The summer transfer window is expected to be busy ahead of the 2023/24 season with teams from across Europe looking to strengthen their ranks for the upcoming campaign.
However, alongside the usual battles between Premier League, La Liga and Bundesliga teams, the rapid growth of the Saudi Pro League means major deals involving the Middle East and Europe are expected to continue.
The majority of the Premier League's big hitters are set to splash out in the weeks ahead but there is still scope for free transfers and bargains as the summer stretches on.
The Sporting News brings you the most expensive transfers of the 2023 summer transfer window so far, with the full top 20 table below.
Biggest transfers 2023: Most expensive signings of summer window
Transfer totals via Transfermarkt — Data updated as of July 3, 2023.
1. €103 million: Jude Bellingham
- Sold by: Borussia Dortmund
- Acquired by: Real Madrid
Real Madrid secured their key transfer target in the opening days of the summer window as Jude Bellingham swapped Dortmund for the Spanish capital in a blockbuster move.
Following Liverpool's withdrawal from the race to sign Bellingham, Los Blancos were unopposed as they looked to bring down Dortmund's asking price and tie Bellingham to a six-year contract.
Bellingham is tipped to become one of the world's leading midfielders in the coming years and a building block of Real Madrid's future plans.
2. €70 million: Kai Havertz
- Sold by: Chelsea
- Acquired by: Arsenal
Arsenal have completed their first major move of the summer by bringing in Germany international Kai Havertz from Chelsea.
Mikel Arteta is planning a squad revamp at the Emirates Stadium, ahead of the 2023/24 season, with talks ongoing over West Ham captain Declan Rice.
Havertz arrives with a point to prove, after struggling to consistently match his potential at Chelsea, and Arteta could look to deploy him in a midfield role.
3. €70 million: Dominik Szoboszlai
- Sold by: RB Leipzig
- Acquired by: Chelsea
Liverpool's new No.8 for the 2023/24 campaign is Hungary international Dominik Szoboszlai after they agreed a deal with RB Leipzig.
Jurgen Klopp has lost several midfielders on free transfers in recent weeks and Szoboszlai offers an exciting new option at Anfield.
Mainly used out wide at Leipzig, Klopp is expected to move him into a central position at Liverpool, potentially as a long-term replacement for Jordan Henderson.
4. €70 million: Sandro Tonali
- Sold by: AC Milan
- Acquired by: Newcastle United
Italy international Sandro Tonali became the second-biggest transfer in Newcastle United history when he joined on July 3 from AC Milan.
The midfield playmaker is a signing of real pedigree for Eddie Howe, who is looking to build on a superb 2022/23 season in which the Magpies reached the Carabao Cup final and qualified for the Champions League.
Tonali reportedly did not want to leave the Rossoneri, but the Serie A club could not turn down such a lucrative offer. The 23-year-old has since described his move to the Premier League as "a huge opportunity".
5. €65 million: Christopher Nkunku
- Sold by: RB Leipzig
- Acquired by: Chelsea
Chelsea will be looking to keep a closer eye on their summer spending after successive transfer window record breaking shopping sprees from Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.
Incoming boss Mauricio Pochettino will be given a solid budget to work with by owner Todd Boehly, with an immediate swoop for long-term target Christopher Nkunku.
French star Nkunku joins for a £52m/$66.4m fee, on the back of scoring 16 Bundesliga goals in 2022/23, and Pochettino will be excited by his potential Premier League impact.
6. €55 million: Ruben Neves
- Sold by: Wolves
- Acquired by: Al Hilal
The Saudi Pro League has developed a reputation for securing ageing superstars on big-money contracts, but Al Hilal's move for Portugal international Ruben Neves has changed perceptions.
Neves has opted to leave the Premier League, and European football altogether, after accepting a mega-money offer from the Middle East, aged 26.
How this move plays out will be an interesting one to watch with offers continuing to arrive for current Premier League players, and moves to Saudi Arabia are expected to continue.
7. €46.5 million: James Maddison
- Sold by: Leicester City
- Acquired by: Tottenham
Leicester City's Premier League relegation has triggered an inevitable player exodus from the King Power Stadium as Tottenham have completed a quickfire move for James Maddison.
Maddison was unable to save the Foxes from the drop in the final weeks of 2022/23 but his impressive ability to create chances will be an asset at Spurs.
New boss Ange Postegcoglu is still looking at his options this summer, but Maddison has the potential to form an impressive link up with Harry Kane, if the England captain stays.
8. €45 million: Pedro Porro
- Sold by: Sporting Lisbon
- Acquired by: Tottenham
The arrival of Pedro Porro is likely to have slipped the attention of most Premier League fans as he and fellow loanee Dejan Kulusevski completed permanent switches to Spurs.
Part of the January agreement with Sporting Lisbon was to pay a mandatory purchase clause in June, with the flying full-back making a strong start to life in the Premier League, but he will need to prove himself to new boss Ange Postecoglu.
9. €42 million: Alexis Mac Allister
- Sold by: Brighton & Hove Albion
- Acquired by: Liverpool
Alexis Mac Allister bid an emotional farewell to the Brighton fans on the final day of the 2022/23 season as his departure from the AMEX Stadium was confirmed.
Jurgen Klopp has moved quickly to bring him into Liverpool as a key target for the German boss' rebuild at Anfield ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.
On the back of winning the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, Mac Allister signed off with 10 Premier League goals as Brighton secured a first ever European qualification spot.
Ranking most expensive transfers of summer window 2023
Transfer totals via Transfermarkt (* = Loan deals made permanent)
| Rank | Player | Position | Fee (millions) |
From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Jude Bellingham | CM | €103 | Borussia Dortmund | Real Madrid |
| 2. | Kai Havertz | AM | €70 | Chelsea | Arsenal |
| = | Dominik Szoboszlai | AM | €70 | RB Leipzig | Liverpool |
| = | Sandro Tonali | CM | €70 | AC Milan | Newcastle |
| 5. | Christopher Nkunku | CM/FW | €65 | RB Leipzig | Chelsea |
| 6. | Ruben Neves | CM | €55 | Wolves | Al Hilal |
| 7. | James Maddison | AM | €46.5 | Leicester City | Tottenham |
| 8. | Pedro Porro* | RB | €45 | Sporting Lisbon | Tottenham |
| 9. | Alexis Mac Allister | AM | €42 | Brighton | Liverpool |
| 10. | Nicolas Jackson | FW | €37 | Villarreal | Chelsea |
| 11 | Joao Pedro | LW | €34.2 | Watford | Brighton |
| 12. | Dejan Kulusevski* | RW | €30 | Juventus | Tottenham |
| = | Moise Kean* | FW | €30 | Everton | Juventus |
| = | Manuel Locatelli* | CM | €30 | Sassuolo | Juventus |
| 15. | Mateo Kovacic | CM | €29.1m | Chelsea | Man City |
| 16. | Hugo Ekitike | FW | €28. | Stade Reims | PSG |
| 17. | Giacomo Raspadori* | CF | €26 | Sassuolo | Napoli |
| 18. | Hamed Junior Traore* | AM | €25.5 | Sassuolo | Bournemouth |
| 19. | Orkun Kokcu | CM | €25 | Feyenoord | Benfica |
| 20. | Kevin Schade* | RW | €35.9 | SC Freiburg | Brentford |