While the World Cup dominated global attention, several notable transfers took place behind the scenes. Here are 10 moves that may have slipped under the radar.
Leandro Trossard to Besiktas
Announced just before England's semi-final defeat by Argentina, Leandro Trossard's £15.3m move to Istanbul was easy to miss. At 31, after three and a half seasons at Arsenal, the Belgian winger departs with 174 appearances and 36 goals. He played a crucial role in Arsenal's first league title in 22 years, scoring clutch moments often from the bench. Trossard will be remembered as a cult hero of the Mikel Arteta era.
Nathaniel Brown to Bayern Munich
Germany's World Cup campaign yielded few positives, but left-back Nathaniel Brown impressed enough to earn a move to Bayern Munich. Born in Amberg and raised in Nürnberg's academy, Brown spent two years at Eintracht Frankfurt and earned eight Germany caps. With Raphaël Guerreiro leaving and Alphonso Davies injured, Vincent Kompany gains a natural left-back to shore up Bayern's defence.
Denzel Dumfries to Real Madrid
Netherlands right-back Denzel Dumfries, named after Denzel Washington, has been a force at major tournaments. After scoring twice at Euro 2020 and providing a goal and two assists at the 2022 World Cup, the 30-year-old triggered his release clause at Inter to join Real Madrid on a four-year deal. He arrives alongside Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konaté as free transfers.
Emersonn to Ipswich
Brazilian striker Emersonn, 22, joined Ipswich for £24m after just one season at Toulouse. Standing 6ft 3in, he combines a target-man frame with mobility. Despite only six goals in 27 Ligue 1 appearances, manager Gary O'Neil sees potential: 'He is a young striker with real ability and potential who has had plenty of interest this summer.'
Harry Winks to Cagliari
Once tipped as England's answer to Andrés Iniesta by Mauricio Pochettino, Harry Winks' career stalled due to injuries. Now 30, he joins Cagliari after a brief revival at Leicester. Winks previously spent a season on loan at Sampdoria, which ended in relegation. He seeks stability in Sardinia.
Mathys Detourbet to Manchester City
Teenager Mathys Detourbet, 19, joined Manchester City for £21.6m from Troyes, part of the City Football Group. With three goals and six assists in Ligue 2 last season, helping Troyes win promotion, the winger has been loaned to Monaco for the coming campaign.
Illan Meslier to Arsenal
Arsenal signed former Leeds goalkeeper Illan Meslier on a free transfer. The 24-year-old has 107 Premier League appearances but fell behind Karl Darlow and Lucas Perri at Leeds. He will compete with David Raya for the No 1 spot, potentially displacing Kepa Arrizabalaga.
Gonçalo Ramos to Milan
Milan broke their club record with a £60.2m fee for Gonçalo Ramos from PSG. The 25-year-old scored 45 goals in 131 appearances for PSG, winning three league titles and two Champions Leagues. He will be Ruben Amorim's first signing at Milan, taking top billing after being a support act at PSG.
Robert Lewandowski to Chicago Fire
Poland's greatest player, Robert Lewandowski, 37, moved to Chicago Fire after four years at Barcelona, where he scored 120 goals and won three La Liga titles. He remains in remarkable shape and could make a Zlatan Ibrahimovic-style impact in MLS, under former USA coach Gregg Berhalter.
Jakub Kaminski to Köln … and Benfica
Poland winger Jakub Kaminski made two moves this summer. After breaking through at Lech Poznan, he moved to Wolfsburg in 2022 but spent last season on loan at Köln, impressing in every league game. Köln signed him permanently for €5.5m in May, but Benfica triggered his €20m release clause two months later. Köln profited and invested part of the fee in Manchester City youngster Reigan Heskey.
