Summer Transfer Update – The Ides of July

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·16 Juli 2025

Summer Transfer Update – The Ides of July

The biggest transfer news for the European continent is coming your way, broken down as always into confirmed and rumored moves. In case anyone asks, “ides” refers to the 15th day of the months of March, May, July, and October.

Confirmed

Benfica are splashing across the social feeds, with a pair of high profile defensive shakeups. Álvaro Carreras heads back to his academy club Real Madrid in a $58M deal. The club then closed on Bosnian Amar Dedic, who will join from Red Bull Salzburg for $9.9M That’s a tidy $48.1M profit
Speaking of Real Madrid, they parted ways with legendary midfielder Luka Modrić. He earned six Champions League trophies with Los Blancos, and will continue playing for Italian side AC Milan.
On the Chelsea front, midfielder Mathis Amougou heads back to France only six months after a $16.7M move from Saint-Étienne. He’s still in the family, though, with Strasbourg his destination. Deal terms are not public.
West Ham United have been busy…. They officially signed defender Jean-Clair Todibo from Nice. He had been with the Hammers on loan since last year. The transfer fee was $43.9M. They also pulled the trigger on El Hadji Malick Diouf, a Senegalese midfielder who’s coming over from Slavia Prague for $25.5M Both of those acquisitions will be offset by the sale of Mohammed Kudus to London-rival Tottenham Hotspur in which $73M changed hands. Farewell and godspeed to legend Aaron Cresswell, who left for Stoke City on a free after 11 years with the Hammers.
Jordan Henderson is leaving Ajax for Brentford. His contract expired on July 1.
It’s old news, but Anthony Elanga is headed north to Newcastle United. Not to worry, Magpies fans, as two Brazilian songbirds, Igor Jesus and Jair Cunha, both of Botafogo, shall be flying across the Atlantic to join up. That’s two up-and-coming prospects and +$43M cash infusion. Not bad.
This one’s in here merely for the creep factor. Romano Mussolini, who is indeed the great-grandson of fascist dictator Benito, will be joining newly promoted Cremonese on loan from Lazio. He’s a 22-year-old winger.

Rumors

Here’s where it gets good, my friends, and I adopt the persona of the wise Soothsayer, who spoke unto Julius Caesar in the Bard’s eponymous drama: “Beware the Ides of July.” Don’t believe anything you read below.

After a relatively quiet two years, Liverpool are making up for lost time. Tongues are wagging that there are discussions around bringing Newcastle forward Alexander Isak into a red jersey. The sums discussed are staggering, north of $150M. To ease that sting, they’ve been shopping around Luis Díaz and Darwin Nuñez, but yet to have any takers. Bayern Munich and Barcelona are reputed to have interest in Díaz. Al-Hilal and Napoli might be interested in Nuñez.
Newcastle United have two prospects…. Now that Callum Wilson has been released, Eintract Frankfurt’s Hugo Ekitike could be a possible replacement. Nothing serious, this is pure vapor. Not content with Brazilians, the club could make a play for Conor Gallagher, who’s found it difficult to get steady starting minutes at Chelsea.
Arsenal are lighting up the mill. They really want a striker. This is not a secret. Here’s where a handful of prospects stand in the rumor stage (nothing confirmed): Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon is the lead choice, and the player is keen, but curse you price! Benjamin Šeško of Red Bull Leipzig is another prospect. Lastly, Ollie Watkins out of Aston Villa is popping up as a contender, though he’s certainly below those other two. Rumors the Gunners will make a play for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze are staler than last month’s bread. Those surrounding 21-year-old Spanish center back Cristhian Mosquera are much fresher. He’s supposedly already flown in for a medical.