Welcome to Spain: Top 5 Newcomers

A multitude of footballers will debut in the top flight of Spanish football beginning Friday, when the 85th edition of La Liga kicks off.

Curiously, the most significant signings of the summer transfer window have involved the league's second-tier clubs, rather than the behemoths that are Barcelona and Real Madrid. Of course, the Catalan club is still dealing with the FIFA-imposed transfer ban that stems from illegally signing 10 international players under the age of 18, while Real Madrid's been far from inactive.

Still, it's the likes of Atletico Madrid, Valencia, and Real Betis that have made some of the biggest splashes this summer, particularly when it comes to signing players from Europe's other leagues who are arriving with zero Spanish football experience.

Here are the top five newcomers to La Liga:

5. Heiko Westermann - Unattached to Real Betis

In preparation for its return to La Liga, Betis turned to Hamburger SV in search of reinforcements, signing versatile defender Heiko Westermann to a two-year contract with an option for a third year, as well as signing Rafael van der Vaart to a three-year contract.

Hamburg decided against offering a contract extension to either player following a season in which the club barely avoided its first-ever relegation.

While a large question mark hangs above van der Vaart's ability to contribute at the age of 32, there should be no argument over what Westermann brings to the Estadio Benito Villamarin.

A defender who features primarily as a centre-back but can also operate as a full-back, Westermann is a monster in the air. He'll provide Betis' backline with an essential veteran presence in the club's bid to avoid an immediate return to the Segunda Division.

4. Mateo Kovacic - Inter Milan to Real Madrid

"I want to prove I am worthy of Inter (Milan), I want to win with this shirt. Inter are the same as Real or Barcelona."

That was Mateo Kovacic in July, as he insisted repeatedly that he wouldn't leave Inter. Then along came Real Madrid with a reported €35 million, a transfer fee that could rise to €40 million.

Kovacic's far from proven: he required more than 20 months to score his first Serie A goal, started only 26 league fixtures last season, and wasn't expected to be included in Inter's starting XI for its opener versus Atalanta.

Yet Real Madrid, a club that's as exclusive as they come, reached an agreement with Inter for Kovacic that will see the Croatian youngster join the Spanish giant for the next six seasons.

Real Madrid is certainly rolling the dice on a player whose career has a long way to go, but the glimpses of genius - the composure, the first touch, the dribbling skills - he provided at the San Siro should have supporters looking forward to his arrival, even if playing time is hard to come by in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

3. Stefan Savic - Fiorentina to Atletico Madrid

Miranda's departure to Inter required a replacement at the Vicente Calderon.

Atleti found one hell of a successor, signing Stefan Savic to a five-year contract after brokering a deal with Fiorentina.

Although Savic made 28 starts in Serie A last season, he'll initially find himself as Atleti's third-choice centre-back, behind Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez. It shouldn't take long, however, for the Montenegrin to compete for a spot in the club's starting XI, given his phenomenal blend of aerial skills and ability to play out of the back.

As a result of the transfer, Atleti will arguably possess more depth at the back than any other La Liga club.

2. Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco - Monaco to Atletico Madrid

In yet another transfer fuelled by Atleti's need for a replacement, the club signed Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco to a five-year contract from AS Monaco.

At only 21 years old, Ferreira-Carrasco will be expected to cover the void left by Arda Turan. While those are obviously big cleats to fill, the Belgian attacking midfielder should have no trouble settling in if he can replicate a fraction of the form that saw him devastate backlines across Ligue 1 last season.

Not only is Ferreira-Carrasco a wizard with the ball at his feet, but he's usually good for one or two key passes per game, can contribute off set pieces, and can score from distance. He's everything a club should want from a No. 10 in a neat little package.

Furthermore, assuming the reported transfer fee of an initial €15 million - plus bonuses - is accurate, Atleti's acquisition of Ferreira-Carrasco is a steal.

1. Jackson Martinez - Porto to Atletico Madrid

If Atleti is to replicate its success from 2013-14, when the club unexpectedly ended the 10-year pattern of Barcelona and Real Madrid winning La Liga, Jackson Martinez will need to average the one goal per start that he averaged at Porto in last season's Champions League.

Make no mistake: the Colombian forward is fully capable of doing so.

Martinez's move to one of Europe's top-five leagues feels long overdue. He was a prolific scorer at Independiente Medellin, where his professional career got underway. He was a prolific scorer at Chiapas. And after crossing the Atlantic Ocean, he was a prolific scorer at Porto.

There isn't any reason to believe his scoring rate will decline at Atleti, particularly given the service he should receive from fellow arrival Ferreira-Carrasco. There's a very real possibility he could compete with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the Pichichi while allowing his new side to once again deny Spain's two mammoths a La Liga title.