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As one of the most condensed domestic football schedules witnessed in the 21st century has finally ended, clubs will now watch their stars compete for international honours. The UEFA Euro 2020 and CONMEBOL Copa America 2020 are both scheduled to kick off in the second week of June.
This will also mean that these tournaments will be played during the European transfer window. This summer's window is set to open on June 9, and will go right up until the end of August.
Several transfers in the past have happened while players were away on international duty. And, in many cases, clubs have wrapped up deals to sign players even before the transfer window was officially opened.
This summer is no different as there have already been a few big-name players whose transfers have been confirmed prior to the transfer window opening. On that note, here is a look at five high-profile players whose transfers have already been made official for the upcoming season.
#5 Mike Maignan | Lille to AC Milan | €13m
Lille have had a phenomenal 2020-21 campaign that saw them win their first Ligue 1 title in a decade, and Mike Maignan had a large role to play in their success. The Frenchman was arguably the best goalkeeper across the top five leagues in 2020-21. He managed more clean sheets (21) and conceded the least number of goals per 90 (0.61) than anyone in Europe.
AC Milan announced their capture of Lille's title-winning hero for just €13m, which is an absolute bargain for a player of Maignan's quality.
The former Paris Saint-Germain man will serve as a direct replacement for Gigi Donnarumma. The Italian is set to leave the Rossoneri this summer on a free transfer after refusing their contract renewal offers.
#4 Dayot Upamecano | RB Leipzig to Bayern Munich | €42.5m
Dayot Upamecano's future has been a topic of discussion for over two years now. Upamecano has been regularly linked with the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United, and other high-profile clubs for quite some time. After another impressive campaign at RB Leipzig, perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich ended this speculation by completing a deal for him.
The Bavarians announced the defender's signing towards the end of the 2020-21 campaign. Upamecano could be a direct replacement for Jerome Boateng, who has departed from the Allianz Arena.
He will join Bayern's growing French contingent, which includes the likes of Lucas Hernandez and Kingsley Coman. The 22-year-old will also reunite with Julian Nagelsmann, the coach at his former club RB Leipzig.
Also read: 5 Goalkeepers who could be on the move this summer
#3 Ibrahima Konate | RB Leipzig to Liverpool | €40m
Ibrahima Konate is the second French defender to leave RB Leipzig this summer, joining Premier League giants Liverpool. The former Premier League champions faced a nightmare injury crisis in central defence, with their three best defenders being sidelined for long spells. Should they face injury concerns in defence once again, they will be better prepared with Konate joining the club.
The 22-year-old is another of Europe's most highly-rated talents in central defence. Gifted with an incredible frame and a great understanding of the game, Konate is a shrewd acquisition from Jurgen Klopp's side for the price.
Much like Upamecano, he is a reliable figure in possession. Konate will also have the opportunity to learn his trade from the best defender in the Premier League, Virgil van Dijk.
#2 David Alaba | Bayern Munich to Real Madrid | Free
After more than a decade with German champions Bayern Munich, David Alaba has departed the club to join record European champions Real Madrid. The two-time treble winner was linked with some of the biggest clubs in the world, including Barcelona and Manchester United. However, Los Blancos sealed his signature on a free transfer and made him one of the highest-paid defenders in the world.
The 29-year-old has been immensely successful playing at both left-back and centre-back, offering Real Madrid different ways to utilise him. Alaba is also very much capable of playing in the middle of the park.
Most importantly, with the likes of Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane's futures currently unclear, Alaba's wealth of experience will be invaluable for Real Madrid.
#1 Sergio Aguero | Manchester City to Barcelona | Free
It would not be an exaggeration in the slightest to say Sergio Aguero is Manchester City's greatest-ever player. He arrived at the Etihad Stadium to play for a team that hadn't won the league in nearly half a century and propelled them to the very top. The Argentine provided one of the most incredible moments in sporting history and kickstarted a new era for Manchester City.
Ten years later, he bid an emotional farewell to City and left the club as their most decorated player, helping them win the league five times.
On May 31, Barcelona announced that they had reached an agreement to sign Aguero on a free transfer ahead of the 2021-22 season. The 32-year-old will be reunited with his compatriot and close friend, Lionel Messi, at the Nou Camp. As far as high-profile free transfers go, this is right up there with some of the biggest moves in the last few years.
Also read: 5 Most valuable players at UEFA Euro 2020
