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14 players changed after Euro 2024
The tournament has provided a stage for a host of players to showcase their talents, and many could be on the move after catching the eye
It is always a risk to sign a player off the back of an impressive international tournament, but that is a gamble a number of clubs will be weighing up as Euro 2024 heads into its final week. A host of names – some lesser-known and some well-established – have been catching the eye in Germany and could be in line for a big move with the transfer window now open.
For some, a switch was an inevitability as they came into the tournament in red-hot form, while others have made a name for themselves at what could be a career-defining European Championship, by seizing the spotlight and shining with the eyes of the footballing world upon them.
But who are those we should look out for in the gossip columns in the coming weeks and months? looks at the 14 players who have put themselves in the shop window…
Jaka Bijol (Slovenia)
Udinese’s Jaka Bijol was a defensive rock in Slovenia’s unlikely run to the knockout stages in Germany and has placed himself firmly in the shop window with a string of dominant displays at centre-back.
Despite their last-16 penalty shootout exit to Portugal, Slovenia didn’t lose a game in normal time at the tournament despite facing England too, as Bijol kept both Harry Kane and Cristiano Ronaldo quiet, winning countless aerial duels and putting his body on the line. He was linked with Roma before the tournament, but will have more suitors now, with Inter and Aston Villa among those now seemingly interested.
Riccardo Calafiori (Italy)
Despite Italy’s premature exit, Riccardo Calafiori did enough to make a name for himself at Euro 2024, capturing the imagination with his good looks, throwback long hair and hairband. He was notably absent for the round-of-16 defeat to Switzerland, and the Azzurri will feel it is a case of what might have been had he not been suspended.
A smooth-passing left-footed centre-back, the 22-year-old barely put a foot wrong and has already been linked with several top clubs, including Arsenal – who have forced themselves to the front of the queue – Liverpool and Chelsea. He helped Bologna qualify for the Champions League last term, but their chances of keeping him around are slim at best.
Marc Guehi (England)
Another defensive star of Euro 2024 so far, Marc Guehi has surprisingly emerged as one of England’s best players in Germany. The Three Lions’ defensive work has barely come under any scrutiny as they struggle to create chances and score goals at the other end, and that is thanks in no small part to the centre-back.
He has shown a real knack for reading the game intelligently and being in the right place at the right time for his side, though England had to do without him for the quarter-final with Switzerland after he picked up a suspension. This summer is set to get even bigger for him, with the £55 million-rated ($70m) man expected to leave Crystal Palace amid interest from a host of leading Premier League clubs.
Ferdi Kadioglu (Turkey)
Turkey finally lived up to the label of ‘dark horses’ as they summoned the spirit of 2008 in Germany, reaching the quarter-finals before falling to the Netherlands. It was truly a team effort, but one of their outstanding defensive performers was Ferdi Kadioglu.
The Fenerbahce full-back has caught the eye with his ability up and down the left flank, bombing forward and also contributing defensively. He’s versatile, too – capable of playing on the right or at centre-back. He’s already being linked with a £29m ($37m) switch to the Premier League, with West Ham, Wolves, Manchester United and Arsenal all linked, with the Gunners having supposedly tabled a bid.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia would have been itching to show what he could do on the international stage at Georgia’s first-ever major tournament, and their talisman did not disappoint. The attacker was a busy, bustling, threatening presence throughout his country’s historic run to the last 16, scoring a famous early goal in the stunning victory over Portugal that sealed their place in the knockouts.
‘Kvaradona’ faces an uncertain future at club level now his Euros is over; his outspoken agent has said his client wants to leave Napoli amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain, among others, but more recent reports suggest he could yet pen fresh terms in Italy. Whatever happens, he did his price tag no harm in Germany.
Giorgi Mamardashvili (Georgia)
The second star of Georgia’s Euro 2024 campaign, Giorgi Mamardashvili has proven he is a goalkeeper with world-class potential. Although he conceded more goals than anyone else, he also made twice as many saves behind a leaky Georgian defence – finishing the tournament with a post-shot xG (expected goals) minus goals allowed (the most reliable metric for measuring shot-stopping ability) of +4.1.
Valencia’s current No.1 has put himself in the shop window, with a host of clubs said to be interested in acquiring his services, including Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle in the Premier League. It remains to be seen what kind of fee he will command, with touted valuations ranging from £35m-£85m ($45m-$109m).
Georges Mikautadze (Georgia)
The third Georgian star to make this list, Georges Mikautadze is all-but certain to secure a move away from Metz this summer after they were relegated to Ligue 2. He has just completed a permanent €13m (£11m/$14m) move back to the club where he starred before an unsuccessful spell with Ajax last season, but Les Grenats will sell him on immediately and should expect to make a cool profit on a player who lit up Euro 2024.
Earmarked by as a potential breakout star of the tournament, the striker is still co-leading the Golden Boot race and caught the eye with his skill and all-round attacking play, often roaming from his central striker role and wreaking havoc out wide. West Ham have reportedly made a bid to sign Mikautadze, but they face competition from Ligue 1’s Monaco.
Maximilian Mittelstadt (Germany)
At 27, Maximilian Mittelstadt is not exactly the new kid on the block, but he would have been an unfamiliar name in Germany’s Euro 2024 squad. The full-back enjoyed a meteoric rise after joining Stuttgart last summer and caught the eye in the group stage, notching a fine assist against Hungary from the left.
Interestingly, his name is yet to crop up in the transfer rumour mill as Germany reached the quarter-finals on home soil. That will likely change now their tournament has come to an end after defeat to Spain, with another transfer seemingly likely for Mittelstadt.
Dan Ndoye (Switzerland)
Part of a new generation of Swiss talent, Dan Ndoye caught the eye at club level last season and he carried that form into Euro 2024. Fresh from helping Bologna reach the Champions League, the versatile wide man shone in multiple positions for Switzerland and bagged a goal in the form of a well-taken volley against Germany in the group phase.
His agent has said his client is ready for a move to a ‘superior’ club, and as a former INEOS employee having played for Nice and Lausanne, the 23-year-old is sensationally being linked with Manchester United – although that seems like a little too much, too soon for a player who has only been with Bologna for a solitary campaign. Inter have also been mentioned and that could be a more realistic destination.
Dani Olmo (Spain)
Perennially linked with former club Barcelona and Man City, Dani Olmo might have finally persuaded a top club to make their move with his impressive cameos at the European Championship. The attacker has only started once in four appearances so far, but has stood out with his dynamism and technical ability between the lines, while he has also scored in each of La Roja’s knockout games thus far.
Olmo recently insisted he is happy at RB Leipzig, but Barca and City’s interest doesn’t seem to be going away and both finally seem ready to strike this summer for a player valued at €60m (£51m/$65m). Meanwhile, PSG and Bayern Munich are also said to be suitors. Despite an injury-hit club campaign, he certainly looks ready to take the next step in his career.
Fabian Ruiz (Spain)
Fabian Ruiz is the embodiment of the power of a major tournament; he is one of several midfield signings who have failed to spark at PSG, but he has rediscovered his old self in his national team colours. The 28-year-old has emerged as the unlikely star of Spain’s impressive Euro 2024 campaign, scoring twice and providing as many assists.
It seems that PSG are ready to cash in on Fabian rather than keep him around, and they will have no shortage of suitors after his displays in Germany. Tottenham have been credited with an interest, although he could head back to his homeland with his former club Real Betis, as well as Atletico Madrid, supposedly eyeing him.
Nicolas Seiwald (Austria)
Austria captured the imagination at Euro 2024 with their stirring performances as they reached the last 16, just falling short against Turkey. It was truly a team effort as they fought collectively to defy expectation and live up their billing as ‘dark horses’.
However, one lesser-known name did stand out from the rest; RB Leipzig midfielder Nicolas Seiwald put in some excellent displays in the middle of the park, combining smooth passing with tenacity and ball-winning ability. Indeed, he had made the most tackles without conceding a foul (13) after the group stage.
The 23-year-old hasn’t been linked with a transfer yet having only joined Leipzig last summer, which could be the ideal place to develop, but expect to see his name in the gossip columns soon.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands)
Xavi Simons always seemed set for a big move this summer regardless of his performances at the Euros. The 21-year-old came into the tournament off the back of an outstanding season on loan at RB Leipzig where he made 25 goal contributions, and he has been one of the Netherlands’ standout performers with three assists to his name.
Having only re-joined PSG from PSV last summer, it has been reported that he has no intention of returning to Paris. Bayern Munich are pushing hard to take him back to the Bundesliga, although Leipzig haven’t given up hope of keeping him in eastern Germany. Manchester United and Arsenal have also been tenuously linked, although his supposed £85m ($109m) asking price would be problematic.
Nico Williams (Spain)
Nico Williams’ stock has skyrocketed since Euro 2024 kicked off as the Athletic Club youngster showed everyone what he can do on one of football’s biggest stages. The explosive left-winger has been a constant threat for Spain, striking up an attacking connection with Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal on the opposite flank.
The 21-year-old has featured in the rumour mill increasingly in recent months, and his Euros exploits have seen those links ramp up, with cash-strapped Barcelona and starlet-hoarding Chelsea seemingly his most likely destinations, although he could yet stay in Bilbao. His €60m (£51m/$65m) release clause is beginning to look like an absolute bargain.
