The English duo are among some of the best-performing summer arrivals of the campaign so far
Even with the Saudi Pro League emerging as a major player in the market this summer, European clubs still managed to rack up quite the transfer tab.
Recruitment in the continent is in a strange place in 2023. Although the elite sides possess considerable financial power, with Premier League clubs in particular capable of paying transfer fees that many others could only dream of, many storied European teams are only able to complete bargain deals and free transfers.
The situation has created a smorgasbord of different transfer strategies and if recent seasons have taught us anything, it's that splashing the cash is never a guarantee of success. That's not to say that the big spenders have wasted this money this summer, however, with the top two players on this list, where GOAL has ranked the best summer transfers of the European season, costing almost £180 million ($228m) combined.
GettySergino Dest (PSV) – Loan
Prior to his move to PSV this summer, Dest had endured a disastrous few years. He never fully convinced at Barcelona and a loan move to AC Milan last season ended prematurely after he failed to prove his worth to Stefano Pioli.
Fortunately for Dest and the U.S. men's national team, he has managed to find some form since returning to the Netherlands, the country where he made a name for himself at Ajax. Operating mainly as a left-back, the 23-year-old has been an important figure in PSV's staggeringly-good start to the campaign.
Peter Bosz's side have won each of their opening 16 Eredivisie fixtures, romping to a healthy lead at the top of the table, and also secured progression to the Champions League last-16, where Dest is set to square off against international team-mate Gio Reyna.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesFrancesco Acerbi (Inter) – £3m ($3.8m)
After helping Inter reach an unlikely Champions League final while on loan from Lazio last season, the Nerazzuri opted to hand Acerbi a permanent contract in the summer. The club have been rewarded handsomely for their decision, too.
Despite now being in his mid-30s, Acerbi remains one of the most dominant centre-backs in Serie A, and his composure at the heart of the backline is a big reason why the Nerazzurri boast the best defensive record in Europe. The fact that he cost Inter so little only further underlines what an intelligent signing he was.
Getty ImagesLois Openda (RB Leipzig) – £37m ($47m)
Openda was hot property at the end of last season after plundering 21 Ligue 1 goals for Lens as they mounted an unlikely title challenge. Despite interest from across Europe, the Belgian would end up signing for RB Leipzig, who were reeling from the loss of offensive talisman Christopher Nkunku to Chelsea at the time.
Openda soon made Die Roten Bullen forget about their former hero, though, netting in three of his side's opening four Bundesliga matches. The goals have kept on coming since then, both domestically and in the Champions League.
The 23-year-old netted a fine European brace against Manchester City in November, a performance which sparked rumours that several Premier League clubs were interested in signing him in the near future.
Getty ImagesGuglielmo Vicario (Tottenham) – £17.2m ($21.8m)
With many of their Premier League rivals investing poorly in the goalkeeping department this summer, Tottenham will be feeling smug at having snapped up Vicario from Empoli in June. Whereas Manchester United's Andre Onana, Arsenal's David Raya and Chelsea's Robert Sanchez have all attracted headlines for the wrong reasons in recent months, the Italian has been a unflappable presence between the sticks for Spurs, with Ange Postecoglou restoring the feel-good factor in north London.
Anyone who's been paying attention to Vicario's career over the past few years will not be surprised at how well he's taken to life in England, with Jose Mourinho describing him as "the best goalkeeper in the world" after Roma's ill-fated meeting with him last season. With this in mind, it's surprising that more clubs weren't smart enough to come in for him in the summer – but their loss is proving to be Tottenham's gain.
