Paul Pogba
Juventus to Manchester United, €105 million
The summer’s most long-running transfer saga concluded with France midfielder Pogba returning to former club United in a world-record move. Allowed to leave Old Trafford in 2012 after failing to win over legendary manager Alex Ferguson, the rangy 23-year-old midfielder with the dazzling haircuts and blistering shot returned as one of the biggest names in the game.
Gonzalo Higuain
Napoli to Juventus, €90 million
Italian champions Juventus dealt a huge blow to their domestic rivals when they signed the 28-year-old Argentina striker Higuain from Napoli, their closest rivals in Serie A last season. Juve paid Napoli close to the full amount of Higuain’s €94.7 million buyout clause for the former Real Madrid player, who broke the long-standing Serie A scoring record with 36 goals last season. Signed on a five-year deal, Higuain came off the bench to score the winner against Fiorentina on his competitive debut.
John Stones
Everton to Manchester City, €56 million
Elegant centre-back Stones, 22, became the biggest signing of the Pep Guardiola era at City after joining from Everton in a deal that made him the second most expensive defender in history behind David Luiz. The former Barnsley player had a difficult final season at Everton, but has looked assured in his early outings for City, regularly stepping up into midfield with the ball.
Joao Mario
Sporting Lisbon to Inter Milan, €45 million
It has been a summer of rebuilding at Inter, who have a new coach in Frank de Boer and several big-money new signings. The biggest is Joao Mario, who arrived at the San Siro from Sporting fresh from winning Euro 2016 with Portugal. Sporting revealed the transfer fee was 45 million euros and the player, a Sporting youth product, was unveiled to Inter fans before last Sunday’s Serie A match against Palermo.
Leroy Sane
Schalke (GER) to Manchester City, €43.6 million
Winger Sane, 20, arrived in England with a burgeoning reputation, having scored eight goals in 33 Bundesliga appearances for Schalke last season and earned a place in Germany’s Euro 2016 squad. Sidelined to date by a hamstring injury, he could make his debut in the derby against Manchester United on 10 September.
Granit Xhaka
Borussia Moenchengladbach (GER) to Arsenal, €41.3 million
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger moved to address longstanding concerns about the lack of bite in his team’s midfield by sanctioning a big-money move for Switzerland international Xhaka. The 23-year-old’s arrival obliged England international Jack Wilshere to seek a loan move elsewhere.
Shkodran Mustafi
Valencia (ESP) to Arsenal, €41.3 million
With Per Mertesacker and Gabriel sidelined by injury, Wenger plugged a sizeable gap in his back line with a move for Germany centre-back Mustafi on the penultimate day of the window. Mustafi, 24, previously spent three years at Everton, but made just one senior appearance.
David Luiz
Paris Saint-Germain to Chelsea, €40.1 million
The shaggy-haired Brazilian’s deadline-day return to Chelsea was one of the biggest surprises of the transfer window, after PSG paid £50 million to make him the world’s most expensive defender just two years earlier. However, Luiz, 29, was tipped to lose his place to compatriot Marquinhos at PSG, and has returned to Stamford Bridge for a reported fee of around £34 million.
Sadio Mane
Southampton to Liverpool, €40.1 million
Following two fine seasons with Southampton, during which he scored 25 goals in all competitions, 24-year-old Senegal flier Mane left St Mary’s to join Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool revolution. He has made an impressive start to life at Anfield, netting a fine solo goal in Liverpool’s 4-3 win at Arsenal on the opening day.
Michy Batshuayi
Marseille (FRA) to Chelsea, €39.2 million
A cunning and unorthodox striker, 22-year-old Belgium international Batshuayi moved to Chelsea following a prolific season at Marseille in which he scored 23 goals. Used mainly from the bench so far, he has scored three goals in four appearances.
Will there be a coach left in Leinster next season
Huge blow for Leinster, signings both for playing but also coaching staff needed for next year.
Can’t remember the guys name but there was talk of an AUS scrum coach taking over. He had worked with or is known to MOC. This appointment was known for a whole in any event so I’m sure contingencies were made. It’s not like our top props won’t have access to Feek given their involvement in the Airush panel. It’s disappointing none the less that another key part of recent successes has moved on.
That’s JS Isa BOD Leo JohnnyS Jonno Gibbes all gone over a 2 year period. All were / are key leaders coaches & players. The transition is well & truly on. Whilst there is disappointment with MOCs first season there is some mitigation. Next year is shaping up to be just as tough. Singings are crucial if IRFU allow. But quality in a would cup year will be hard to get. A decent backs / skills coach wouldn’t go astray either.
Patricio Noriega?
Marco Caputo is his likely replacement
Leinster must be the new Connaught, get ahead at all and Leinster get striped of their quality coaching staff. It’s like a bloody pyramid scheme.
I could see Mike Ross making a top class scrum coach in the not too distant future. According to all reports he studies and knows more about that area of the game than any of his peers.
The scrum nerd par excellence, apparently. Still has a year or two left in those legs yet, though
Yep. Hopefully back in his native cork :-)
I think Botha is being lined up for the Cork post.
From an Ireland perspective this is a great move. All four provinces will benefit from this appointment.
balls
Where’s connaught?
Seems to be a top top coach in his specific area.can only benefit the team .
Think Reggie Corrigan is still contracted as a scrum coach