Ten summer signings across European leagues that could prove strong value
This summer’s transfer window across European leagues produced a string of signings regarded as potential bargains, according to a review published on 23 September 2026. The list highlights deals ranging from teenage playmakers to veteran forwards that new clubs secured at comparatively modest fees.
Despite widespread transfer inflation, the piece points to several exceptions, notably Roma’s acquisition of Porto playmaker Mora for €25m (£21.4m) plus a 50% sell-on fee that can be bought out; Porto had expected his €70m (£59.5m) release clause to be triggered in the summer of 2025. Mora had been on the radar since starring for Porto’s B-team at 15 and subsequently fell out of favour under new Porto coach Francesco Farioli before agreeing the move, saying: “He played a big part in my decision to come here because he likes players with my qualities, and I’m a fan of the way he wants his teams to play.” He scored his first Roma goal against Lecce as the Giallorossi made a flying start in Serie A.
Premier League promotion sides spent heavily overall — Ipswich, Coventry and Hull collectively spent £450m net on players — but Hull’s signing of the 24-year-old Sweden international Stroud from Mjällby stands out as value. Stroud helped Mjällby win the Swedish title and earned a place in Graham Potter’s World Cup squad; Hull manager Sergej Jakirovic described him as: “He’s a very good player; he’s very versatile,” adding he can play multiple positions and is “a runner too.” Stroud has provided pace and creativity for Jakirovic’s side since joining.
Aubameyang’s move to Dépor is noted for the player’s persistent goalscoring despite an itinerant recent career; the 37-year-old has scored 44 goals across the last three campaigns and has five goals in seven league games for Dépor after accepting a greatly reduced salary to secure regular La Liga minutes. The review contrasts heavy Premier League spending with the Bundesliga’s promoted teams, who spent a combined £7.2m net, and points to Schalke’s €1m permanent signing of holding midfielder Tanaka as an inexpensive gamble; director of football Youri Mulder said: “His work rate and intensity fit our game really well.” Schalke also brought in notable players on loan, including Robin Gosens, and Tanaka helped the team hold Bayern Munich to a goalless draw on his Bundesliga debut.
Leeds’ summer recruitment included Swiss centre-back Elvedi, a 29-year-old who spent 11 years at Borussia Mönchengladbach and has settled quickly beside newcomer Tarik Muharemovic in Daniel Farke’s back three; Elvedi said of Farke: “It was just one year but I loved him as a manager,” and added: “I learned a lot from him and I will learn a lot now.” Sunderland’s signing of Dutch goalkeeper Robin Roefs for £9.1m is listed for its impact: he kept 10 clean sheets in 35 league games as the promoted Black Cats conceded fewer goals than all but three teams. The piece also records several modest-fee moves with immediate effects: Ferran Jutglà to Celta (£4.7m) scored nine La Liga goals and has been used more as a No 9, Ernest Poku to Leverkusen (£8.7m) later moved to Besiktas on a loan-to-buy deal and scored in their Europa League win over Marseille, and Adrian Truffert to Bournemouth (£11.4m) helped his club qualify for Europe and received a Nations League call-up from Zinedine Zidane.
A cluster of lower-cost signings are highlighted for their contributions: Santiago Hidalgo to Toulouse (£2.5m) had nine goal involvements in Ligue 1 in his first season; Borna Sosa to Crystal Palace (£3m) made 18 appearances but only 99 Premier League minutes before moving on loan; Berke Ozer to Lille (£3.9m) kept a league-best 13 clean sheets and retained the No 1 spot despite new competition; Christian Ordoñéz to Parma (£6.7m) said he was “surprised” at the step up and featured regularly; Carlos Soler to Real Sociedad (£6.9m) scored in the Copa del Rey final shootout against Atletico; and Nikola Stulic to Lecce (£4.3m) scored four of his side’s 28 league goals.
Other notable moves include Paderborn’s record signings of Vidovic and Marvin Pieringer for €3m each as the club returned to the Bundesliga after the promotion/relegation playoff win over Wolfsburg; Paderborn sporting director Sebastian Lange said: “His sporting CV speaks for itself.” Strasbourg’s summer dealings, under a partnership with Chelsea, involved several Cobham-sourced players while Valentín Barco and Emmanuel Emegha moved the other way, and Giovanni Reyna — 23, with only four league starts at Gladbach — scored his first Strasbourg goal in the 6-2 win over Troyes in early September. Monaco’s signing of Nazinho followed a permanent move to Cercle for €2m after an initial loan in 2023; Nazinho recorded four goals and eight assists last season and has formed a left-side partnership with Stanis Idumbo as Filipe Luís’s side sit top of Ligue 1.
Real Betis paid €20m for Troy Parrott, who scored a winner against Real Madrid, while Madrid sold left-back García for £3.2m plus 50% of any future sale; García has made more than 100 appearances for Madrid and completed two full top-flight seasons on loan at Rayo Vallecano. Everton’s late-window business brought in the versatile Maitland-Niles as David Moyes contended with a depleted forward line, and the new arrival’s late equaliser against Manchester United is singled out as an immediate return on investment.
Nazinho’s participation in Monaco’s Conference League campaign is presented as a concrete next opportunity to build on his domestic form and, according to the review, could “potentially earn a first Portugal call-up.”