Goal ranks the top 20 teams in Europe based on their business in the transfer market this summer…
There is nothing more exciting in the world of football every summer than the European transfer window. This year's edition was no different, with a number of blockbuster deals involving the likes of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, Matthijs de Ligt to Juventus and Frenkie de Jong to Barcelona.
After the transfer window closed in all of Europe’s big five leagues on September 2, Goal has once again produced the Transfer Market power rankings, which have been updated every Monday during the window.
Our ranks the top 20 teams in Europe – according to UEFA's Club Coefficient of 2018-19 – from worst to best, based on their transfer business this summer.
The main criteria used to judge each team’s dealings include the following: the quality and value for money of the players signed; retaining important first-team players; raising money by selling players who are surplus to requirements; overall net spend and the improvement of the overall first team and squad.20Shakhtar DonetskKey signings: Yevhan Konoplyanka (undisclosed from Schalke)
Key departures: Ivan Petriak (€1.6m to Fehervar), Ivan Ordets (free to Dynamo Moscow), Oleg Danchenko (free to Rubin Kazan)
The Ukrainian champions have seen their Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca move on to Roma and compatriot Luis Castro hired as his replacement.
Former Porto boss Castro made one important signing on deadline day with Ukrainian international Yevhan Konoplyanka returning to his home country from Schalke.
Though they lost the Ukrainian Super Cup to start their domestic season, Shakhtar Donetsk have begun their league campaign strongly by winning their first six games.
AdvertisementGetty Images19Chelsea
Key signings: Mateo Kovacic (€45m from Real Madrid), Christian Pulisic (loan return from Dortmund)
Key departures: Eden Hazard (€100m to Real Madrid), Ola Aina (€10m to Torino), Tomas Kalas (€9m to Bristol City), David Luiz (€8.5m to Arsenal), Kenneth Omeruo (€5m to Leganes), Ethan Ampadu (loan to RB Leipzig), Danny Drinkwater (loan to Burnley), Davide Zappacosta (loan to Roma), Eduardo (free to Braga), Gary Cahill (free to Crystal Palace), Rob Green (retired)
Chelsea's transfer window was headlined by the loss of the club's superstar Eden Hazard to Real Madrid. With a transfer ban hindering their incoming moves in the market, the Blues have started the season with both Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham in the first-team picture.
New boss Frank Lampard has opted to make the loan of Mateo Kovacic (pictured) permanent, while January signing Christian Pulisic is an exciting addition.
Unsurprisingly, the club decided against making Gonzalo Higuain's loan deal permanent, with the Argentine striker having struggled during his six-month stay in west London.
The surprise sale of David Luiz to Arsenal on England's deadline day also leaves the Blues short of an experienced defender – and their shortcomings at the back have already been exposed.
Chelsea have claimed their first win of the season against Norwich in an unconvincing 3-2 victory but then stumbled last weekend with a 2-2 draw versus Sheffield United.
Getty Images18Porto
Key signings: Shoya Nakajima (€12m from Al Duhail), Mateus Uribe (€9m from Club America), Ze Luis (€8.5m from Spartak Moscow), Luis Diaz (€7m from Junior FC), Mamadou Loum (€7.5m from Braga), Agustin Marchesin (€7.5m from America), Renzo Saravia (€5.5m from Racing Club), Ivan Marcano (€3m from Roma)
Key departures: Eder Militao (€50m to Real Madrid), Felipe (€20m to Atletico Madrid), Oliver Torres (€12m to Sevilla), Galeno (€3.5m to Braga), Jose Sa (€2.5m to Olympiacos), Hector Herrera (free to Atletico Madrid), Yacine Brahimi (free to Al Rayyan)
It could be a season of transition for Porto after failing to win the league or either domestic cup last time out. Central defenders Eder Militao (pictured) and Felipe have joined Madrid clubs Real and Atletico, respectively, while the latter has also snapped up Hector Herrera on a free.
Oliver Torres has also headed to Spain to link up with Sevilla. The loss of exciting Algerian winger Yacine Brahimi on a free transfer is a big one and it's safe to say the standard of the arrivals hasn’t matched those who have left.
Colombian midfielder Mateus Uribe has joined from Club America and he'll be eager to prove himself in Europe, while Japanese attacker Shoya Nakajima looms as somewhat of a gamble.
Porto have also missed out on the Champions League this season after falling to Krasnodar in qualifying.
Getty Images17Zenit
Key signings: Malcom (€40m from Barcelona), Douglas Santos (€12m from Hamburg), Aleksey Sutormin (€2.5m from Rubin Kazan), Daniil Kruhovoy (€2m from Ufa), Aleksandr Vasyutin (€0.7m from Sarpsborg 08)
Key departures: Miha Mevlja (€4m from Sochi), (Elmir Nabiullin (€3m to Sochi), Dmitri Poloz (€3m to Sochi), Luka Djordjevic (€2.5m to Lokomotiv Moscow), Hernani (loan to Parma), Luis Neto (free to Sporting CP), Claudio Marchisio (released), Aleksandr Korkorin (ban)
After being crowned Russian champions last season, Zenit began the transfer window relatively quietly but have announced themselves in a big way with their recent acquisition of Malcom (pictured).
The former Barcelona winger has made the bold move to Russia after failing to fire in Spain and could give Zenit's attack a real X-factor.
Malcom will link up with fellow Brazilian recruit Douglas Santos as the duo look to inspire Zenit to greater heights in Europe.