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Atlético Madrid has dominated the biggest La Liga transfers of summer 2026, rebuilding almost half of its squad after losing club legend Antoine Griezmann to Major League Soccer.
Real Madrid has focused heavily on defense under new manager José Mourinho, while Barcelona made two statement signings to bolster their attack.
Here is every major deal, ranked by fee.
Quick Reference Table
| Rank | Player | Transfer | Fee |
| 1 | Anthony Gordon | Newcastle to Barcelona | £69-70m |
| 2 | Marc Cucurella | Chelsea to Real Madrid | €55m |
| 3 | Lee Kang-in | PSG to Atlético Madrid | €35-40m |
| 4 | Morten Hjulmand | Sporting to Atletico Madrid | €40m |
| 5 | Alex Baena | Villarreal to Atlético Madrid | £36.3m |
| 6 | Carlos Espi | Levante to Real Madrid | €25m |
| 7 | David Hancko | Feyenoord to Atletico Madrid | £25m |
| 8 | Karim Adeyemi | Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona | €22m |
| 9 | Alex Grimaldo | Bayer Leverkusen to Atlético Madrid | €22m |
| 10 | Denzel Dumfries | Inter Milan to Real Madrid | €20m |
1. Anthony Gordon, £69-70m, Newcastle to Barcelona
The single biggest deal among this summer’s La Liga transfers.
Barcelona moved for Gordon to add pace and directness on the wing, a fee that reflects both his consistent Premier League output at Newcastle and his growing reputation on the international stage with England.
It represents a significant financial commitment from a club that has spent recent seasons managing its wage bill carefully, a sign of how much importance Barcelona places on strengthening its attacking options this summer.
2. Marc Cucurella, €55m, Chelsea to Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s defensive rebuild under José Mourinho began with Cucurella, brought in to add versatility across the back line after Xabi Alonso’s exit and Mourinho’s return to the club for a second spell.
Cucurella arrives with Premier League and international experience, and his ability to play at both left back and further forward gives Mourinho tactical flexibility as he reshapes the squad he inherited.
3. Lee Kang-in, €35-40m, PSG to Atlético Madrid
Atlético brought in Lee Kang-in to help fill the creative gap left by Antoine Griezmann’s departure, and he inherited Griezmann’s old number 7 shirt at the club.
He arrives fresh off representing South Korea at the 2026 World Cup, where he played every minute across their three group games, and joins after three seasons and multiple trophies with PSG, including back-to-back Champions League titles.
At 25, he is considered to be entering the prime years of his career, and Atletico sees him as a long-term creative solution rather than a direct Griezmann replacement.
4. Morten Hjulmand, €40m, Sporting to Atlético Madrid
One of Atletico’s earliest and biggest signings of the window,
Hjulmand joined to add steel and control in midfield as Diego Simeone reshapes his squad following a summer of significant departures.
His arrival was part of a deliberate early strategy from Atletico to secure key targets before other clubs could compete for them.
5. Alex Baena, £36.3m, Villarreal to Atlético Madrid
Baena moved across La Liga from Villarreal, joining Grimaldo and Hjulmand as part of Atletico’s early summer spending spree.
His arrival gives Simeone another creative option capable of playing in multiple attacking positions, continuing the theme of Atletico prioritizing depth and versatility across their rebuild.
6. Carlos Espi, €25m, Levante to Real Madrid
Real Madrid activated Espi’s release clause to bring in the 21-year-old striker target Man as backup to Kylian Mbappé, following Gonzalo Garcia’s move to Fulham.
He has signed a five-year deal at the club, and the move reflects Real Madrid’s broader strategy this summer of targeting younger players on long contracts rather than committing to short-term deals for more established names.
7. David Hancko, £25m, Feyenoord to Atlético Madrid
Another defensive addition for Atletico, Hancko arrives from the Eredivisie to add depth and experience at the back.
His signing continues Atletico’s pattern this window of moving early and decisively for players they had clearly identified as priority targets well before the window opened.
8. Karim Adeyemi, €22m, Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona
Barcelona’s second major signing of the summer, Adeyemi, joins on a five-year deal to add pace and attacking options to their squad.
Coming from the Bundesliga, he gives Barcelona another dimension in attack alongside Gordon, with both signings suggesting a clear intent from the club to add more directness and speed to their forward line this season.
9. Alex Grimaldo, €22m, Bayer Leverkusen to Atlético Madrid
Grimaldo was one of Atletico’s first signings of the window, bringing experience and quality at full-back as part of Simeone’s wider rebuild.
His arrival early in the window set the tone for what became a busy summer of activity at the club.
10. Denzel Dumfries, €20m, Inter Milan to Real Madrid
Real Madrid activated Dumfries’ release clause as part of their defensive overhaul, adding a proven full-back with Champions League experience to Mourinho’s squad.
His arrival, alongside Cucurella and Espi, rounds out one of the busiest defensive rebuilds of any club in La Liga this summer.
A Window Shaped by Atletico’s Rebuild
Five of the ten biggest La Liga transfers of summer 2026 belong to Atletico Madrid alone, a clear sign of how much Diego Simeone has reshaped his squad after losing Griezmann.
Barcelona has moved more selectively, but has made statement signings of their own to address specific needs in attack.
With the window still open until September 1, these La Liga transfers are unlikely to be the last major moves before deadline day.
Read More About: Best Value Transfers 2026: How These Clubs Beat the Market
FAQs:
What is the most expensive La Liga transfer of summer 2026?
Anthony Gordon’s move from Newcastle to Barcelona for £69-70m is the most expensive La Liga transfer of summer 2026 so far.
How much did Real Madrid spend on transfers in summer 2026?
Real Madrid have spent over €100m combined on Marc Cucurella (€55m), Carlos Espi (€25m) and Denzel Dumfries (€20m) as part of a defensive rebuild under new manager Jose Mourinho.
Why has Atletico Madrid signed so many players this summer?
Atletico Madrid signed five players in the top 10 La Liga transfers of summer 2026 after losing club legend Antoine Griezmann to Major League Soccer, prompting Diego Simeone to rebuild his squad across midfield, defense and attack.
How much did Atletico Madrid pay for Lee Kang-in?
Atletico Madrid signed Lee Kang-in from PSG for a fee reported between €35m and €40m, with the South Korea international taking over Griezmann’s number 7 shirt.
Who are Barcelona’s biggest signings in La Liga transfers 2026?
Barcelona’s two biggest moves this summer are Anthony Gordon from Newcastle for £69-70m and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund for €22m, both aimed at adding pace to their attack.

