The 10 Biggest Moves of the 2018 Transfer Window

Soccer’s transfer window slammed shut on Thursday and things were quieter than many thought it would be on deadline day. That said, this summer’s transfer extravaganza was bonkers, with numerous huge moves that could have serious ramifications in the short and long term.

Here’s our look at the 10 biggest moves from the 2018 summer transfer window.

10. Buffon joins PSG for free

After 17 seasons, 509 Serie A appearances and 656 total matches, Gianluigi Buffon has finally left Juventus.

Widely considered one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of the sport, Buffon decided to sign a one-year deal with Paris Saint-Germain with an option for a second year. It wasn’t a true “transfer” since his contract was up and he was a free agent, but we’re counting it because of how momentous the move was.

Buffon is now 40 but somehow he’s still a phenomenal keeper. He was named Serie A goalkeeper of the year 12 times, and every year from 2014-2017. He was also the UEFA Club Goalkeeper of the Year in 2016-17 and the FIFA FIFPro World XI keeper in 2017, so it’s not like his play has declined.

Aside from just being a flat-out great keeper, the Italian is a phenomenal leader and is amazing at organizing his defense. It’s pretty crazy to think he led Italy to a World Cup title back in 2006 and is still playing.

1. Ronaldo to Juventus

Obviously this was the biggest move of the summer. After nine seasons, four Champions League titles, four domestic cups, two La Liga championships and 450 goals in 438 total appearances, Cristiano Ronaldo has left Real Madrid.

The 33-year-old landed at Juventus in a €100 million transfer, the highest fee ever paid by an Italian club. Ronaldo claimed he needed a new challenge after having so much success at Real, but I’m not sure he’s going to find things at his new club very challenging. Juventus has won seven Serie A titles in a row.

While most sane people dream of one day retiring to Italy, don’t expect Ronaldo to slow down any time soon. He is clearly still one of the best players in the world and this summer at the World Cup he was an absolute beast.

Will the addition of Ronaldo be enough to bring Juventus back to Champions League glory? It’s going to be fun finding out.

9. Fred to Manchester United

Manchester United’s biggest addition this summer was agreeing to sign Fred away from Shakhtar Donetsk. The 25-year-old midfielder should pair well with what Jose Mourinho’s squad has coming back in the center of the pitch.

The team’s new Brazilian mid didn’t come cheap, as they paid a £52 million to lure him away from his Ukrainian club. A rugged, tough, box-to-box player, Fred should combine with Paul Pogba and Nemanja Matic to give United three versatile midfielders who can play in both directions. That would leave attacking talents like Alexis Sanchez, Romelu Lukaku, Marcus Rashford and Jesse Lingard more freedom in the attacking third and less responsibility to track back.

This move should also give Mourinho a ton of lineup options moving forward.

Fred is a serious improvement over Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrera and Scott McTominay in the midfield. Michael Carrick’s retirement left a hole at that spot and Mourinho and company filled it this summer.

8. Jorginho beefs up Chelsea’s midfield

Jorginho was a mainstay in Napoli’s midfield over the past five seasons, making 160 total appearances. Chelsea is now hoping the 26-year-old can do the same in the Premier League.

The Blues paid out £50 million to land the Italian national, and even threw in £7 million in potential bonuses to get him to London. Jorginho almost agreed to a deal with Manchester City, but backed out in favor of Chelsea.

A versatile talent, he is an excellent passer and probably fits best as a playmaker in the middle of the pitch. That said, he can also be deployed as a defensive mid or a box-to-box weapon.

With Jorginho, Eden Hazard, Mateo Kovacic, Olivier Giroud, Willian and Alvaro Morata, Chelsea should have a ton of attacking power this season. Throw in dominant midfielder N'Golo Kante and this might be a title challenger.

7. Vidal’s shock move to Barcelona

FC Barcelona didn’t make many moves this summer, but the club did make one of the most surprising. Barça wound up prying Arturo Vidal away from Bayern Munich for a reported €18 million plus €3 million in “variables.”

So why did Barcelona pony up that kind of cash for a 31-year-old midfielder when they’re already stacked in the middle of the pitch? Well, Vidal is incredibly versatile and he brings a physical edge Barça has missed at times. Obviously the club has skill to spare, but they don’t truly have a midfielder who can send a message with a rough tackle when needed. He’s also a proven winner.

Vidal has racked up a ton of trophies at both the club at international level. During a storied career for Chile, he helped lead his country to Copa America wins in 2015 and 2017 and World Cup berths in 2010 and 2014. He helped Bayern win six trophies during his three years in Munich and was a part of four Serie A titles at Juventus plus three cup wins. He has a long track record of success.

While Vidal is mostly known as a box-to-box mid, he had success pushing higher up the pitch last season. That said, he’s still one of the best tackling midfielders in the world and can make a huge impact defensively.

Vidal may not be a regular in the starting XI when La Liga kicks off, but it’s a safe bet he’ll find his way into the lineup for Barcelona.

6. Mahrez finally moves

For several seasons now, Riyad Mahrez has been rumored to move away from Leicester City. It has now finally happened, as Manchester City ponied up £60 million to land the Algerian star and signed him to a five-year contract.

The 27-year-old winger will add to an already loaded roster as City attempts to repeat as Premier League champions. Mahrez can play multiple positions up front and should give Pep Guardiola plenty of options. Basically, this is a classic example of the rich getting richer.

Did City need Mahrez? Nope, but it’ll probably make things even more fun for the Sky Blues. Meanwhile, everyone else is going to be miserable.

Mahrez has said his goal is to win the Champions League with his new club. That’s almost certainly what Guardiola had in mind when he went after him. This City squad is even more loaded than it was last season and that’s a scary thought for the rest of the Premier League.

5. Alisson gives Liverpool a top-flight keeper

After last season’s Champions League final debacle, it was clear Liverpool needed an upgrade in goal. Mission accomplished.

The Reds landed Brazilian stud Alisson from AS Roma for a then-record €62.5 million transfer fee, which could rise to €72 million if certain incentives are met. It was a huge coup and the second-straight season Liverpool has raided Roma, after landing Mohamed Salah last summer.

Alisson has spent the last six seasons in Serie A, first with Inter Milan, then with Roma. He made 37 league appearances last season, was named to the Champions League Squad of the Season and was Brazil’s first-choice keeper at the 2018 World Cup.

The summer additions of Alisson, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Xherdan Shaqiri will make an already dangerous Liverpool team downright scary for the opposition.

4. Higuain and Caldara to Milan, Bonucci back to Juventus

This counts as one deal, as Gonzalo Higuain and Mattia Caldara have joined AC Milan from Juventus, with Leonardo Bonucci going in the other direction. Bonucci famously dumped Juve for Milan last summer in a €42 million transfer, but it clearly wasn’t a good fit. Now he’s headed back where he came from.

Higuain’s move is technically a loan, but Milan has the option to buy him after the 2018-19 season. The Argentine forward is still a formidable finisher, as he’s bagged 55 goals in 105 total appearances for Juventus over the past two seasons. In three seasons with Napoli from 2013-16, he tallied 91 goals in 146 appearances. He’s 30, but can still put the ball in the net, a quality Milan desperately needs right now.

The 24-year-old Caladara spent the last two seasons at Atalanta and was excellent. Juventus actually signed him last summer but opted to leave him at his old club on loan for the season. Now with Bonucci coming back he is expendable. But he’s a very good young defenseman. He cost Milan €35 million, which matched the price for Bonucci going back to Juventus.

As for the 31-year-old Bonucci, he’s now headed back where he’s comfortable with Juve. He had a seriously down year at Milan in 2017-18 and didn’t even make the Serie A Team of the Year, where he used to be a mainstay.

3. Chelsea’s keeper moves

I am counting this as one big transfer, but it’s actually three moves that are all tied together. Chelsea sent keeper Thibaut Courtois to Real Madrid for $45 million. As part of that agreement, Croatian midfielder Mateo Kovacic will go on a season-long loan to Chelsea from Real.

As that swap was being worked out, Chelsea landed keeper Kepa Arrizabalaga from Athletic Bilbao. The 23-year-old had an €80 million release clause that was triggered, making him the world’s most expensive goalie. He signed a seven-year contract with The Blues.

While Courtois’ exit is a blow to Chelsea, they got two very nice players in his place. Kovacic is a 24-year-old midfielder who couldn’t find regular time at Real but has made 46 appearances with Croatia and showed well at the 2018 World Cup. Meanwhile, Kepa is a 23-year-old budding star who looks like the world’s next great keeper. He is poised to be Spain’s new backstop if David de Gea falters. He’s made 53 La Liga appearances over the past two seasons and is clearly ready for the step up to the Premier League.

2. Manchester United keeps Paul Pogba

OK, I kind of cheated here, but this was a massive move that never happened. Good on Manchester United for not bowing to the pressure and keeping its best all-around player.

Paul Pogba and France took home the World Cup this summer, given that he’s just 25, a lot is expected of him this season. Man U manager Jose Mourinho questioned why Pogba’s performances with France were so much better than those with his club, but they appear to have patched things up.

With Fred now in tow, Pogba should have a midfield partner to help take some of the pressure off. That should allow him to play more freely going in both directions. It will likely help him link up with Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku  more often in the attacking third.

Pogba now has a World Cup title in hand, so it’s time for him to step up and lead at Manchester United. The Red Devils opted to resist the urge to move him this summer, which should pay off. He’s never looked better than he did for Les Bleus this summer, and that should carry over.