On 31 August, at 11 PM UK time, the 2021 summer transfer window shut across the majority of Europe after a dramatic 82 days that will go down in history as one of the wildest in the football business.
The period saw the craziest and most shocking transfers, with the two biggest names in football both involved in unprecedented moves.
When the COVID pandemic struck in late 2019 and spread like wildfire across the globe, Europe was one of the continents most affected. This inadvertently changed the beloved sport of football as we knew it, with stadiums everywhere going empty as football became a “behind closed doors” game.
With fans locked out of the arenas, revenue from ticket sales died a painful death—a deadly hit on the finances of footballing outfits everywhere. “No money on ground” became the theme song, accompanied by other soundtracks like “We are broke” and then some. It became a worry for professionals and fans; what will the upcoming transfer window look like?
Of course, there is always the Sugar Daddy money factor in play, with stinkingly rich owners pumping insane amounts into their teams. Still, there were no expectations of a big summer window, let alone one as off the rails as the one we just witnessed. With football clubs trying to get back on their feet in the aftermath of the lockdown, the majority expected a quiet window, or at most, an overly prudent one, with little to no fanfare or ear-bending stories. The majority was wrong!
Messi bid his boyhood club farewell after 21 years, Cristiano Ronaldo returned to the red side of Manchester more than a decade after leaving, and Lukaku returned to the club that initially didn’t give him a chance. See the ten moves that shook everyone this summer.
1. Messi to PSG
Arguably the most emotion-stirring move of the summer window. On 11 August, six-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi signed for French top-flight outfit PSG in a whopping $25 million/year deal. It was amid tears that the GOAT bid his former club farewell. It was clear that Messi desired to stay at Barcelona, where he had played all his professional football. He even took a 50% pay cut just like some of his teammates to make it happen, but that didn’t suffice. Barcelona was hamstrung by La Liga’s rules on club spending, and their wage bill was way beyond limits.
On signing for PSG, Messi said: “I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain. Everything about the club matches my football ambitions. I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are here. I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes.” He wears the number 30, refusing to take the coveted number 10 from his friend and now teammate, Neymar.
2. Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United FC
CR7 made his premier league debut in 2003 donning the Red and White jersey under the GOAT manager Sir Alex Ferguson. He soon introduced and established himself as one of the finest attacking players the league has ever seen. He secured a premier league golden boot, a champions league title, many premier league titles, and a Ballon d’Or. Then in 2009, he made a big money move to Spain. After extraordinary success with Real Madrid which saw him win 4 champions league titles, the EURO 2016, and 4 more Ballon d’Or titles, he moved to the Italian Serie A for new challenges.
It all happened so fast. First, it was news of his agent Jorge Mendes pushing for a move to Manchester City. It looked like a done deal for sure, and all of a sudden, Manchester United entered the fray and that was it. Within hours, it was confirmed that Cristiano Ronaldo is on his way back to the Theatre of Dreams, where many of his dreams came true years ago. It is being reported that Ronaldo will be paid over $30 million per season, making him the highest-paid player in the Premier League.
“Everyone who knows me, knows about my never ending love for Manchester United. The years I spent in this club where absolutely amazing and the path we’ve made together is written in gold letters in the history of this great and amazing institution,” Ronaldo said on Instagram. He ended the emotional message with, “Sir Alex, this one is for you!”
Ronaldo was unveiled with official photos on Man UTD’s social media pages on deadline day.
3. Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea FC
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Another unprecedented move in this transfer window is that of this big man here, Belgian striker, Romelu Lukaku. When Lukaku moved from Anderlecht to Chelsea in 2011, he didn’t stand much of a chance. Not only was he too young at the time, but he also met the likes of the unbenchable Didier Drogba at the club. Lukaku began a series of loan spells that saw him do stints at Everton and West Bromwich Albion. He impressed in all of them but still couldn’t break into the Chelsea 11.
Lukaku left on a permanent move to Everton in 2014 scoring 53 goals in 110 appearances. Ironically, his former coach at Chelsea under whom he couldn’t get a chance eventually recruited him at Manchester United in 2017.
After two years at Old Trafford and another two in Italy with Inter Milan, Chelsea returned for their man this summer in a staggering £95 million deal. Making Lukaku the most commercially successful player, with over £300 million combined spent so far on him. He wears the number 9 shirt and didn’t wait too long before netting his first-ever Chelsea goal on his 2nd debut for the London outfit.
4. Jack Grealish to Manchester City FC
JG10 is without a doubt one of the most exciting attackers in the game in recent years. The former Aston Villa captain had been with his boyhood club for the longest time and had stayed with them through thick and thin. Grealish captained the side into promotion from the Championship to the premiership three seasons ago and saw them through a gritty relegation battle that lasted till the very last day of the 2019/2020 season. Though he attracted interest from every corner in England, he stayed that summer and played a key role in their impressive 2020/2021 season, pulling off a brilliant 16 goal involvement despite a long injury that kept him out for the latter part of the season.
