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The transfer window is an opportunity for football clubs to reinforce their ranks. Most of the transfer activity takes place in the summer ahead of a fresh season. This summer was quite an eventful one. We've seen some of the biggest names in world football switch clubs this year.
There have been plenty of expensive signings too. Premier League clubs, as usual, splashed the cash and Chelsea and Manchester City broke their transfer records in the summer. In fact, no top European team other than Barcelona shied away from spending big in the summer transfer window.
But how many clubs hit the nail in the head with their signings? How many of them regret breaking the bank for a star that doesn't suit their system? Without further ado, let's take a look at five new signings who have performed the best this season so far.
#5 Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
Arsenal signed Aaron Ramsdale from Sheffield United for £25 million. He was Sheffield United's Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year for 2020-21. But shelling out a fairly high sum of money to sign a backup goalkeeper when they already had Bernd Leno seemed a bit unnecessary.
But Ramsdale has come in and displaced Leno as the first-choice goalkeeper for the Gunners. He has produced some staggering displays for Mikel Arteta's side including a wonderful performance against Leicester City. Ramsdale produced a string of world-class saves in that game.
He has kept seven clean sheets in 11 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal so far this term.
#4 Memphis Depay (Barcelona)
Barcelona have navigated a tough start to the 2021-22 season. Memphis Depay was signed as a free agent in the summer on the recommendation of then Barcelona manager Ronald Koeman.
Depay has had his struggles in the new season but it's important to note that he is playing in an unsettled team. We might see the best of him now that Xavi Hernandez has been appointed as manager.
In 12 La Liga appearances so far, Depay has scored six goals and provided two assists. However, he is yet to break his duck in the Champions League which is reflective of the poor start that Barcelona got off to in the tournament.
But there's plenty of promise here and Depay could be a leader in this new era for the Catalans.
#3 David Alaba (Real Madrid)
Real Madrid signed David Alaba on a free transfer this summer. It was one of the most high-profile acquisitions of the transfer window. Real Madrid desperately needed to strengthen their backline as their world-class centre-back duo of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane were fixing to leave.
Alaba's arrival has helped Real Madrid massively with the transition. The versatile Austrian international plays at centre-back as well as left-back for Los Blancos. He has scored a goal and provided three assists in 11 La Liga appearances so far this term.
Real Madrid certainly have a world-class defender in their ranks now and his hefty wages can be offset against the lack of a transfer fee as well. Alaba has proved to be one of the best signings of the summer so far.
#2 Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain)
Achraf Hakimi was PSG's most expensive acquisition of the summer transfer window. The all-action right-back was signed from Inter Milan for a sum of £54 million. The Parisians needed to strengthen at right-back and Hakimi was already one of the best in the business and he was just 22-years-old at the time.
Hakimi hit the ground running at his new club. He has since slowed down a little but PSG's all-round form has been nothing to write home about either. Hakimi has scored three goals and provided two assists in 12 Ligue 1 appearances so far this term.
He is a livewire in attack and is critical to PSG breaking on the counter. The 23-year-old still has a long way to go but he looks capable of becoming one of the best right-backs of the modern era.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
With Cristiano Ronaldo, the question that Manchester United face is whether or not the sacrifice has been worth the addition. For now, it definitely has been. Indeed, Ronaldo's arrival in the summer has forced Solskjaer to rejig his setup.
Bruno Fernandes has become more of a playmaker than a goalscorer and credit goes to him for excelling at it. But a few vital cogs in this Manchester United side are not playing anywhere close to the level they're capable of.
The likes of Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Fred, Jadon Sancho and Paul Pogba have all been awful in recent months. Without Cristiano Ronaldo's goals, most of which have come at extremely crucial points, Manchester United's position would be a whole lot worse.
Their Champions League campaign would have already ended if not for Ronaldo's rescue act in games against Villarreal and Atalanta. The Portuguese international has scored nine goals and provided an assist in 13 appearances across all competitions so far this season.
