Obviously we all know about the big names, but you’d be surprised just how many good players completed transfers in the shadows of Gareth Bale and Mesut Özil.
Gareth Bale
The Welsh superstar completed his much talked about move from Tottenham to Real Madrid for a world record fee that comes out to approximately $132 million.
Mesut Özil
After spending all summer missing out on new signings, Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger landed perhaps the world’s most creative midfielder for a reported £42.5 ($66.25 million) transfer fee.
Kaká
In an effort to fund their purchase of Gareth Bale, Real Madrid sold Brazilian midfielder Kaka back to Milan after purchasing him from the Serie A giants in 2009. He signs a two year deal with Milan.
Kevin Prince Boateng
The German international returns to the Bundesliga after completing a four year move from Milan to Schalke 04.
Samuel Eto’o
The Cameroon international is reunited with his former manager Jose Mourinho after signing a new one year deal with Chelsea from Russian side Anzhi Makhachakala.
Alessandro Matri
The Juventus forward completed a transfer to Milan and signed a four year deal.
Adem Ljajic
The Serbian forward completed a four year move from Fiorentina to Roma for a reported €11 million ($14.4 million) transfer fee.
Erik Lamela
And speaking of Roma, they sold the Argentinian winger to Tottenham for a reported €30 million ($39.9 million) transfer fee.
Christian Eriksen
Indeed, Spurs were incredibly busy this summer. They bought Ajax/Danish playmaker Christian Eriksen for a reported £11.5 million ($17.9 million) transfer fee.
Marouane Fellaini
The Belgian international turned out to be the only significant summer signing for new Manchester United manager David Moyes. Fellaini previously played for Moyes at Everton.
Geoffrey Kondogbia
The Sevilla defender joins Monaco for a reported €20 million ($26.2 million) fee and signs a five year deal with the Ligue 1 side.
Alessandro Diamanti
He’s not actually going anywhere, but Bologna made a huge splash signing him to a new five year extension.
Andrea Dossena
The veteran center back from Napoli completed a one year move to Sunderland in the English Premier League. He previously spent part of his career in England with Liverpool.
Romelu Lukaku
The Chelsea striker goes out on loan for the second year in a row. He joins Everton for the upcoming season.
Toby Alderweireld
The Dutch defender completed a permanent move from Ajax to Atletico Madrid.
Florian Thauvin
The French starlet was purchased by Lille from Bastia in January, loaned back to Bastia for the remainder of the season, and has now been sold to Marseille without having ever played a match for Lille. Thauvin factored in the French U-20 side that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup this summer.
Josua Guilavogui
The Saint Etienne midfielder completes a €10 million ($13 million) move to Atletico Madrid.
Ezequiel Schelotto
The 24 year old Inter midfielder joins Sassulo on loan for the upcoming season.
Jaroslav Plasil
The veteran Bordeaux/Czech Republic midfielder joins Catania on loan for the rest of the Serie A season.
Christian Atsu
The Ghana international was purchased by Chelsea from FC Porto and then subsequently loaned to Vitesse in the Netherlands.
Duvan Zapata
In an effort to replace the production of departed striker Edinson Cavani, Napoli signed former Estudiantes striker Duvan Zapata.
Mamadou Sakho
The former Paris-Saint Germain center back has completed a permanent move to Liverpool.
Tiago Ilori
The 20 year old Sporting Lisbon center back has also completed a move to Anfield.
Bruma
The highly rated Portugal winger completed a €10 million ($13 million) move from Sporting Lisbon to Galatasaray.
Makoto Hasebe
The Japanese international completed a permanent move from Wolfsburg to Nurnberg.
Libor Kozak
The leading scorer in last year’s Europa League competition has completed a move from Lazio to Aston Villa.
Vlad Chiriches
The Romanian center back moves from Steaua Bucharest to Tottenham.
Emiliano Viviano
The Palermo goalkeeper joins Arsenal on loan for the entire season.
Marko Arnautovic
The Werder Bremen forward completed a permanent move to Stoke City.
Teemu Pukki
The Finland international completed a four year move from Schalke 04 to Celtic.
Alvaro Vasquez
The Getafe center forward joins Swansea on loan for the entire season.
James McCarthy
The former Wigan winger is reunited with Roberto Martinez as he completes a £13 million ($20 million) move to Everton.
Gareth Barry
The Manchester City holding midfielder joins Everton on loan for the entire season.
Fabio Borini
The Liverpool striker joins Sunderland on loan for the 2013-14 season.
Oussamma Assaidi
Assaidi also departs Anfield on loan and will suit up for Stoke City this season.
Angelo Henriquez
And last, but not least, Manchester United’s young striker joins Real Zaragoza on loan for the season.
Until next time!
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