Biggest deals of the transfer window: Top 10 most expensive signings in 2026, from Enzo Fernandez to Bruno Guimaraes

The 2026 summer transfer window saw an enormous amount of money exchange hands throughout European football.

European giants such as Manchester City, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Liverpool all did big business, while other Premier League clubs like Tottenham also spent big hoping to improve on last season's difficulties.

Other clubs like Newcastle and Aston Villa made big bucks selling players, but at the expense of some of their best talent.

All told, the wheeling and dealing has shaken up the Premier League and Champions League landscape and changed the trajectory of the season for many clubs.

The Sporting News brings you a look at the top 10 most expensive transfer deals in the window, and where those deals fall in the all-time transfer picture.

MORE: Minute-by-minute news and updates all throughout Transfer Deadline Day 2026

Top 10 biggest signings of the transfer window

All transfer figures via Transfermarkt.com.

Enzo Fernandez

The Argentine became the first player ever to be sold for £100 million twice, as he pushed his way out of Chelsea and rejoined with his former manager Enzo Maresca at Man City.

While his sale leaves Chelsea extremely thin in the middle of the pitch, the Blues had little choice but to pull the trigger on this deal given the price and the player's attitude in wanting a move.

MORE: Why Man City signed Enzo Fernandez for massive record transfer fee

Morgan Rogers

While Chelsea let Enzo Fernandez depart, they spent similarly big money on Morgan Rogers who arrives from Aston Villa to partner with Cole Palmer up front. Rogers can play the No. 10 or deploy out on the wing, and is a key arrival for a Chelsea attack that featured too much fluctuation last season.

Elliott Anderson

With Rodri departing Manchester City, a replacement was needed. They got two, with 23-year-old Elliott Anderson being the prime addition. His player profile is heavily Rodri-coded, as a press-resistant passer who contributes defensively and progresses the ball forward.

Anderson has massive shoes to fill at Man City, but his ceiling is sky-high, hence his astonishing fee.

Bradley Barcola

Liverpool and Arsenal both had needs on the left wing, and it was the Reds who made the big splash as they brought in Bradley Barcola from PSG. Barcola had been pushing for a move after serving as understudy to both Desire Doue and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia out wide for the two-time defending Champions League winners. Liverpool were the winners in this race, at the expense of Cody Gakpo who will have to push for time elsewhere, either at another club or another position.

Yan Diomande

Real Madrid are hoping for a rennaissance upon the return of Jose Mourinho, and one of his first moves was to spend big on 19-year-old winger Yan Diomande to mix in with Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe, and Arda Guler at the Bernabeu. Diomande is a dribbling wizard, and his move from RB Leipzig comes with massive upside for a player who has risen meteorically over the past three years.

Sandro Tonali

Tottenham's complete summer overhaul was led by a makeover in midfield, with a massive swoop for Newcastle star Sandro Tonali. Newcastle's firesale has made fans angry, but their loss is Tottenham's gain. Tonali has never been the No. 1 guy in a midfield during his career, so this move has a low floor, but if he stars, it could lead Spurs on a huge revival up the Premier League table after barely avoiding a shock relegation last season.

Mateus Fernandes

Another big-money arrival for the Tottenham midfield came from relegated West Ham as they spent huge money on Mateus Fernandes as a physical presence at the No. 6 position. Just 21 years old, Fernandes is an exciting young prospect who stood out in an otherwise abysmal West Ham squad last season and has big potential. Can he help keep Tottenham's midfield from being as porous as last year?

Ayyoub Bouaddi

The final piece of Man City's three-headed midfield makeover this summer, 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi joins off the back of a strong World Cup showing with Morocco. He is a do-it-all player even at his young age, having starred in Ligue 1 last season. he will need to continue developing, as the step up to the Premier League comes with a much higher physical requirement, but he already has many of the skills necessary to contribute now rather than just be a piece for the future. He should pair with Enzo Fernandez and Elliott Anderson well.

Savio

After a difficult two seasons at Man City, Brazilian winger has joined up with the Tottenham project, looking to provide an injection of energy out wide at a team with a number of transfer misses at the position. The size of his transfer fee was surprising to many, given how mediocre he has been at Man City, but still just 22 years old, he has plenty of time to fill out his potential.

Bruno Guimaraes

Arsenal may not have been able to fill the hole out on the left wing this offseason, but they did well to shore up the midfield by adding a fantastic player in Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle. The Brazil international is an exquisite passer, and has an imposing physical presence that helped him thrive on Tyneside. Arsenal spent big for a player on the back end of his prime, but the Gunners are in win-now mode, and Guimaraes will be a massive upgrade for their midfield depth.

MORE: The making of Yan Diomande in the semi-professional landscape of the United States

Most expensive transfers of all time

*After initial season-long loan in 2017/18