This transfer window was amazing. Given the COVID-19 pandemic's challenges and the financial crisis that followed, no one could have predicted what would happen in the past 18 months.
Transfermarkt reports that the English Premier League spent 1.35 billion this summer, almost as much as Barcelona's debt. There were 248 arrivals and some of the mega deals that took place this window blow us away.
In the Premier League, Romelu Lukaku moved to Chelsea for 115m. Jadon Sancho, Cristiano Ronaldo and Raphael Varane joined Man United for a combined total of 141m. Man City landed Jack Grealish for 120m. Arsenal spent the most money on six players (165m).
Italian Serie A spent 549m, German Bundesliga 416m and French Ligue 1 384m. Spanish LaLiga saw 229m in business. This would have been around 200m more if PSG had rejected Real Madrid's late offer to Kylian Mbappe.
There were other notable free transfers: Sergio Ramos and Gianluigi Donrumma headed to PSG, Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay heading to Barcelona, and David Alaba going to Real Madrid, and Hakan Calhanoglu crossing over the Milan divide to join Inter.
Fans have been treated since July 1 to a rare treat. It is not often that giants such as Messi and Ronaldo move clubs within the same window. We have compiled a list of the winners and losers from the window.
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Winners
Lionel Messi's arrival to Paris via a free transfer might be the greatest business deal ever. Paris Saint-Germain Football/PSG via Getty Images
Paris Saint-Germain
The Parisian giants are supported by Qatar's ruling family and have enjoyed one the most impressive transfer windows of modern times. They have made other remarkable signings, including the free transfer of Messi from Barcelona, six-time Ballon D'Or winner. PSG has assembled half of their world-beaters squad in just a few months by adding Ramos, Wijnaldum and Nuno Mendes to the total of 72m. The pressure is on to not only regain the Ligue 1 title but also to claim the Champions League.
They also rejected a 200m bid by Real Madrid for Mbappe, a star forward who will be eligible to transfer on a free transfer. They will be able to reap the rewards of this season's success, although it will take time to see if they were smart.
Manchester United
It was a happy end to the Sancho saga, and Raphael Varane, a world-class centre back from Real Madrid, made it a decent transfer window at Old Trafford. United is under more pressure now that the 36-year old has returned to the club. No more playing down expectations. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, his ex-teammate, now faces a new challenge as he manages his teammate and must possibly add players to his first XI. It was also a good decision for the club to send Daniel James, winger, to Leeds.
play 1:23 How will Ronaldo fit into Solskjaer’s plans? Julien Laurens discusses Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's plans for Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United.
Chelsea
With the goal of building a Champions League-winning team, the club entered the market. Lukaku was a good fit for the role of a top-level centre forward of proven quality. While the pursuit for Jules Kounde, a brilliant defender who could strengthen any European team, was stalled by Sevilla's desire for 80m, Thomas Tuchel already has made the Chelsea defense a tight, efficient unit. Saul Niguez, an Atletico Madrid utility player who can play in multiple midfield positions, was signed on loan by the club. The club also did well to sign Tammy Abraham (40m), Kurt Zouma (30m), and many other players to make a profit of around 2m.
Leicester City
Although no headlines have been made about the summer signings, Leicester has remained true to their guns and stayed focused on the section they know best: young European league players. Brendan Rodgers' scouting group is the best at identifying value. The arrivals of Lille's midfielder Boubakary Soumare, and FC Salzburg's striker Patson Daka follow the same pattern as previous transfer windows. Leicester signed Jannik Vestergaard from Denmark, an experienced defender who was previously at Southampton when Wesley Fofana was hurt in preseason.
Jack Grealish
Grealish signed for Manchester City, but not Harry Kane. Grealish's signing for Manchester City was more of a luxury purchase, the exclusive prerogative of ultra-rich clubs, than an essential addition to a team with many quality forward options. Aston Villa didn't make too much fuss and spent the 120m on Danny Ings, a well-respected Premier League striker, creativity (Emiliano buendia), and Leon Bailey, a pacey Bayern Leverkusen forward. It was a win-win situation for both the player and his former club.
Play 0:59 Why is Griezmann being allowed to return to Atletico Madrid by Barcelona? Julien Laurens asks why Barcelona is looking to improve a direct competitor with no return for Antoine Griezmann.
Losers
Barcelona
The unthinkable happened because of huge debts totalling 1.35bn, internal instability, and strict financial controls implemented by the Spanish league. Messi, who was arguably the greatest player of all time, quit Barcelona to join Paris Saint-Germain after 21 years. It was also a free transfer. Another blow to one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, the embarrassment at the late registrations of their incoming signings -- Aguero Memphis and Eric Garcia -- is further evidence of the chaos surrounding the club. They let Emerson Royal go for 25m, having only signed him this summer. They also sent Antoine Griezmann on loan to title rivals Atletico Madrid to pay the wage bill, as they had failed to make any moves on Miralem Pjanic and Samuel Umtiti.
The one thing that saved Barcelona was the agreement of senior players Sergio Busquets, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba to accept pay cuts in order to save the club's finances. However, Barcelona experienced one of its worst periods in history and it seems that things won't improve anytime soon.
Harry Kane
After having his attempts to move to Manchester City stopped by Daniel Levy, chairman of Spurs -- or possibly because the champions were unwilling to pay the 150m necessary to sign him, the England captain was forced to remain at Spurs. Kane's silver lining is that he is now back with Spurs, where he has a 100% record and is currently sitting at the top of the Premier League table. As with other stars who have had affairs with rival clubs, scoring some goals is a good way to mend relationships. The transfer period was a good one for Spurs. Their defence has been greatly improved by Emerson Royal's arrival and Cristian Romero's arrival, while Son Heung Min signed a new contract.
Inter Milan
Inter were not as badly affected as Barcelona but they have faced well-publicised financial problems. It was no surprise that Inter would face challenges this summer as Serie A champions. Although Inter have started the new season with six points from the opening fixtures, Conte's resignation was their biggest loss. Right wing-back Hakimi, who was influential, quickly followed Conte to Paris Saint-German, where he paid 70m. Lukaku, last season's top scorer for Chelsea, paid 115m. Inter managed to sign Lautaro Martinez, Joaquin Correa and Edin Dzeko, while their squad is much weaker.
Play 1:09 Gab Marcotti and Julien Laurens applaud Willian's early Arsenal exit Gab Marcotti is impressed with Willian's decision not to renew his Arsenal contract.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta may be a good manager, as Brighton's Ben White (and Bologna's Takehiro Tomiyasu) are mobile, mobile defenders with great ball skills. However, spending 28m to buy Aaron Ramsdale as backup goalkeeper was too much. Real Madrid spent 40m on Martin Odegaard, a Real Madrid midfielder. This is far more than Madrid paid for Eduardo Camavinga (30m). Arsenal's strategy to rejuvenate and reshape their squad is certainly admirable. However, they only paid for Joe Willock and were fortunate that Willian, 33, canceled his 100,000-per-week contract to join Corinthians. Despite the quality of their talent, it is still unclear how they will develop in an unstable environment. It's a difficult way to begin: three defeats in three Premier League games with no goals.
Rafa Benitez
Although Benitez was well aware of Everton's financial limitations before accepting his job as manager, he must still be bitter about this period. Although his predecessors enjoyed large transfer budgets, Benitez will have to face the challenge of revitalizing a squad he had very little influence in building. The potential excitement of Moise's return was not possible for Benitez, as the two-year loan agreement of the Italian striker to Juventus was finalised on Deadline Day. Club in trouble? The arrivals of Demarai Gray, Andros Townsend, and 31-year old striker Salomon Ronalddon are just two examples.
