Ranking the 10 best signings of the summer transfer window
A monumental summer transfer window is a thing of the past, and a number of European football's top clubs left it looking stronger than ever.
Here are the 10 best signings of the summer transfer window:
10. Islam Slimani (Sporting Clube de Portugal to Leicester City)
Three years ago, Islam Slimani was a relatively unknown player at Chabab Riadhi Belouizdad. Today, he is helping the reigning Premier League champion defend its title.
Leicester City smashed its club record on the final day of the summer transfer window, signing Slimani from Sporting Clube de Portugal for €30 million (£25.5 million). Described as a "mixture of Mario Jardel and Liedson," the strong-in-the-air forward was at the heart of Algeria's historic run to the 2014 World Cup's Round of 16 and will play alongside a compatriot in Riyad Mahrez at Leicester.
Slimani tallied 27 goals in the 2015-16 Primeira Liga season, numbers that are welcomed at Leicester as the Foxes try and defend their silverware.
9. Michy Batshuayi (Olympique de Marseille to Chelsea)
Not only did Chelsea sign a player with phenomenal hair with its acquisition of Michy Batshuayi, but the Blues got a player who is wasting no time settling in at Stamford Bridge.
Batshuayi - who joined Chelsea from Olympique de Marseille for a reported fee of €38.8 million (£33 million) - assisted on the Blues' winning goal in the club's 2-1 victory over West Ham United on the first matchday of the Premier League season before scoring an equaliser in its 2-1 win at Watford. His entrance at Stamford Bridge followed an impressive showing at Euro 2016, where he made two appearances for Belgium and scored one goal.
In Batshuayi, Chelsea possesses one of Europe's most promising strikers and potentially the long-term replacement for Didier Drogba.
8. Joao Mario (Sporting Clube de Portugal to Internazionale)
At up to €45 million, Joao Mario didn't come cheap. But, given the right-midfielder's resume at only 23 years of age, Internazionale clearly felt comfortable forking over such a large sum of money.
Mario played in all seven of Portugal's matches at Euro 2016, displaying his versatility to all those who hadn't caught a glimpse of him at Sporting. He is remarkably composed and can play down either side but features more often than not on the right flank.
If Frank de Boer can get the most out of Mario at Inter, then the Nerazzurri's chances of dethroning Juventus will receive a massive boost.
7. N'Golo Kante (Leicester City to Chelsea)
Assuming N'Golo Kante can adapt to a new role, Chelsea's purchase of the French midfielder, reportedly worth £32 million, should prove to be worth every penny.
Boasting infinite energy, Kante is a tackling machine. The 25-year-old was at the core of Leicester City's fairy-tale conquest of the Premier League and is the embodiment of Antonio Conte's defensive values. He won't be involved in as many counter-attacks at Stamford Bridge as he was at King Power Stadium, but, given his work rate and desire to constantly progress, he will be crucial to Chelsea's trophy ambitions.
6. Miralem Pjanic (AS Roma to Juventus)
While it may feel like Juventus signed everybody during the summer transfer window, the Old Lady's acquisition of Miralem Pjanic stands above the rest.
Having joined Juventus from AS Roma for €32 million, Pjanic softened the blow of Paul Pogba's move to Old Trafford. The Bosnian playmaker is capable of filling the void left to a significant extent, and is even better than the French midfielder in certain respects, such as free-kicks.
Pjanic's transfer is also beneficial for Juventus in the sense that Roma lost the engine of its midfield and the man who tallied 12 goals and 10 assists during the 2015-16 Serie A season.
5. Marlos Moreno (Atletico Nacional to Manchester City)
It will take some time for Manchester City's supporters to understand what the Citizens have in Marlos Moreno.
On paper, Moreno's transfer to the Etihad Stadium doesn't particularly stand out. The Colombian teenager joined City from Atletico Nacional for a reported fee of £4.75 million and was packaged to Deportivo La Coruna on a season-long loan. But behind the scenes, the Citizens' board of directors are probably laughing, knowing that the club possesses the most promising youngster to have come out of South America in a long time.
At only 19 years of age, Moreno is already mature beyond his years. He can operate on the left flank as well as in a central role, can rocket blistering shots, can beat his man on either side, and can take out an entire defensive unit with one well-placed pass. His instinct to play collectively is something to behold, particularly given the selfish nature of many South American attackers.
Moreno was at the heart of Nacional's Copa Libertadores triumph this year, and he will likely be at the heart of City's Champions League expeditions one day.
4. Sadio Mane (Southampton to Liverpool)
The most expensive Senegalese player in history, Sadio Mane is the latest in a long line of players to walk down the well-trodden path connecting St. Mary's Stadium and Anfield, joining Liverpool from Southampton for a reported fee of around £30 million in July.
Mane, a product of the Generation Foot academy in Senegal, is improving with each passing season. He bettered on his 10 goals and three assists from the 2014-15 Premier League season with 11 goals and six assists in 2015-16, apparently raising his price by roughly £20 million in the process.
If Liverpool's 4-3 victory at Arsenal is any indication, Mane may improve on his numbers once again.
3. Kevin Gameiro (Sevilla to Atletico Madrid)
Kevin Gameiro's transfer from Sevilla to Atletico Madrid threatens to alter the outcome of the title race in La Liga.
Only three points separated Barcelona and Atleti in 2015-16 as the Blaugrana captured its 24th title, and it seems beyond reasonable to assume that Los Colchoneros' signing of Gameiro, reportedly valued at an initial fee in the region of €32 million, is worth at least three points in the standings. After all, he scored 16 goals in the top flight of Spanish football last season.
Gameiro needed all of 92 minutes to score his first goal for Atleti, and the idea of the French forward taking the pitch alongside Antoine Griezmann should be music to the ears of Los Colchoneros' supporters and strike fear into the hearts of La Liga's other clubs.
2. Renato Sanches (Benfica to Bayern Munich)
Prior to Euro 2016, Renato Sanches' transfer from Benfica to Bayern Munich, reportedly valued at an initial €35 million that could rise to €45 million, was difficult to understand for those unfamiliar with Portuguese football. How could a teenager who was playing for a junior team less than two years ago be worth so much money?
Then, after Portugal conquered Euro 2016, everybody understood.
Sanches, 19, silenced the doubters at Euro 2016 by showing the qualities that led to skepticism over his age at Benfica. The youngster demanded the ball and, despite the odd misplaced pass, showed an ability to dictate the tempo of a fixture with his distribution and dribbling.
Bayern's future is looking bright.
1. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United on free transfer)
Zlatan Ibrahimovic left Paris Saint-Germain "a legend" and wants to be "God of Manchester" at Old Trafford.
In a free transfer of biblical proportions, Manchester United signed a player like no other, acquiring Ibrahimovic without having to resort to the negotiations that come with a transfer fee and for a reported salary of £200,000 per week. Add in the Swedish bad boy's swagger and box-office value, and it's hard to find a signing that compares in terms of worth and entertainment.
On the pitch, the transfer is already living up to the lofty expectations attached to it. Ibrahimovic is the 2016-17 Premier league's joint-top scorer through the first three matchdays, showing a level of comfort that is frightening and fueling talk of the Red Devils as title contenders.
Simply put, United hit the jackpot by signing Ibrahimovic.