga last season, returning to the top flight of Spanish football for the first time since 2019-20 and have had a busy summer signing La Liga regulars like Munir, Renato Tapia, Oscar Rodriguez and goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.
Dortmund hope the loan move will provide Haller with a first-team opportunity to find consistency and grow his confidence with the prospect of him returning in-form at the end of this season.
Xherdan shaqiri
Chicago Fire to FC Basel
It has been five seasons since Shaqiri departed Liverpool spending one season at Olympique Lyon before settling in the MLS with Chicago Fire. The 32 year old could not reject the chance to return to boyhood club FC Basel this summer signing a two year deal.
The winger made history this summer in Germany at Euro 2024 becoming the only player to score at all of the last three European Championships. Although, he retired after Switzerland were knocked out in the Quarter Finals by England, his seventh tournament for his nation his goal against Scotland reminded everyone the quality he possesses.
His three year tenure in Chicago failed to really ignite averaging seven goals per campaign with Chicago Fire finishing near the bottom of the table in each of his campaigns.
This move seems the perfect reinssance, the club where the mercurial won three successive Swiss Super League trophies making over 120 appearances before joining Bayern Munich in 2012 for £12m.
tanguy ndombele
Free agent to OGC Nice
Ndombele broke Spurs transfer record in 2019 joining the North London club in a £62m deal, however this summer the club terminated the 27 year old's contract early.
In his two consecutive stints on loan away from the club he has lifted the Serie A at Napoli and Turkish Super Lig with Galatasaray last season. However, he has struggled to replicate his stand-out performances while at Lyon which linked him with Europe's biggest giants.
OGC Nice immediately snapped up the Frenchman offering a two year contract and hope they can galvanise the midfielder bringing him to the heights when he was at Olympique Lyon dazzling in the Champions League.
He has started their first three Ligue 1 games which they have recorded two wins and a draw and has the capabilities of turning his stagnated career around after a car-crash five year spell at Tottenham.
kasper schmeicel
Anderlecht to Celtic
At the end of last season Joe Hart announced his retirement from football, lifting his third consecutive Scottish Premiership title during his time in Edinburgh.
Celtic have addressed the loss of an influential leader by signing the perfect successor in former 2015-16 Premier League champion with Leicester City Kasper Schmeichel.
The Danish captain lead his nation to the knock-outs at this summers Euros, breaching the 100 mark for caps and his arrival at Celtic is a statement signing which will only further cement their grip on the league.
After departing Leicester City two seasons ago he joined Nice OGC making 46 appearances, but found himself exiled in his second season and joined Belgian side Anderlecht under the radar.
The 37 year old will be eager to taste his first old firm derby and help Brendan Rodgers win Celtic's fourth straight league title as they look to continue their dominant reign of bitter rivals Rangers.
erik lamela
Sevilla to AEK Athens
The ex-Spurs midfielder has become AEK Athens highest ever earner with an annual salary of £2.5m and he has received a £1m sign-on fee upfront.
AEK Athens have ended Olympiacos' dominant reign in the Greek Super League in recent seasons, lifting the title in 2022-23 and finishing second to PAOK last season.
Their quest to challenge in Europe, has brought an ambitious direction in the transfer market and this summer they have signed several high profile names such as Brentford goalkeeper Thomas Strakosha and former Argentine international Roberto Pereyra.
Lamela is the latest, joining from Sevilla on a three year bumper contract. The 32 year old struggled to find regular minutes at Sevilla in La Liga last season despite shining in his first two campaigns lifting the Europa League and scoring nine goals in all comps in 2022-23.
This is his opportunity to become a fan favourite in Athens, he is capable of moments of magic and as long as he stays fit he can give you a special quality which changes games.
jamal lewis
Newcastle to Sao Paulo
This is possibly the most strange transfer of this summer window, with outcast Newcastle left-back Jamal Lewis joining Brazilian heavyweights Sao Paulo on loan.
After arriving from Norwich City in September 2020, as a promising young left-back injuries quickly confided the Northern Irishman to the sidelines and he has never been able to recover since.
Across two campaigns at St.James Park he made 10 appearances under Eddie Howe before joining Championship side Watford last season where he found consistent game time making 36 appearances.
However, the two tier of English football to the sandy beaches of Brazil is a significant transition and its unknown how this move will turn out. One thing is for sure his time at Newcastle is surely up.
Written by Lewis Eadie
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