GOAL looks at the players across the continent who have thrived at their new clubs through the first half of the campaign
With the end of 2024 and the midway point of the football season upon us, it's time to take stock and reflect. Intriguing storylines, thrilling title races and intense relegation battles are beginning to take shape across Europe, with faces old and new playing major roles in their club's successes and failures.
But across the continent, who are the summer arrivals who have had the biggest and most unexpected impact for their new employers?
GOAL looks at the 15 best signings of the 2024-25 European season so far, where there have been plenty of surprise packages, others have been rejuvenated in new surroundings and, interestingly, there is a distinct lack of Premier League representation. Let's get into it…
Getty Images Sport15Ayoze Perez (Villarreal) – €4m
Another forgotten ex-Premier League man, Ayoze Perez has been rejuvenated since returning to Spain in 2023, first joining Real Betis before moving onto Villarreal back in the summer after his time at Newcastle and Leicester City in England.
Despite having his fair share of injury problems, Ayoze has already clocked up 13 goal involvements in 14 appearances for his new club, with five of his own strikes coming in a burst between late August and September. He's on course for one of his best-ever seasons, if he can stay fit.
AdvertisementAFP14Mason Greenwood (Marseille) – €31.6m
A transfer that was mired in controversy and divided Marseille's fanbase as a result of the charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault against Mason Greenwood that were discontinued in 2023.
The forward permanently cut ties with Manchester United in July following a season-long loan at Getafe, and he has hit the ground running in France to a hero's welcome as he continues to rebuild his football career abroad. The Englishman has scored 11 goals in 16 appearances so far.
Getty Images13Nikola Milenkovic (Nottingham Forest) – €14m
Probably not the man you would have picked as Premier League signing of the season so far before a ball was kicked, but Nikola Milenkovic has excelled at Nottingham Forest having long been linked with a move to England.
The ex-Fiorentina centre-back has formed part of a staunch Forest backline that has been the basis of their shock top-four push, and even popped up with vital goals in consecutive games against Manchester United and Aston Villa recently.
Getty Images Sport12Moise Kean (Fiorentina) – €13m
A key part of Fiorentina's unexpected resurgence this season, Moise Kean has been another unlikely hit. Still just 24, the latest move in the striker's nomadic career has taken him to Florence.
He didn't score a single goal for Juventus last season, but Kean already has 14 strikes in 21 appearances this term having rediscovered his touch. That haul includes a match-winning hat-trick against Hellas Verona.
