It has almost been two days since the 2015 summer transfer window ended in Spain, and what is now part of history started its course on the 1st of July and lasted a full two months until the window closed Monday midnight. A spate of deals were struck, some headline-grabbing, a few not quite the stuff of newspaper back pages. But overall, the summer saw huge talent turnovers in La Liga. Here are the five best transfers that took place in Spain’s top flight this summer.
Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco (Monaco to Atletico Madrid)
The Belgian winger’s acquisition has somewhat passed under the radar following Atletico Madrid’s statement summer signing of Colombian striker Jackson Martinez in a €35m deal, but Ferreira-Carrasco, 21, has been one of the signings of the season. Signed from French outfit Monaco for €15m, the right winger-cum-forward will be expected to delight the Vicente Calderon faithful. He scored eight goals and provided 14 assists in Monaco’s colours last season, and also scored in the Champions League against Arsenal. Not an A-lister, but has the potential to become one in the future.
Asier Illarramendi (Real Madrid to Real Sociedad)
The 25-year-old finally put to bed his nightmare spell at Real Madrid and returned to his old stomping ground after making only 25 starts in the league since making his big money switch to Madrid tow summers ago. Illarramendi’s move has romantic connotations but more importantly, he will have a chance to stake his claim in a transitional Spain side ahead of Euro 2016. His move also pointed to the madness of the transfer market, as his departure from Anoeta and subsequent homecoming put Real Sociedad €17m to the profit.
Jackson Martinez (Porto to Atletico Madrid)
The 28-year-old has finally made his big step up into one of the elite European leagues after impressing at Porto with 92 goals in 133 games during his three seasons in Portugal. One of the headline signings of the summer, Martinez will be expected to fill the void left by the departure of Diego Costa to Chelsea last summer, and given Atletico’s proven track record of top quality strikers which include Sergio Aguero, Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao and Costa, there is little doubt as to why Martinez won’t flourish in the capital outfit.
Aymen Abdennour (Monaco to Valencia)
The Tunisian international was brought in at the end of the transfer window to possibly replace Los Che’s influential centre-back Nicolas Otamendi, who left for Manchester City in a big money deal. Most of the funds from the Otamendi transfer was spent on Abdennour, who, at 26, is the perfect replacement for the Argentine. Abdennour impressed with Monaco last season during their run to the quarter finals of the Champions League and will be expected to have a similar influence at his new club.
Joaquin (Fiorentina to Real Betis)
The romance involved in the 34-year-old’s return to his boyhood club is worthy of a place in this list. Joaquin, who spent his formative years at Betis before rising up through their ranks and even made his professional debut at the Andalusian club, has made his dream return to the newly-promoted club. The winger arrived from Fiorentina, where he spent two seasons, and in what is no less a tale of the returning hero, Betis will be expectant about Joaquin making the final impression of an illustrious career.
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