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2015-16 La Liga Preview: 5 best transfers so far

Reuters

The summer window is a busy time for managers and club directors, and this year's edition was no different in Spain as players were bought and sold across the league.

Related: 2015-16 La Liga Preview - 5 worst transfers so far

Here are the best transfers in La Liga (so far) ahead of the 2015-16 season.

5. Rafael van der Vaart - Hamburg to Real Betis

Free transfer (Read more)

Real Betis scooped up Rafael van der Vaart in what might just be the most underrated transfer of the summer. The 32-year-old Dutch international is still one of the finest midfielders around and while he didn't have a very strong 2014-15 season with Hamburger SV last season, he joins a newly promoted Betis side hungry for top talent.

What makes this transfer so incredible was the price tag. Van der Vaart could be the steal of the entire season, joining Real Betis for free. That's right. For free. Zero dollars. That's incredible. Good stuff, Betis!

4. Danilo to Real Madrid

€31.5-million transfer (Read more)

Danilo might just be the best right full-back in the game today, and while he's not very well known, he will be soon enough. The former FC Porto defender joined Real Madrid for a massive fee of over €30 million, and while his signing was announced back in March, he joins the team this summer ahead of the start of the campaign.

The 24-year-old is also a Brazilian international, and, like his counterpart Marcelo on the other side, he is known for his offensive prowess coupled with his defensive reliability, giving Madrid a fantastic full-back duo.

3. Jackson Martinez - FC Porto to Atletico Madrid

€35-million transfer fee (Read more)

Atletico Madrid played striker swap this summer, sending Mario Mandzukic to Juventus before picking up FC Porto forward Jackson Martinez. The Colombian international scored 32 goals in 41 appearances last season in Portugal and while he was on the radar of AC Milan throughout the summer, it was Atletico Madrid who swooped in and signed him.

He didn't come cheap, though – he cost a pretty penny to the tune of €35 million, one of the most expensive transfers of the summer window in Spain. Still, Atletico will hope he and strike partner Fernando Torres will find instant chemistry and score plenty of goals, and if so, that price tag won't seem too high.

2. Roberto Soldado - Tottenham to Villarreal

Reported £10-million transfer fee (Read more)

Now, this one might seem an odd call, but Villarreal picking up Tottenham striker Roberto Soldado has the potential to be one of the top signings of the summer. Soldado was a prolific goal scorer in La Liga only three years ago, notching at least 20 goals a season during his time with Valencia.

If Villarreal can revive that kind of form out of Soldado, the Yellow Submarine has signed itself a striker that can win games single-handedly. But if Soldado's goal scoring struggles continue on, his time at Villarreal may be short-lived, too.

1. Aleix Vidal - Sevilla to Barcelona

Reported £16-million transfer fee (Read more)

Barcelona was supposed to be banned from the transfer window this summer, but that didn't stop the reigning La Liga champions from splashing some cash. Barcelona identified a pair of targets, and while Arda Turan is the big-name signing, Aleix Vidal could become one of the new stars at the Camp Nou.

Vidal is an exciting right wing-back who, at 25, has plenty of years left in the tank. He's the perfect long-term option to replace Dani Alves, but will need to wait until January 2016 before he can show off his skills for his new team, since Barcelona's transfer embargo prevents the signing from being truly completed until the winter window.

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