FC Barcelona aim to break the market with the most expensive signing of the summer

FC Barcelona have decided that Nico Williams will be the signing of the summer in every sense. However, the Athletic Bilbao board is determined not to negotiate a single euro of his 62 million euro release clause and the Catalans know it. Paying that amount for a player with his sporting and media potential would not be 'crazy', but the numbers don't lie and the striker could become the most expensive footballer in the 2024 transfer market.

Nico Williams could become the most expensive signing of 2024

While the winger has yet to comment on his future, talks between Barça's sporting director Deco and his representatives appear to be going well. All this despite the fact that the Bilbao board are exhausting all their resources to convince him to stay and the latest news suggests that Williams has been promised a significant pay rise to reward his loyalty, if he ultimately rules out leaving in the summer. While the future of the 22-year-old is being resolved, let's review who have been the most expensive signings of the 2024 summer market so far.

Leny Yoro/Manchester United

The 18-year-old French centre-back is, so far, the most expensive purchase of the transfer window. Even though everyone thought that Real Madrid would keep Yoro, Manchester United beat them to the punch. The English side offered Lille 62 million euros on 18 July, who opened the door for the player to leave, whose contract expired in 2025. In addition to the previous figure, 8 more were agreed in variables with a contract until 2029 with the option for one more year.

Endrick/Real Madrid

Real Madrid's board of directors had finalised Endrick's signing at the end of 2022, but the striker joined the club this summer when he turned 18. Between objectives and the fixed amount, the Merengue team is going to pay 60 million euros to Palmeiras. The Brazilian was already officially presented at the Bernabéu in front of 50,000 fans and signed until the summer of 2030.

Amadou Onana/Aston Villa

Onana, the 22-year-old Belgian midfielder, was one of Barcelona's favourites to reinforce the central midfield position. The high price imposed by Everton and the lack of knowledge of financial fair play forced the Barça board to give up on the player. It was Aston Villa who took advantage of the situation and paid 59 million euros for Onana on 22 July to break the contract that tied him to Liverpool until 2027. He signed until the summer of 2029.

Michael Olise/Bayern Munich

The 22-year-old French winger joined Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace on July 7. The player arrived at the Bavarian team for a fee of 53 million euros plus 6 in bonuses, which allowed him to break his contract with the English club until 2027. He signed with the Germans until the summer of 2029,

Douglas Luiz/Juventus

The 26-year-old Brazilian midfielder became the highest-paid purchase of the Serie A market so far on June 30. The player arrived in Turin after being sold by Aston Villa, a team with which he had a contract until 2027. Juventus paid 51.5 million euros for him and he signed until 2029.

Joao Palhinha/Bayern

Bayern's board is making waves in this transfer market due to the large investments they have made. On July 11, they made official the signing of the 28-year-old Portuguese, who arrives from Fulham in the Premier League. His cost was 51 million euros plus another 5 in variables. He had a contract with the English team until 2028 and now he will have it with the Bavarians until 2029.

Max Kilman/West Ham

On July 4, West Ham closed the signing of the 27-year-old English centre-back. With a somewhat high price for the quality of the player but not surprising given that it is the Premier League, the team paid 47.5 million euros to Wolverhampton for a contract that will run until the summer of 2031.

Ian Maatsen/Aston Villa

The 22-year-old left-back caught the eye of Aston Villa, who paid Chelsea €44.5 million to sign him. Enzo Maresca's team loaned Maatsen to Borussia Dortmund last season and the Dutchman went on to finish runners-up in the Champions League. He signed with Unai Emery's team until 2030.