Europe's top five football leagues have seen a flurry of transfer activity as the summer 2026 window progresses, with the total value of completed deals reaching an estimated £4.1 billion across 930 confirmed transfers.
Among the more notable moves, Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic has ended his five-year stint at Juventus to join Besiktas on a free transfer. The 26-year-old never fully justified the expectations placed upon him in Turin and will now look to reignite his career in the Turkish Super Lig.
Romelu Lukaku is also on the move again, leaving Napoli for Fenerbahce in a deal worth £5.1 million. The Belgian forward, who has previously represented Chelsea, Manchester United and Inter Milan, managed just seven appearances for Napoli last season before this switch to Turkey.
In a significant deal for Borussia Dortmund, Brazilian left-back Kauã Prates has completed his move from Cruzeiro for £6 million. The 18-year-old officially joined the Bundesliga club on his birthday, having originally agreed a five-year contract when the deal was first announced back in February.
Hull City have strengthened their defense with the signing of Senegalese centre-back Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano for £20 million. The 21-year-old arrives with Conference League runners-up medals from the past two seasons, having featured for both Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano in those campaigns.
Frosinone, newly promoted to Serie A, have been busy strengthening their midfield with two Austrian additions in quick succession. Romano Schmid joins from Werder Bremen on a four-year deal after being capped 38 times by Austria, while Florian Grillitsch arrives on a free transfer from Braga, bringing defensive midfield experience at 31 years old.
Elsewhere, Ligue 1 side Lens have added Croatian forward Franjo Ivanovic on a season-long loan from Benfica. The 22-year-old, who made his name at Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium, will hope to make an impact in France this season.
QPR have bolstered their defense with the free transfer signing of Dennis Cirkin from Sunderland. The left-back, who qualifies for Latvia through his parents and received his first senior call-up from the nation earlier this year, previously came through England's youth ranks.
In a smaller but notable move, Manchester United winger Ethan Williams has dropped down to League One, joining Peterborough for an undisclosed fee. The 20-year-old, who was part of United's pre-season tour of Europe, reflected on the difficulty of the decision. "It's always tough to leave a place like this," Williams said of his departure from Old Trafford.
Other deals include Georgian winger Giorgi Tsitaishvili's free transfer from Dynamo Kyiv to Rayo Vallecano, marking his return to Spanish football following a loan spell at Granada last season, and Dutch defender Othniël Raterink's loan move from Cagliari to ADO Den Haag, where he has been described as a "young, talented and versatile defender."
Arsenal, meanwhile, find themselves with a notably negative transfer balance of £114.6 million, reflecting significant spending during this window as clubs across the continent continue to reshape their squads ahead of the new season.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.