The summer transfer window is in full swing and several of the top players around the world have already made moves with several more still to take place. The money that's exchanging hands has been significant, although we haven't yet hit the summer 2021 figures just yet. But there's still time.
The top deal so far in the summer of 2022, the €87.3 million ($88 million / £73.9 million) deal that sent midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni from AS Monaco to Real Madrid, would rank fourth among the transfers of the 2021 summer window, behind Jack Grealish to Manchester City, Romelu Lukaku to Chelsea, and Jadon Sancho to Manchester United.
Four of last summer's top five most expensive deals were made by Premier League clubs, and that English financial dominance has carried over. While Real Madrid completed the summer's most expensive transfer to date, the five next biggest deals were all made by Premier League teams, and 12 of the top 20 costliest purchases are by Premier League teams so far.
There is sure to be plenty more money spent, but as of today, The Sporting News brings you the 20 most expensive transfers of the 2022 summer transfer window. The full table follows below.
MORE: Latest Man United transfer rumors for summer 2022 transfer window
Biggest transfers 2022: Most expensive signings of summer window
Transfer totals via Transfermarkt
1. €87.4 million: Aurelien Tchouameni
- Sold by: AS Monaco
- Acquired by: Real Madrid
With Real Madrid missing out on Kylian Mbappe, for now, Florentino Perez needed to make a splash somewhere else. With the midfield aging rapidly, this summer was the perfect time to make a splash for the 22-year-old defensive midfielder who can do it all.
Tchouameni will compete with Casemiro for playing time, but the expectation is that the Frenchman will establish himself as a Real Madrid regular in short order.
2. €81.9 million: Darwin Nunez
- Sold by: Benfica
- Acquired by: Liverpool
Sadio Mane departed for Bayern Munich, and Liverpool needed to replace the Senegalese star. Enter Darwin Nunez, who arrives to team up with Mohamed Salah and Luis Diaz in an attack that just got younger and more electric.
A number of high-profile teams reportedly participated in the Nunez Sweepstakes, but Jurgen Klopp won out in the end, bringing over the 23-year-old Uruguayan who bagged an incredible 26 goals in 28 league matches for Benfica last season.
3. €65.5 million: Erling Haaland
- Sold by: Borussia Dortmund
- Acquired by: Manchester City
After scoring Champions League and Bundesliga goals in bunches over the past few seasons, the expectation was that Haaland would find a new home the summer. The question was simply where, and Man City made the most compelling destination.
The decision was very much down to the player himself, as his low release clause meant that multiple teams could make a play, and his eventual decision came down to who made the best offer. Unsurprisingly, he ultimately chose his father's former team, and now fans wait to see how Pep Guardiola fits the prolific Norwegian into his system.
4. €63.4 million: Richarlison
- Sold by: Everton
- Acquired by: Tottenham Hotspur
The Brazilian kept the Toffees afloat last season amidst a campaign fraught with turmoil. Now, Richarlison will have the chance to play Champions League football, something he's not done before having spent the last five seasons with Watford and Everton. He joins an already stacked Spurs attack that will force Antonio Conte to make some difficult decisions.
5. €57 million: Gabriel Jesus
- Sold by: Manchester City
- Acquired by: Arsenal
With the addition of Erling Haaland, someone had to eventually make way at Man City, and it's Gabriel Jesus. Man City's loss is Arsenal's gain, as the Gunners gain a talisman up front after seeing the embattled Arsenal career of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang come to an end last winter. The Jesus capture is important at The Emirates, as Arsenal continue to push for a return to Champions League football.
MORE: Latest Arsenal transfer rumors for summer 2022 transfer window
Ranking most expensive transfers of summer window 2022
Transfer totals via Transfermarkt (* = Loan deals made permanent)
| Rank | Player | Position | Fee (millions) | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Aurelien Tchouameni | CM | €87.4 | AS Monaco | Real Madrid |
| 2. | Darwin Nunez | FW | €81.9 | Benfica | Liverpool |
| 3. | Erling Haaland | FW | €65.5 | Borussia Dortmund | Manchester City |
| 4. | Richarlison | FW | €63.4 | Everton | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 5. | Gabriel Jesus | FW | €57.0 | Manchester City | Arsenal |
| 6. | Kalvin Phillips | CM | €53.2 | Leeds United | Manchester City |
| 7. | Vitinha | CM | €45.3 | FC Porto | PSG |
| 8. | Federico Chiesa* | FW | €43.7 | Fiorentina | Juventus |
| 9. | Nuno Mendes* | LB | €41.5 | Sporting CP | PSG |
| 10. | Sven Botman | CB | €40.4 | LOSC Lille | Newcastle United |
| 11. | Fabio Vieira | CAM | €38.2 | FC Porto | Arsenal |
| 12. | Nayef Aguerd | CB | €38.2 | Stade Rennais | West Ham |
| 13. | Brenden Aaronson | CAM | €35.9 | Leeds United | RB Salzburg |
| 14. | Sadio Mane | LW | €34.9 | Liverpool | Bayern Munich |
| 15. | Steven Bergwijn | LW | €34.2 | Tottenham Hotspur | Ajax |
| 16. | Diego Carlos | CB | €33.9 | Sevilla | Aston Villa |
| 17. | Sebastian Haller | FW | €33.9 | Ajax | Borussia Dortmund |
| 18. | Karim Adeyemi | FW | €32.8 | RB Salzburg | Borussia Dortmund |
| 19. | Yves Bissouma | CM | €31.9 | Brighton | Tottenham Hotspur |
| 20. | Luis Sinisterra | LW | €27.3 | Feyenoord | Leeds United |
