(Football News) La Liga’s summer transfer window of 2023 has officially closed, and it has seen numerous prominent international stars make their way to La Liga, Spain’s top football division. Alongside these established players, young and promising talents have also secured deals, and a few familiar faces have returned to their former clubs. In this overview of the summer signings in LA LIGA, we’ll introduce you to both the newcomers and those making a comeback.
Champions League-winning Captains Join La Liga:
Two recent Champions League-winning captains have made the switch from England to Spain this summer. İlkay Gündoğan, who led Manchester City to victory in the previous year’s European competition, fulfilled his lifelong dream of playing for FC Barcelona. Gündoğan’s arrival promises to enhance Barcelona’s midfield creativity and provide the ability to score crucial goals.
César Azpilicueta, another Champions League-winning captain, left Chelsea after over a decade with the club to return to La Liga, where he began his career with CA Osasuna. His move to Atlético de Madrid represents an exciting chapter in his career.
Iñigo Martínez and Oriol Romeu are two more experienced players who have made transfers, joining FC Barcelona from Athletic Club and Girona FC, respectively. Their familiarity with La Liga should help them adapt swiftly to Xavi’s system.
Joselu, swapping RCD Espanyol for Real Madrid, returns to one of his former clubs with the aim of replicating or surpassing the 16 goals he scored last season.
**The Emerging Stars of LALIGA EA SPORTS:**
Several young talents have also secured contracts with Spanish teams, with Real Madrid notably focusing on signing rising stars. Fran García, following an impressive season with Rayo Vallecano, and Arda Güler, a highly sought-after Turkish teenager, are among the fresh faces at Los Blancos.
Jude Bellingham, a 20-year-old English midfielder, emerged as the biggest signing of the summer. His exceptional skills, football intelligence, and physical prowess earned him the 2022/23 Bundesliga Player of the Season award with Borussia Dortmund. Bellingham’s early success in LALIGA EA SPORTS earned him the August Player of the Month award.
Girona FC welcomes promising talents like Pablo Torre from Barcelona and Brazilian winger Sávio from Troyes on loan. These young players are already showing promise alongside Artem Dovbyk, Girona’s new striker.
Arsen Zakharyan, a highly coveted 20-year-old Russian midfielder, joins Real Sociedad, further strengthening the league’s emerging talent pool.
**Prime Years Players Making an Impact:**
Several players in their prime have moved to LALIGA this summer. RC Celta secured the services of Jonathan Bamba, a 27-year-old Ivory Coast international who played a crucial role in Lille’s 2020/21 Ligue 1 triumph.
Caglar Söyüncü, another 27-year-old, has joined Atlético de Madrid as a solid addition to their defense, boasting over 50 caps for Turkey.
Real Betis signed Marc Roca and Isco, both looking to prove themselves, and they have already made their presence felt in Los Verdiblancos’ midfield.
Sevilla FC welcomed Djibril Sow, an experienced Switzerland international who previously won the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Alexander Sørloth, the 27-year-old Norwegian who scored 12 goals for Real Sociedad last season, moves to Villarreal CF. He is joined by Ben Brereton Díaz, a 24-year-old English-Chilean forward, who embarks on a unique journey after leaving Blackburn Rovers.
Transfer Market Reunions:
Several players have returned to their former clubs, exemplifying the adage that you never forget your first love. Notable returns include Romeu to FC Barcelona, Fran García and Joselu to Real Madrid, Héctor Bellerín and Marc Bartra to Real Betis, Álvaro Odriozola to Real Sociedad, and Portu to Girona FC.
Additionally, some loan deals from the previous season have been converted into permanent moves, such as Antoine Griezmann staying at Atlético de Madrid and Loïc Badé becoming a permanent member of Sevilla FC. Others include Cenk Özkacar at Valencia CF, Ayoze Pérez at Real Betis, Luis Suárez at UD Almería, and Carles Pérez at RC Celta.
Sergi Darder, originally from Mallorca, fulfills a dream by joining RCD Mallorca this summer.
Last-Minute Deals:
While most signings occurred before the start of the 2023/24 LALIGA EA SPORTS season, some players joined their new clubs after the season kick-off. For instance, Real Madrid brought in Kepa Arrizabalaga to cover for Thibaut Courtois’s injury, and Real Sociedad signed Kieran Tierney in the final week of the La Liga window.
‘Deadline Day’ was hectic in the La Liga, especially for FC Barcelona, which acquired João Félix on loan from Atlético de Madrid and João Cancelo on loan from Manchester City. Eric García moved to Girona FC, and Ez Abde joined Real Betis. Other notable late transfers included César Montes to UD Almería, Mariano Díaz to Sevilla FC, and Mason Greenwood on loan to Getafe from Manchester United.
Also Read: Mohun Bagan beat East Bengal 1-0 to win Durand Cup title for first time after 23 years
