2023 summer signings you completely forgot about
The 2023 summer transfer window now seems like a distant memory, but deadline day on September 1 was only five months ago.
A lot has changed in that time — and not just in England’s top division. Manchester City are now club world champions — following their Champions League success last season.
Cristiano Ronaldo continues playing his football in Saudi Arabia and has since been joined by many big names. Alex Song has retired from the sport, hanging up his boots in November.
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With so much taking place in such a short period, it’s easy to forget what exactly transpired during that incredible summer which saw the Saudi Pro League become a serious player. There were months of unbridled conjecture, drawn-out transfer sagas and daily deals as usual. The collective amnesia is exacerbated all the more by new signings that haven’t featured that much.
For every Jude Bellingham, there’s a Tyler Adams: one who has made a tangible impression on their new side, and another who has retreated to anonymity, yet to get going due to injury. With that, we have recounted the other forgotten men of the 2023 summer transfer window across Europe’s major leagues below.
Davy Klaassen
From: Ajax
To: Inter
No stranger to leaving boyhood club Ajax having previously departed in 2017 for an ill-fated spell at Everton this latest journey, bringing the 41-time Dutch international to Inter, hasn’t exactly seen Davy Klaassen pull up any trees. Very much a squad player under Simone Inzaghi the Hilversum has made six league appearances (totalling 70 minutes) to date yielding no goals or assists.
Ricardo Pepi
From: Augsburg
To: PSV
The next couple of years will see the United States become the centre of the football world. Looking to establish himself in the USMNT is Ricardo Pepi, who has scored 10 goals across 22 international appearances so far. Having spent the past 18 months with Bundesliga outfit Augsburg, Pepi made the short trip to the Netherlands last summer, signing for PSV, but he’s been unable to dislodge Luuk de Jong as Peter Bosz’s No.9 so far. However, the American has still managed to net four goals in 15 league outings (all coming off the bench).
Ainsley Maitland-Niles
From: Arsenal
To: Lyon
There was a time when Ainsley Maitland-Niles looked to be part of Arsenal’s future. But subsequent loan spells to Roma and Southampton winded down his contract and the Londoner departed for Lyon. He’s seldom featured for the club in a season that started disastrously, managing just eight appearances in Ligue 1. Four of Maitland-Niles’ eight appearances have been from the start, including one at the weekend in their defeat to Le Havre. The Englishman has also provided one assist, but only the staunchest of Ligue 1 followers will remember he’s playing there.
Mahmoud Dahoud
From: Borussia Dortmund
To: Brighton
On arrival from Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he began his football journey, Mahmoud Dahoud was heralded for big things. He was earmarked as Ilkay Gündogan’s successor at Borussia Dortmund and made over 100 league appearances, though it’s fair to say Dahoud never really fulfilled those lofty expectations. Brighton seemed the right place to get his career back on track. It’s so far been anything but with the former German international making nine Premier League appearances with no minutes since the start of December. He also missed three games due to suspension after getting sent off in a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United.
Nathan Redmond
From: Besiktas
To: Burnley
After one season away Nathan Redmond made his Premier League return with Burnley, but the former Southampton forward has yet to force his way into Vincent Kompany’s plans. A substitute appearance here and there, yielding an average of 11 minutes, is what he’s had to make do with so far. Redmond understandably hasn’t contributed with any goal involvement.
Divock Origi
From: AC Milan
To: Nottingham Forest
A cult hero at Liverpool, chances are Divock Origi will not face his former club when they visit the City Ground in early March. This isn’t an outlandish prediction seeing as he missed their Anfield trip earlier in the season. Origi, who is on loan at Nottingham Forest from AC Milan, has started just twice in the Premier League and has managed 26 minutes of action since Nuno Espirito Santo replaced Steve Cooper in charge. He’s currently being linked with a departure from Nottingham and subsequent move elsewhere, but nothing has materialised yet.
