Trent Alexander-Arnold: An Ideal Xabi Alonso Full-Back – But Did Real Madrid Really Need to Pay So Much Just for a Couple of Club World Cup Appearances?
EuroMatch Grades the Biggest Transfers of the 2025 Summer Window
For many football fans, the off-season brings more than just a break from the weekly drama — it brings a different kind of excitement: transfer season. There’s a special thrill in the whirlwind of rumours, surprise signings, and record-breaking fees that can make or break a club’s next campaign. And this summer, the 2025 transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most chaotic and headline-grabbing in recent memory.
Some moves already have tongues wagging and fans dreaming. Others, well, have supporters shaking their heads and wondering what the board was thinking. has been keeping tabs on the biggest confirmed transfers as they happen — breaking them down from every angle. Who’s winning? Who’s losing? And who’s taking the biggest risks?
Let’s take a closer look at a few of the headline-grabbing moves so far, starting with one of the biggest bombshells of the lot…
May 30: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool → Real Madrid, €10m)
For Liverpool: A Painful Goodbye
Let’s be real — this one stings. Alexander-Arnold was more than just a right-back to Liverpool fans. He was the local lad, the academy graduate, the next captain, the heartbeat of the team. So seeing him wave goodbye to Anfield — and worse, to join Real Madrid — feels like a gut punch for many.
And it’s not just about the emotions. There’s also the sense that Liverpool’s board dropped the ball. Letting one of your best assets leave for free (or close to it) is bad business no matter how you slice it. Yes, they managed to squeeze €10 million out of Madrid so he could play in the Club World Cup, but let’s face it — that barely softens the blow.
Grade: D
For Real Madrid: A Smart, Strategic Steal
Real Madrid have developed a bit of a reputation for this kind of deal. They wait. They charm. And when the contract nears expiry, they pounce. Just ask David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger or even Kylian Mbappe.
Alexander-Arnold may not be a classic defensive full-back, but Xabi Alonso clearly sees something in him — perhaps a hybrid role that makes use of his extraordinary passing range. Whether as a wing-back or an inverted playmaker, the possibilities are intriguing. Madrid may have splashed €10m just to get him early, but in the long run? A world-class player for peanuts.
Grade: A
For Alexander-Arnold: A Bold, Risky Leap
Leaving your boyhood club on a free transfer is always going to generate heat. Doing it to join Real Madrid? That’s asking for a firestorm.
But Alexander-Arnold seems to have accepted the criticism as the price of ambition. He’s not hiding it — he wants to win the Ballon d’Or. That may be a long shot, but Madrid offers the platform. The pressure is huge, the fans are demanding, but the rewards? Monumental.
He’s no longer chasing Gerrard’s legacy. He’s forging his own.
Grade: B
May 29: Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen → Bayern Munich, Free)
Jonathan Tah Bayern Munich 2025-26
For Leverkusen: A Bitter Pill to Swallow
Leverkusen fans knew this summer was going to bring change — that’s what happens when you go undefeated and win the double. But losing Tah, one of the key figures in that historic run, to Bayern of all clubs? That one hurts.
Yes, his contract was up. Yes, they got 10 great years from him. But still, you can’t help but wonder if they should’ve cashed in a year earlier.
Grade: D
For Bayern: A Massive Win
Tah had been linked with Barcelona for months, but with the Catalan club still grappling with financial woes, Bayern swooped in. For Vincent Kompany, it’s a dream addition: a composed, experienced, top-level centre-back — for free.
Replacing Eric Dier with Tah is like trading a used Fiat for a brand-new BMW. No disrespect to Dier, but this is a serious upgrade.
Grade: A
For Tah: The Right Time
At 29, Tah clearly felt it was now or never if he was going to take that next big step. He’s already achieved the impossible with Leverkusen. Now he wants Champions League glory — and Bayern gives him a shot at that.
He may have preferred a move to Spain, but this isn’t a bad second choice.
Grade: A-
May 28: Matheus Cunha (Wolves → Manchester United, £62.5m)
AFC Bournemouth v Wolverhampton Wanderers – Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round
For Wolves: A Good Deal for a Flawed Star
Cunha has been vital for Wolves, no doubt. But £62.5m? That’s serious money for a player who can be brilliant one moment and baffling the next.
He’s a fiery character — sometimes too fiery — and Wolves may be quietly relieved they’ve found someone willing to pay top dollar. Replacing him won’t be easy, but the money helps.
Grade: B+
For United: A Risk, But a Necessary One
Manchester United needed to do something. The club’s in turmoil — no Champions League, fan protests, and a stadium in disrepair. In that light, signing one of the league’s most dynamic forwards is a decent statement.
Sure, Cunha has baggage. But he also has flair. And in Ruben Amorim’s system, he could shine.
Grade: B
For Cunha: A Curious Choice
He said he wanted trophies, so why join a club in crisis?
Well, word is he didn’t have many other top-tier suitors — at least not after last season’s disciplinary issues. United may be messy, but they’re still a huge club. If he gets it right here, he could become a hero.
Grade: B-
May 28: Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad → Arsenal, £51m)
Martin Zubimendi Arsenal GFX
For Sociedad: Sad but Profitable
Keeping Zubimendi last summer was a minor miracle. This time, the club accepted the inevitable — and pocketed a clean £51m for an academy product. That’s good business, even if it leaves a big hole in midfield.
Grade: B+
For Arsenal: A Key Addition
Zubimendi is a calm, intelligent No.6 who can dictate tempo and pick a pass. With Partey aging and injury-prone, this is a timely upgrade.
He’s no panic buy either — this has been brewing for a while.
Grade: A-
For Zubimendi: Finally, a Leap Forward
He almost joined Liverpool last year. That fell through. Now, he gets a second chance at the Premier League — and he’s taken it.
Joining Arteta’s Arsenal feels like a natural fit, especially alongside Odegaard and his fellow Basques.
Grade: A
May 17: Dean Huijsen (Bournemouth → Real Madrid, €59.5m)
For Bournemouth: A Smart Flip
They took a gamble on Huijsen last year. It paid off — and then some. Nearly €60m for a teenager with one Premier League season? That’s elite-level flipping.
Grade: B
For Madrid: Future-Proofing
With Kroos retired and Militao recovering, Madrid needed defensive depth. Huijsen has the raw tools to become a Ramos-esque figure at the Bernabeu.
For a club that’s usually reactive in defence, this was proactive — and smart.
Grade: A
For Huijsen: A Dream Move
He idolised Sergio Ramos. Now he’s walking in his footsteps. The step from Bournemouth to Madrid is enormous, but if any young centre-back can handle it, it’s Huijsen.
Grade: A+
May 17: Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen → Liverpool, £30m)
For Leverkusen: Too Cheap
It’s hard to watch a star player leave. Harder still when you know he’s worth twice what the buying club paid. Blame the low buyout clause.
Grade: D
For Liverpool: A Perfect Fit
Alexander-Arnold out. Frimpong in. It’s not a like-for-like swap, but it might be even better in some ways. Frimpong is a threat and thrives as a wing-back. Slot could be planning something exciting.
Grade: A
For Frimpong: Finally Home
He almost joined Liverpool as a teenager. Now he gets a second chance — and a Dutch coach to guide him. He already sounds like a Scouser in interviews. He’ll settle in just fine.
Grade: A
Final Whistle
The window’s just heating up, but already the moves are shaping next season’s battles. Some players are chasing legacies. Others are betting on themselves in big-money switches. And clubs? Well, they’re dancing on a knife’s edge between genius and disaster.
Stay tuned. This is only the beginning.
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