The biggest transfer hijacks this summer

• This summer transfer window has proven to us that a transfer is not complete until the last minute. We have seen several transfer hijacks happen this summer. 
• Some teams have signed players who were nearly completing moves to other teams. Some of the hijacks have happened in the last minutes when we least expected them. 
• FC Barcelona have hijacked two players who were two join Chelsea. Raphinha and Jules Kounde were to complete their moves to Chelsea when Barcelona jumped in. 

Several big transfer hijacks have happened this summer transfer window. Teams like FC Barcelona have hijacked top players who were almost joining other teams. 

The summer transfer window is still open, and players are moving from one club to another. Some of the top players who have joined new teams this summer are Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane and Antonio Rudiger. 

Signing top players is always a fight for the big teams as they struggle to get the player’s signature. Some teams have signed players who were on the verge of joining another team. 

The most recent transfer hijack is Jules Kounde’s move to FC Barcelona. The Catalans will announce Kounde as their new signing in the coming days.

Jules Kounde will complete his move to FC Barcelona in the coming days. Photo/ Football.London.

Let’s look at the top five biggest transfer hijacks this summer transfer window. 

1. Raphinha hijacked by FC Barcelona

Raphinha’s move to FC Barcelona left football fans talking. The Brazilian international was supposed to join Chelsea at the start of July. 

Chelsea agreed to a transfer fee of around 55 million euros with Leeds United on June 29. However, Raphinha was reluctant to complete his move to the English Premier League giants. 

Personal terms were not agreed to between Raphinha and Chelsea. Two weeks later, Leeds United agreed with FC Barcelona over Raphinha’s transfer. The Catalans paid 49 million euros with add-ons to sign Raphinha from Leeds. 

Raphinha wanted to play for FC Barcelona, and that’s why he rejected Chelsea. 

2. Tyrell Malacia hijacked by Manchester United

Tyrell Malacia was almost joining Olympique Lyon when Manchester United stepped in and hijacked the transfer. Lyon had reached a transfer agreement with Feyenoord worth 13 million plus two million add-ons. 

However, new Manchester United manager Erik Ten Hag wanted Tyrell Malacia, forcing the Red Devils to hijack the move. Manchester United made an offer of 15 million euros which Feyenoord accepted. 

Lyon improved their offer, but Malacia told the French club he wanted to join Manchester United. Lyon missed the chance of signing one of the most versatile left-backs in Europe by a whisker.

Malacia was almost completing a move to Lyon when Manchester United hijacked the deal. Photo/ Eurosport.

3. Lisandro Martinez’s transfer to Arsenal hijacked

Arsenal had the opportunity of signing Lisandro Martinez immediately after the transfer window was opened. The Gunners made an initial bid of 31 million euros was rejected by Ajax. They came back with an offer of 40 million euros, also turned down. 

Arsenal reportedly came with a third bid which the Dutch club also rejected. At this point, Manchester United offered 55 million euros to Ajax for Lisandro Martinez. Arsenal were left in the dark as the Argentine completed his move to one of their English Premier League rivals. 

Manchester United officially confirmed Lisandro Martinez as their player on Wednesday. The versatile centre-back will put on the No.6 jersey left behind by Paul Pogba. 

Erik Ten Hag, who coached Martinez at Ajax, played a huge role in the transfer. 

4. Gleison Bremer’s move to Inter Milan hijacked by Juventus

Inter Milan had agreed to personal terms with Gleison Bremer in January 2022. The 2020-21 Serie A champions were waiting for the summer transfer window to be opened so they could complete Bremer’s move. 

However, Inter Milan are in a financial crisis which made them delay in making an offer for the 2021-22 Serie A Defender of the Year. Juventus approached Torino and hijacked the transfer as Inter Milan watched. 

Gleison Bremer joined Juventus on July 19 for 40 million euros plus add-ons. 

5. Jules Kounde hijacked by FC Barcelona

Jules Kounde is another player whose move to Chelsea was hijacked by FC Barcelona. The Blues focused on Kounde immediately after signing Kalidou Koulibaly from Napoli. 

Sevilla initially agreed to Chelsea’s offer of about 55 million euros on July 20. However, Kounde wanted to join FC Barcelona instead of Chelsea. The French centre-back reportedly agreed to personal terms with the Catalans last weekend.

Fabrizio Romano confirmed on Wednesday that FC Barcelona had reached a verbal agreement with Sevilla on Kounde’s transfer.