Summer transfer window 2021 best deals as Messi and Ronaldo make stunning moves

High profile free transfers and players returning to former clubs a common theme of the summer

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Tuesday's deadline day marked the end of a truly remarkable summer transfer window, which saw the two greatest players of their generation make sensational moves and a number of expensive deals take place.

Lionel Messi did the seemingly unimaginable by leaving Barcelona after 17 years having failed to agree a new contract amid the club's crippling financial problems. The Argentine soon pitched up at Paris Saint-Germain, amid much fanfare, where he signed a two-year contract with the option of a third.

Messi's great rival Cristiano Ronaldo later followed suit by sealing a stunning move of his own as the Portuguese superstar returned to Manchester United 12 years after leaving the Premier League club.

Aside from those two spectacular deals, plenty of money was exchanged between clubs this summer. Jack Grealish's British record move from Aston Villa to Manchester City represented the biggest deal of the window, closely followed by Romelu Lukaku's return to Chelsea from Inter Milan.

In addition to Ronaldo, Manchester United were responsible for two of the top five biggest transfers of the window, with Jadon Sancho arriving from Borussia Dortmund and Raphael Varane making the move from Real Madrid.

With the summer transfer window now closed, the photo gallery above details the 50 biggest deals of the off-season. All figures are sourced from transfermarkt.com and the rankings are based on transfer fee or the player's market value, whichever is greater.

To move on to the next photo, click on the arrows or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.

Top 10 deals of the 2021/22 summer transfer window

1. Jack Grealish - Aston Villa to Manchester City (transfer fee - €117.5m / market value - €65.00m)

2. Romelu Lukaku - Inter Milan to Chelsea (transfer fee - €115m / market value - €100m)

3. Jadon Sancho - Borussia Dortmund to Manchester United (transfer fee - €85m / market value - €100m)

4. Lionel Messi - Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (transfer fee - free / market value - €80m)

5. Raphael Varane - Real Madrid to Manchester United (transfer fee - €40m / market value - €70m)

6. Achraf Hakimi - Inter Milan to Paris Saint-Germain (transfer fee - €60m / market value - €60m)

7. Dayot Upamecano - RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich (transfer fee - €42.5m / market value - €60m)

8. Gianluigi Donnarumma - AC Milan to Paris Saint-Germain (transfer fee - free / market value - €60m)

9. Antoine Griezmann - Barcelona to Atletico Madrid (transfer fee - loan / market value - €60m)

10. Ben White - Brighton to Arsenal (transfer fee - €58.5m / market value - €28m)


Updated: September 01, 2021, 11:40 AM