Declan Rice, Moises Caicedo, Harry Kane.
This has been a transfer window of seismic summer moves.
But away from nine-figure transfer fees at the top of the Premier League, some of Europe’s biggest sides have been going about their business more frugally, scouring the market for data-driven bargains in the continent’s less-followed leagues.
Writers from The Athletic’s data department have picked some of their favourite understated moves of the summer, including arrivals from Belgium and Argentina. A lot of these metrics will be familiar by now, but if you want a refresh on the more in-depth analytics, check out The Athletic’s glossary.
Alejandro Grimaldo: Bayer Leverkusen from Benfica
If the early signs are to be believed, Bayer Leverkusen have had one of the best transfer windows in Europe.
Xabi Alonso’s side were emphatic in their 3-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend, racking up 24 shots, before a similarly devastating 5-1 win over promoted Darmstadt made it nine points from nine.
While Victor Boniface and Granit Xhaka have taken most of the acclaim, wing-back Grimaldo fits the Spaniard’s 3-4-3 system like a glove; an athletic all-rounder who loves to swing dangerous left-footed deliveries into the penalty area.
Alejandro Grimaldo is an assist machine (Juan Manuel Serrano Arce via Getty Images)
Picked up on a free transfer from Benfica, the 27-year-old generated 12.7 expected assists in the Portuguese top-flight last season, a figure that only five players in Europe’s top seven leagues could better. That translated to nine assists, with just under 2.3 chances created per game.
Grimaldo is an important outlet down the left-hand side, helping to move his team forward as a receiver and provider of progressive passes. Even from a sample size of just 14 Champions League games last season, his value becomes clear in the pass map below; few are better at moving the ball into dangerous areas with precision passing.
The former Barcelona youth product has already registered his first assist in German football, heading a crossfield pass into the area for Boniface to power home against Monchengladbach.
He might not be the most explosive of players in this exciting Leverkusen side, but Grimaldo will allow Alonso’s side to sustain pressure from both flanks as they launch a top-four charge.
Ethan Ampadu: Leeds United from Chelsea
Already, at 22, Ampadu has a wealth of experience.
Ethan Ampadu’s time in the Championship could be short-lived (Photo: George Wood via Getty Images)
Two full seasons in Italian football, a campaign at the base of a Premier League midfield, as well as 44 caps for Wales. He even had a short spell in Germany, with valuable Champions League minutes under his belt. All in all, the £7million ($8.7m) signing from Chelsea looks to be a great deal for a second-tier club buying a player with time to improve.
So far, he has been a steady anchor in Leeds’ dramatic return to the Championship, putting together a string of solid performances with moments of inventive progressive play scattered throughout.
Against Sheffield Wednesday, for example, Ampadu receives a short pass from Wilfried Gnonto. His body orientation suggests he is going to take a touch, but the Welshman turns sharply to punch a perfectly weighted pass through to Jamie Shackleton, breaking two defensive lines as the ball spins into the winger’s path.
He is aware of his own limitations, often resisting urges to shoot from the boisterous Leeds support. Ampadu has not scored in his professional career, and much prefers to keep play moving and protect the space in front of his defence.
A tenacious tackler, and an increasingly resourceful forward passer, Ampadu will be a reliable, high-quality tempo-setter throughout the season, and whisper it quietly, a potential difference-maker in a competitive race for promotion.
Bart Verbruggen: Brighton from Anderlecht
Few teams in world football can match Brighton for low-risk, high-reward transfers. Though 21-year-old goalkeeper Verbuggen isn’t their cheapest deal, a €19m (£16.3m, $20.5m) fee represents only a fraction over 10 per cent of what they raised from player sales this summer.
Bart Verbruggen could be another successful signing for Brighton (Mike Stobe via Getty Images for Premier League)
The Netherlands Under-21 international already seems to possess the unerring confidence and composure that every Brighton goalkeeper needs. A nerveless drag-back under pressure from Anthony Gordon last weekend, to go with his 50 completed passes and a strong save down to his right to deny Miguel Almiron, was a snapshot of an extremely encouraging performance in his second Premier League appearance.
This was brilliant from Bart… 🤤✨ pic.twitter.com/n0u1gtiYxD
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 3, 2023
Verbruggen made a rapid ascent through the ranks at Anderlecht last campaign, starting the season with their under-21s, before starting for the first team on Boxing Day.
Three months later, he produced a heroic performance away at Villarreal to help his side through to the Europa Conference League quarter-finals, making nine saves in a shock 1-0 win. In the league, Verbruggen’s shot-stopping prevented about three goals more than would be expected from an average goalkeeper.
He faced a baptism of fire in his Brighton debut, a 3-1 defeat to West Ham United, but Verbruggen has shown he more than has what it takes to compete with Jason Steele for a place between the sticks.
Is it too early to say that Brighton have done it again? Possibly. But nobody can argue with their track record for exceptional data-driven signings, and this has all the hallmarks of another.
Branco van den Boomen: Ajax from Toulouse
Last year, Toulouse midfielder Branco van den Boomen made a bold claim.
“Everyone knows about my ability from set pieces, but passes at the right tempo and into the right zone are my biggest strength. In other areas, I’m perhaps not at the level of other players but in terms of passing, few are as good as me.”
Branco van den Boomen celebrates last season (Arnaud Finistre/AFP via Getty Images)
Fortunately, the data has his back. No outfield player completed more long passes (387) or switches of play (70) than the Dutchman last season — not just in Ligue 1, but throughout Europe’s top five leagues.
Few midfielders sweep the ball across the pitch with the ease and regularity of Van den Boomen, a luxury tempo-setter with an eye for a defence-splitting pass. He made an astonishing 21 assists throughout Toulouse’s promotion campaign in 2021-22, before assisting in each of the five matches he played in last season’s Coupe de France triumph, the first major trophy in the club’s history.
As the below scatter graph shows, only Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos came close to replicating his unique combination of forward passing and creativity last term.
Van den Boomen sealed a move to Ajax early in the summer and should be a perfect fit for their high-possession style of play. The 28-year-old created eight chances on his Eredivisie debut, with new attackers Chuba Akpom, Carlos Borges and Georges Mikautadze likely to provide more forward runs for him to pick out.
It’s been a challenging summer in terms of outgoings for the Dutch side, but their new midfielder should help them to unlock deep domestic blocks, and at least make a dent in the Europa League.
Anastasios Douvikas: Celta Vigo from Utrecht
Two players shared the Eredivisie’s Golden Boot last season — one signed for Paris Saint-Germain over the summer and the other made a sudden switch to… Celta Vigo.
While PSG were triggering a buy-back clause in the contract of PSV’s Xavi Simons, Celta were weighing up a move for Douvikas, the Greek goal machine who seems a remarkable transfer coup for Rafa Benitez’s new side, bolstering their attacking options as 36-year-old Iago Aspas’ scoring powers begin to fade.
The former Utrecht striker is a true poacher, having scored 15 of his 16 non-penalty goals from inside the area last season, with six of those from within the six-yard box. At 6ft 1in (185cm), Douvikas is a danger in the air, but is most adept at turning close-range snap-shots on either foot into powerful finishes.
Here against Ajax, for example, the centre-forward shows his composure and ability to lead the line by himself, first controlling a cross from Taylor Booth on his chest…
… before holding off defender Jorrel Hato, shielding the ball as he turns onto his left foot, and bending a shot into the far corner. Surrounded by multiple defenders, Douvikas remains unfazed.
The 24-year-old has already spoken of his excitement to learn from Aspas, but looks most likely to form a longer-term partnership with the talented Jorgen Strand Larsen.
Celta were involved in an uncomfortable relegation scrap last season, saved by the goals of local boy Gabri Veiga, now at Al Ahli. Douvikas will be lurking to pinch those poacher’s goals, hoping to extend the Galician’s 12-season stay in the top flight.
Mateo Retegui: Genoa from Boca Juniors
It has been quite the year for Retegui.
Following 30 goals across two seasons on loan at Argentinian side Tigre, the 24-year-old made his debut for the Italian national team in March, qualifying through his maternal grandparents, despite never having stepped foot on Italian soil.
Genoa’s battering ram, Mateo Retegui (Photo: Getty Images)
He scored Italy’s only goal in a 2-1 defeat to England, and was later compared to Gabriel Batistuta by his manager.
Four months later, and Retegui has sealed a permanent switch to his adopted country, spearheading an ambitious project at Genoa upon their return to the top flight. A throwback target man, he arrives with an unmistakable reputation as a flat-track goalscorer.
His smarterscout pizza chart highlights not only his high-volume shooting, having averaged just more than four attempts on goal per game last season, but his defensive tenacity too. Here is a player with the energy to lead the line all on his own.
The early evidence suggests that Retegui won’t have it all his own way in Italy — Genoa’s three games have yielded just 21 shots and 0.9 expected goals (xG), creating the fewest goalscoring opportunities of any side in Europe’s big five leagues.
Nonetheless, with an imposing physical stature and an insatiable appetite for goals, Retegui is sure to be a striker who will dig in and feed off the scraps.
Sebastian Szymanski: Fenerbahce from Dynamo Moscow
The Turkish Super Lig has a reputation when it comes to transfers, a treasure trove of former Premier League cult heroes. Alongside the arrivals of Nani (Adana Demirspor), Modou Barrow (Sivasspor) and Max Gradel (Gaziantep) this summer, however, some serious statements of intent have been made by Turkey’s top clubs.
Galatasaray have acquired 23-year-old Tete, alongside Mauro Icardi, Wilfried Zaha and Tanguy Ndombele to boost their chances in the Champions League, and Fenerbahce have added Cengiz Under, Dominik Livakovic and Fred as they look to wrestle back the Turkish crown for the first time in 10 years.
Sebastian Szymanski is among some serious talent recruited to Turkey (Vincent Jannink/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)
The best business of all looks to be 24-year-old attacking midfielder Szymanski, picked at the peak of his powers for just under €10million.
The Poland international was crucial on loan at Feyenoord in their storming league triumph under Arne Slot last season, and already has eight goal contributions in 514 minutes in a Fenerbahce shirt (four goals and four assists, working out at an average of 1.4 goal involvements per 90 minutes).
A creative player who can dribble through lines of pressure, Szymanski possesses a powerful left-footed strike, but can finish from a variety of situations around the penalty area. He is versatile, too, able to play on either flank, through the middle, or in a deeper role, due to his aggressive off-the-ball play.
Domestic success will be the main aim for Fenerbahce this season, but the Europa Conference League also presents an outside chance at a continental cup run. Watch out, Aston Villa.
Angel Di Maria: Benfica from Juventus
Much like in Turkey, Portugal’s biggest clubs have made plenty of intriguing moves in the summer, with Viktor Gyokeres (Sporting), Orkun Kokcu (Benfica) and Ivan Fresneda (Sporting) all touching down in Lisbon for the upcoming campaign.
But even in the twilight of his career, 35-year-old Angel Di Maria is the box-office name.
Angel Di Maria with Lionel Messi on Argentina duty this month (Juan Mabromata/AFP via Getty Images)
The former Manchester United winger continues to be a bundle of energy on the right flank, a nifty dribbler always looking to cut onto his wonderful left foot. In four competitive starts for the 38-time Portuguese champions, Di Maria has already taken 20 shots and created 10 chances for his team-mates, scoring four and assisting from those.
As he showed last season, with his hat-trick in a 3-0 Europa League win over Nantes, he still possesses that magic to win games all by himself.
Di María’s stunning opener wins Goal of the Week! 💥⚽️@Heineken || #UELGOTW || #UEL pic.twitter.com/kCsly4ZAiN
— UEFA Europa League (@EuropaLeague) February 24, 2023
Although early, the Argentinian looks to be forming a lethal partnership with Rafa Silva, who has five goal contributions this season too. Benfica are at their most dangerous when the two are close by.
After 19-goal striker Goncalo Ramos’s move to PSG this season, Di Maria will be a key source of attacking inspiration, 16 years on from his debut with the Portuguese club.
Vinicius Souza: Sheffield United from Lommel
Following the departures of Iliman Ndiaye and Sander Berge, a return to the Premier League felt a daunting prospect for Sheffield United. A singular point from their opening four games has exacerbated those fears.
Nonetheless, the arrivals of Gustavo Hamer and Cameron Archer made the Blades more threatening in a 2-2 draw with Everton last weekend, and 24-year-old Vinicius Souza is sure to be a reliable — and very busy — defensive midfielder.
Will Vinicius Souza be the key to Sheffield United staying up? (Michael Regan via Getty Images)
The Brazilian has taken an unorthodox route to English football, joining Belgian second-tier side Lommel in 2020 from reigning Copa Libertadores champions Flamengo. Since then, he has been loaned to Mechelen and Espanyol, building his reputation as a destructive midfielder with the Spanish side last season.
Only Real Betis’ Guido Rodriguez made more tackles and interceptions than Souza throughout his La Liga spell, while a rate of 9.0 ‘true’ tackles per 1,000 opposition touches left him among the 20 most aggressive defenders in the division. As his defensive action map shows, Souza puts out fires all over the pitch.
Souza has taken to life in England the only way he knows how — flying into challenges across four committed displays. Whether it’s enough to keep Sheffield United in the division or not, the Brazilian will be an unmistakable fan favourite.
Sergi Darder: Mallorca from Espanyol
Another outgoing from the Espanyol engine room, but Darder is a creative midfielder in a class of his own.
A silky Spanish No 10, with that ability to glide into pockets of space with the ball at his feet, the 29-year-old carried his side’s attacking responsibility almost squarely on his shoulders last season.
Sergi Darder deserves more support (Rafa Babot/Getty Images)
Not only did Darder complete more passes, dribbles, through balls and crosses than any other team-mate last season, he created 24.3 per cent of their chances, out-performing his xG by 2.5 to score six goals. He even made more ball recoveries than 97 per cent of La Liga players.
If anything, Darder deserved more from his industrious play — his side were eventually relegated, with a total of three assists not befitting of the quality of chances that he created.
Far too good for the second division, a summer move to Mallorca is exceptional business, particularly for a side who lost their own creative force over the summer, Lee Kang-in, who moved to PSG.
It does, however, look to be a deal that benefits the club more than the player. Only Getafe have had less possession than Mallorca this season, and their 184 passes in the final third is far below any other side. Even as they finished ninth last campaign, they were a side that thrived on defensive organisation and flashes of attacking inspiration.
Darder will have complete freedom to create, like at Espanyol, but will be lacking consistent support in those creative zones. At least relegation shouldn’t be an issue this time around.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
