Paris Saint-Germain Transfer Market Evaluation

After the departure of their three major stars—Messi, Neymar, and Mbappé—the French Ligue 1 is still searching for a new identity, and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has undergone significant changes in the summer transfer window.

Key Transfers Signed by Paris Saint-Germain:

  • João Neves (from Benfica - €60 million): A Portuguese midfielder who brings strong quality to PSG’s midfield. Neves is known for his ability to win back possession and make precise passes, strengthening the team’s ability to build attacks and adding more depth in the center of the park.
  • Désiré Doué (from Stade Rennais - €50 million): A talented young French winger considered one of the club’s most exciting attacking signings. Doué is quick and skillful, bringing an extra attacking threat to the wings, especially with Neymar’s departure. His ability to dribble and break defenses will be crucial for PSG's forward play.
  • Williem Pacho (from Eintracht Frankfurt - €40 million): An Ecuadorian defender who strengthens PSG's backline. Pacho is known for his physicality and defensive awareness, offering solid protection against fast and skillful forwards. His arrival adds more stability to the defense after the departure of several key defenders.
  • Madiyev Savanov (from Krasnodar, Russia - €20 million): A Russian goalkeeper to bolster the team’s depth between the posts. With the departure of Keylor Navas, PSG needed to bring in a new face in goal, and Savanov's experience in the Russian Premier League could be a decent addition, though it remains to be seen if he can truly fill Navas's shoes.

Key Departures from Paris Saint-Germain:

  • Kylian Mbappé (to Real Madrid - Free Transfer): The departure of Kylian Mbappé is undoubtedly the most significant blow for PSG. One of the best players in the world, Mbappé’s move to Real Madrid on a free transfer has left a massive gap in PSG’s attack. His speed, skill, and goal-scoring ability will be sorely missed, and the club has not brought in a forward of equal stature to replace him.
  • Mukiele (to Bayer Leverkusen): The versatile right-back has moved to Bayer Leverkusen, leaving a gap in PSG's defensive depth. Mukiele had shown potential at PSG, but his departure raises questions about the team’s right-back options going forward.
  • Juan Bernat (to Villarreal): The Spanish left-back was another departure in the summer, moving to Villarreal after struggling to secure regular minutes at PSG.
  • Carlos Soler (to West Ham): The Spanish midfielder, who didn’t manage to make a significant impact at PSG, was sold to West Ham.
  • Cherin Dour (Loan to Beşiktaş): The young player was sent on loan to Turkish side Beşiktaş to gain more first-team experience.
  • Mascar (Loan to Stade Rennais): Another player sent on loan, Mascar moves to Stade Rennais to continue his development.
  • Renato Sanches (Loan to Benfica): After struggling to cement a starting place, Renato Sanches was loaned back to Benfica, where he originally made his name.
  • Keylor Navas (Free Transfer): The experienced Costa Rican goalkeeper was another key departure. Navas played an integral role in PSG’s successes but has now left on a free transfer, leaving a gap in the goalkeeper position.
  • Layvin Kurzawa (Free Transfer): The French left-back, who struggled to find a regular spot in the starting XI, was also released by the club on a free transfer.

Transfer Market Analysis for Paris Saint-Germain:

While Paris Saint-Germain made some solid signings in this window, such as João Neves and Désiré Doué, the loss of a player like Kylian Mbappé represents a massive setback. PSG failed to bring in an elite forward to replace Mbappé, leaving their attack somewhat uncertain. This, combined with the departures of influential figures like Keylor Navas and Layvin Kurzawa, raises questions about the overall strength of the squad for the upcoming season.

Despite investing €170 million in new arrivals, the team only earned €71 million through player sales, resulting in a net spending of around €98 million. This shows a significant outlay, but the team’s overall depth may not have improved as much as expected.

Paris Saint-Germain Transfer Market Rating: 5/10

PSG has certainly strengthened some key positions, particularly in midfield and defense, but the loss of Mbappé without a direct replacement is a painful blow. Additionally, the departures of established stars like Navas and Kurzawa further impact the team's depth. While the squad remains talented, it is clear that PSG will need to make additional reinforcements in attack and defense before they can truly compete at the highest level again.

Conclusion

The summer transfer window for Paris Saint-Germain saw some important signings, but the loss of Mbappé for free was a crushing blow. The team has certainly added quality in areas like midfield and defense, but they will need to address the gaps left by key departures before the new season. It remains to be seen how this squad will perform domestically and in Europe.

Stay tuned for our upcoming articles as we continue to evaluate other major clubs in the top five European leagues.