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With the financial ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning to ease out, a lot of clubs splurged this summer. Although loan deals remained the preferred mode of business for most clubs, a few others didn't hesitate to spend big to bolster their rosters.
Many high-profile players, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Romelu Lukaku and Sergio Ramos, changed clubs this summer. A few of them have hit the ground running at their new clubs.
On that note, here's a look at the top five players who scored on their debut for their new clubs this season:
#5 Edin Dzeko (Inter Milan)
Edin Dzeko is one of a handful of players to have scored 50 goals in three of Europe's top five leagues.
After a fruitful first few seasons in the Italian top flight with AS Roma, the Bosnia & Herzegovina striker became surplus to requirements at the Stadio Olimpico. But reigning Serie A champions Inter Milan soon came calling and acquired the services of the former Capocannoniere winner.
Despite turning 35 earlier this year, Dzeko proved his worth by making a sparkling debut for the Nerazzurri. He scored and provided an assist in Inter's 4-0 win over Genoa in their opening Serie A game of the season. The match was Dzeko's 200th in the Italian top flight.
The veteran striker has scored 86 times and assisted on 40 occasions in 202 Serie A games. Dzeko also found the back of the net for Bosnia & Herzegovina in their 2-2 draw with Kazakhstan in a FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifier.
#4 Achraf Hakimi (PSG)
Achraf Hakimi is one of the best goalscoring full-backs in the game at the moment. After making his name at Borussia Dortmund, the 22-year-old dazzled in his lone campaign in the Italian top flight last season.
Hakimi scored seven times and also registered ten assists as Inter Milan won their first Scudetto in more than a decade. However, owing to their financial woes, the Nerazzurri had to let Hakimi go after just one season. Ligue 1 giants PSG soon snapped up the Moroccan international by dishing out €60 million.
The right-back hit the ground running at PSG, scoring in the Ligue 1 giants' 2-1 win over Troyes on the opening 2021-22 Ligue 1 weekend. In the process, he became the first PSG player in two years to score on his debut in the French top flight.
Hakimi will look to continue his blistering start to life at PSG and help them conquer the Champions League after assembling a star-studded roster.
#3 Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid)
Eduardo Camavinga is one of the most exciting young midfielders in the game at the moment.
The teenager was snapped up by Real Madrid on the last day of the transfer window. Camavinga made a dream debut at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring s minutes into his Real Madrid debut in a 5-2 home win against Celta Vigo.
It was only the third league goal of his senior career, having scored twice in Ligue 1 for Rennes. Described as a generational talent, Camavinga became one of the youngest scorers for France when he netted in a 7-1 win over Ukraine last year.
#2 Romelu Lukaku (Chelsea)
Romelu Lukaku is one of the hottest strikers in the game at the moment. He is coming off a prolific two-season stint with Inter Milan. Last campaign, Lukaku became the first player in over two decades to score 20 goals and provide ten assists as the Nerazzurri won their first Scudetto in 11 years.
Chelsea came calling for his services, snapping up the 28-year-old on a €115 million transfer. Lukaku hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge, scoring on his second debut for the club, in a 2-0 Premier League win over Arsenal.
Two games later, the Belgian scored a brace, his first goals at Stamford Bridge since leaving the club almost a decade ago. Lukaku's arrival has added a cutting edge to Chelsea's attack, something that was sorely lacking for the reigning Champions League winners last season.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably one of the best players to have graced the game. During an illustrious, nearly two-decade-long career, he has scored goals and won trophies galore.
After returning to Manchester United this summer, the 36-year-old did not take much time to get going. The 2020-21 Capocannoniere winner scored a brace in his first game for the club in 12 years as United comfortably beat Newcastle United 4-1.
A few days later, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner scored a record-extending 135th Champions League goal. But his exploits were not enough as United conceded an injury-time winner to lose at Young Boys in their 2021-22 Champions League opener.
Nevertheless, with Ronaldo's arrival, United will fancy their chances of winning their first Premier League title in almost a decade and go deep in Europe too.
