20 most overpriced signings of this summer transfer window

This summer saw some amazing deals completed. Top clubs all across Europe spent crazy amounts of money to get the players they thought would improve their team and make their squads complete.

Also read: The 20 most expensive signings of all-time in football

The transfer record was broken this window thanks to the transfer of Paul Pogba, but surprisingly he was not the most overpriced signing of this window. The CIES football observatory has drawn up a list of the 20 most overpriced signings based on their estimated market value and the actual money that was paid for them.

Here is the list:

#20 Ousmane Dembele (Rennes to Borussia Dortmund)

One of the most talented young footballers in the world, Ousmane Dembele was wanted by all the top clubs across Europe including Real Madrid and Barcelona. However, Bundesliga giants, Borussia Dortmund won the race to sign the pacy young forward.

Dembele already seems like an amazing buy and has settled in very well at Dortmund. If the start to his Dortmund career is anything to go by, Demeble looks like he will be worth the amount the Bundesliga giants overpaid to secure his services.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Rennes	Borussia Dortmund	16.6	25	8.4

#19 Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich)

Mats Hummels made a controversial transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich and the German defender is already an integral part of Carlo Ancelotti’s side. However, according to CIES, the Bundesliga champions overpaid slightly to bring the German back to Bavaria.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Borussia Dortmund	Bayern Munich	26.4	35	8.6

#18 Sofiane Boufal (Lille to Southampton)

The attacking midfielder was absolutely exceptional for Lille and caught the attention of Claude Puel who was willing to pay over the odds to secure the services of this talented Frenchman. Boufal is yet to make his debut for Southampton as he is currently recovering from a knee surgery.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Lille	Southampton	15.8	24.5	8.7

#17 Christian Benteke (Liverpool to Crystal Palace)

Christian Benteke never really got going at Liverpool, however, there is no doubting the abilities of the big Belgian. Crystal Palace wanted a big target man, and Liverpool finally sold Benteke to the London club for what they thought was the right price.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Liverpool	Crystal Palace	28.2	37.0	8.8

#16 Didier Ndong (Lorient to Sunderland)

Sunderland broke the transfer record to sign Lorient’s midfielder Didier Ndong, and although they have overpaid quite a bit for the Ghanian, David Moyes believes that he is the right man to drive Sunderland’s midfield. Ndong will have to do a lot if he is to live up to his price.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Lorient	Sunderland	6.7	16.0	9.3

#15 Benjamin Mendy (Marseille to Monaco)

One of the most talented youngsters in French football, Benjamin Mendy made a move from Ligue 1 giants Marseille to Monaco. Monaco are concentrating on building a squad for the future and the 22-year-old left-back is an investment for the future.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Marseille	Monaco	5.8	15.5	9.7

#14 Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla to PSG)

Unai Emery’s marquee signing of this summer is undoubtedly the acquisition of Polish midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak who moved from Sevilla to Paris Saint-Germain. The hardworking midfielder is a perfect Unai Emery type of player and he will play a huge role in PSG’s aspirations both domestically and in Europe.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Sevilla	PSG	19.7	30.0	10.3

#13 Michy Batshuayi (Marseille to Chelsea)

Talented Belgian forward Michy Batshayi made a much-publicised move from Marseille to Chelsea this summer, but according to the CIES observatory, Chelsea have paid well above the odds to secure his signing. Batshuayi has sparkled whenever he has played for Chelsea and Antonio Conte will be hoping to get the best out of the big Belgian.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Marseille	Chelsea	29.5	40.0	10.5

#12 Nikola Maksimovic (Torino to Napoli)

Talented Serbian centre-back Nikola Maksimovic was a wanted man with Premier League sides Chelsea, Liverpool and West Ham United all showing an interest in signing the defender. However, Napoli won the race to sign the centre-back although his price was pushed up because of the interest shown in him by the Premier League teams,

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Torino	Napoli	14.8	26.0	11.2

#11 Jese Rodriguez (Real Madrid to PSG)

Talented Spanish forward, Jese Rodriguez made a move from Spanish giants to Real Madrid. Jese was not satisfied with his playing time at Los Blancos and hence made a move to the Ligue 1 champions, but he has found it tough to usurp the experienced Edinson Cavani from the PSG starting line-up. One thing is for sure, it is a whole lot of money if Jese is going to spend most of his time on the bench.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Real Madrid	PSG	12.6	25.0	12.4

#10 Leroy Sane (Schalke to Manchester City)

German wonder kid Leroy Sane was wanted by every top club across Europe, but Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City was able to convince Sane to move to the Etihad. Although Manchester City have slightly overpaid for the talented youngster, if Sane lives up to his immense potential, it will be well worth it.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Schalke 04	Manchester City	37.8	52.3	14.5

#9 Paul Pogba (Juventus to Manchester United)

Paul Pogba’s world record transfer to Manchester United stole all the headlines and although many believe that it was extremely overpriced, according to CIES, he is only 9^th on this list. Although Pogba has struggled in the initial few weeks, there is no doubt that he will grow to become United’s main man in the future,

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Juventus	Manchester United	94.8	110.0	15.2

#8 Marcos Alonso (Fiorentina to Chelsea)

One of the two deadline day signings made by Chelsea, Marcos Alonso was brought in by Antonio Conte as defensive cover. Capable of playing left-back or midfield, Alonso apparently picked Chelsea over Barcelona. The Premier League club though have paid well over his market value.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Fiorentina	Chelsea	9.8	26.5	16.7

#7 David Luiz (PSG to Chelsea)

Another deadline day signing by Chelsea, David Luiz made a surprising return to London after a successful spell at Ligue 1 champions PSG. However, David Luiz just does not seem to be a Conte type of player and the term "panic buy" might just suit this transfer considering Chelsea paid well over his market value.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
PSG	Chelsea	20.2	40.0	19.8

#6 John Stones (Everton to Manchester City)

The one thing Pep Guardiola desperately wanted at Manchester City was a ball-playing defender and his wish was granted when Manchester City paid an incredible 58.5 million Euro to sign John Stones. Stones has had an impressive start to the Guardiola era and he will have to continue performing at a high level if he is to justify the huge price tag.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Everton	Manchester City	38.2	58.5	20.3

#5 Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach to Arsenal)

Granit Xhaka always put in consistent performances for Borussia Monchengladbach in midfield, but Arsene Wenger surprised quite a few people when he paid over the odds to sign the Swiss midfielder. Wenger will be hoping that Xhaka adds some much-needed steel to the Arsenal midfield.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Borussia Monchengladbach	Arsenal	28.8	50.0	21.2

#4 Yannick Bolasie (Crystal Palace to Everton)

Not many expected Crystal Palace’s Yannick Bolaise to command one of the highest transfer fees of this summer, but Everton manager Ronald Koeman was determined to use the pace and physicality of the Dr Congo international in his team. Having arrived for huge money, Bolasie will be expected to play a starring role in Everton’s campaign this year.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Crystal Palace	Everton	12.2	34.6	22.4

#3 Kevin Gameiro (Sevilla to Atletico Madrid)

Atletico Madrid were on the lookout for a world-class forward to support Antoine Griezmann, and Diego Simeone went after French forward Kevin Gameiro. Atletico Madrid have a long history of amazing stikers and it will be interesting to see how the former Sevilla man adapts himself to Simeone’s side.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Sevilla	Atletico Madrid	14.5	37.0	22.5

#2 Eric Bailly (Villarreal to Manchester United)

The first signing of the Jose Mourinho era at Manchester United, Eric Bailly is primed to become one of the top centre-backs in the Premier League. However, according to the CIES observatory, the Red Devils have grossly overpaid for the 22-year old.

Selling Club	Buying club	Estimated value (€)	Actual transfer Value (€)	Gap (€)
Villarreal	Manchester United	14.9	38.4	23.5

#1 Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli to Juventus)

Gonzalo Higuain caused a lot of consternation to Napoli fans when he made a huge transfer to direct rivals Juventus. But, paying close to 90 million Euros for a 28-year-old striker is a huge gamble, and the Old lady will be hoping that Higuain continues his stunning goalscoring form this season as well.