It wasn't long after clubs had dipped their toes into the 2020 summer transfer market when all activities were halted. The sudden strike of the global pandemic disrupted the year 2020. While every nation was hit economically, football also had its share of the hit, financially. Though spending on transfers was on the low side, there were still a few deals that were sealed at huge fees.
Some clubs were caught unawares, which affected them greatly; other savvy ones had enough foresight. They had hashed out plans for deals in advance after the January window closed. In other words, they had decided the fate of some fantastic talents that they would need to secure as the transfer market opens.
Let's have a look at a few of the most valuable transfers in 2020.
Kai Havertz, Attacking midfielder
Leverkusen to Chelsea - £72 million
© Reuters The transfer ban placed on Chelsea during the last season made them unable to sign any players. However, with the ban lifted in the 2020 summer, the club spent over £220m on transfers out of which Kai Havertz was the most expensive of all. Havertz signed a five-year deal with Chelsea having being transferred from Bayer Leverkusen, becoming Chelsea's seventh summer addition. Before Leverkusen accepted the fee upfront, it was negotiated between both clubs for a period.
Havertz made his debut with Chelsea against Brighton & Hove Albion, a game that ended in a 3-1 away win. In the same month, he netted his first career hat-trick at Chelsea in a 6-0 home win against Barnsley in the EFL Cup. In October, he scored in a 3-3 home draw against Southampton, making it his first Premier League goal.
Transfers like these are essential to keep track of if you're placing bets on either Chelsea or Leverkusen. First, we recommend that you explore the top online bookmakers listed by OLBG.com, and second, their forum where sports enthusiasts gather to talk about these types of matters.
Arthur, Midfielder
Barcelona to Juventus - £72 millionArthur agreed to a five-year deal with Juventus in a transfer worth up to £72 million. He was set to replace Miralem Pjanic who was bid on to join Barcelona. The £72m for Arthur excluded a further €10m Juventus will pay Barcelona in potential add-ons. Arthur is known to be a fast player that is also difficult to dispossess when on the ball. He has excellent ball-control skills.
Juve's resolve to unlock Arthur's potential was evident during their discovery that Arthur's high performance is ignited if he plays in a midfield two rather than a three. Though not known for possessing goalscoring ability, he scored his first senior international goal for Brazil against Uruguay in an eventual 2-0 away win in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier in November 2020.
Victor Osimhen, Forward
Lille to Napoli - £70mOsinhen, who is known for his great composure, signed for Lille OSC in 2019. He made his Ligue 1 debut for the team against Nantes, scoring a brace. After scoring two goals and assisting two more in the team's five league matches, he was named the Ligue 1 'Player of the Month' for 2019. The following year, his fans voted for him to win the Player of the Season award.
His first goal in the UEFA Champions League came in October 2019 in the team's loss to English side Chelsea. He finished the season as the team's top scorer, with 13 goals in 25 Ligue 1 matches and 18 goals across 2019-2020 competitions. Serie A club Napoli announced signing Osimhen for £70m, making him the most expensive African transfer to date. He scored his first goal for the new team in a 4–1 win against Atalanta.
Ruben Dias, Center-Back
Benfica to Manchester City - £61m
© ReutersMan City's 5-2 home defeat to Leicester further exposed their need for a commanding center-back. This made the English Premier League club sign Dias from Benfica for £61.64m on a six-year contract. While Benfica got an initial fee of £51 million, Nicolás Otamendi was sent to Benfica in part-exchange for the balance.
He made his first league appearance for the team in a 1–1 away draw against Leeds United. His outstanding defensive performances during most of the matches for the season saw him through being named the Manchester City Player of the Month for November 2020. He had been voted as Primeira Liga's best young player of the year while he was in Benfica.
Miralem Pjanic, Midfielder
Juventus to Barcelona - £60 millionPjanic's transfer to Barcelona is often regarded as a historic swap deal. Though a top-tier midfielder, his performance under Maurizio Sarri witnessed a sharp decline. He seemed to have lost his assertion and smartness. Though neither quick nor gifted with physical strength, he has established himself as one of the most versatile midfielders in Europe.
The news of his transfer came in the wake of the transfer of Arthur, a fellow midfielder, to Juventus from Barcelona. After some lengthy deliberations, Pjanic eventually signed a deal with Barcelona for the next four seasons though he remained in Juventus throughout the campaign. He made his first appearance as a substitute on September 27 in a 4–0 home win over Villareal in La Liga.
Timo Werner, Forward
RB Leipzig to Chelsea, €60 millionChelsea Football Club reached an agreement with RB Leipzig to sign 24-year-old Timo Werner. While on his four-year contract in Leipzig, he netted 21 times within his first two seasons, with 19 last time out. By scoring once and also assisting in a 3-3 draw with Mainz on May 4, he became the first player to score 50 Bundesliga goals for the club.
Werner made his league debut in Chelsea on 14 September, in a 3–1 away win against Brighton & Hove Albion, while he scored his first goal for the club in a 1–1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. His first Champions League goal for Chelsea came in the form of a penalty against Russian side Krasnodar.
When it comes to acceleration and pace, Werner makes an excellent forward. Not only that, but he has also established himself as one of Europe's most feared young strikers. These attributes make him a coveted player.
