Euro 2016 may be done and dusted but it’s not quite forgotten. Despite the lack of classic matches the Euros had its fair share of excellent team and individual performances, and those quality individual displays have put some of the tournament’s star players in the shop window.
Transfers based on international tournament performances can be hit or miss, but high-profile failures in the past don’t mean the moves never work out. Some signings off the back of Euro 2016 look shrewd, while others could be completed in the last month of this summer transfer window.
Here’s a look at 23 players whose Euro 2016 has either seen them seal a deal or raised their profile enough to alert clubs…
Done deals: 12 Euro 2016 stars on the move
Andre Gomes (Valencia to FC Barcelona)
What a difference a tournament can make. Andre Gomes entered Euro 2016 after a disappointing season at Valencia and ended it with a winners’ medal and a transfer to Barcelona. Gomes has long been tipped for the top, and has spent the last year subject to constant transfer speculation – no surprise when you consider his agent is the ubiquitous Jorge Mendes.
Gomes, though, is a player from the Mendes stable who has actually earned the hype – a classy, ball-playing central midfielder who performed well despite Valencia’s struggles on and off the field.
The big question for the 23-year-old is whether he can break into the three-man Barcelona midfield manned by Iniesta, Busquets and Rakitic. Gomes could be Iniesta’s long-term successor but will hope to avoid the fate that befell Arda Turan who became a forgotten man at Camp Nou.
més que un club
pic.twitter.com/a6ArJbwjJb
— André Gomes (@aftgomes) July 27, 2016
Nani (Fenerbahce to Valencia)
Nani seemed almost forgotten until Euro 2016 came around. After being booted out of Old Trafford he set about reviving his career, first with an emotional homecoming to Sporting CP and then with a move to Turkish giants Fenerbahce. Out of sight, out of mind, you might say – but he burst back into the public’s wider consciousness at the Euros.
Nani scored three goals and put in a string of excellent performances as a makeshift striker in France. It suggests he’s having a new lease of life at the age of 29, and that he has become more than an erratic winger with a penchant for step-overs and the odd spectacular long range strike.
Signed by Valencia for £7.25m mid-tournament, Los Che could well be the beneficiaries of a confident, in-form Nani.
Nani: 3 goals, 1 assist (586 minutes).
#PORFRA #EURO2016 pic.twitter.com/nofHwL4gYs
— UEFA EURO (@UEFAEURO) July 9, 2016
Nolito (Celta Vigo to Manchester City)
At 29, Nolito is a classic late bloomer, only breaking into the Spain set-up in 2014. Despite being a newcomer to the international scene he was a regular starter at Euro 2016 in Spain’s fluid front three, scoring in the win over Turkey.
Nolito has been around for a while with spells at Barcelona “B”, Benfica and Granada, before his breakthrough at Celta Vigo.
His quality Celta form saw him heavily linked with a return to Barça, before Manchester City swooped. It will be no surprise to learn that Guardiola’s presence in the dugout had a lot to do with the Spaniard’s choice, and City fans will be thankful for that.
Nolito has reached double figures in each of his last three seasons for Celta, so imagine what he could do surrounded by the world class talent City have at their disposal.
➡ https://t.co/1er12wGxpf pic.twitter.com/9m7k2qnhrL
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 1, 2016
Thomas Meunier (Club Brugge to PSG)
The Club Brugge full back started Euro 2016 as second choice for Belgium’s right back spot – behind Laurent Ciman, a 30-year-old plying his trade in Canada. But Thomas Meunier soon made the spot his own and earned a move to PSG in the process.
Meunier is a versatile player – his early years were spent mostly as a winger or striker until a spate of injuries at Club Brugge forced him into an unfamiliar right back position, where he flourished and has stayed ever since.
After claiming a starting berth he became one of Belgium’s most reliable performers at Euro 2016. Meunier loves to attack and supplements that with an eye for goal – he netted 17 goals at Club Brugge and recently scored two crackers in a pre-season friendly against Real Madrid. He could become a cult hero in Paris.
Brilliant goal by Thomas Meunier against Real Madrid, his first of two. PSG look sharp and lead 3-1 at half time. pic.twitter.com/XgjvZ5qfck
— Just Football (@JustFootball) July 28, 2016
Kamil Glik (Torino to AS Monaco)
Many pegged Poland as potential dark horses for the Euros. A team packed with quality and a few underrated gems, the hope was that they could go far. In the end, they enjoyed their most successful tournament ever – and it wasn’t all to do with Robert Lewandowski.
One of their better performers was the lesser-known, tough-as-nails defender Kamil Glik, who kicks first and asks questions later.
Glik has had a peripatetic early career – including a brief spell in the Real Madrid “C” team – before eventually settling at Torino. Exemplary in the air and more mobile than his 6 foot 3 inch frame would suggest, Glik has been a huge reason for Torino’s relative success in recent seasons.
Monaco parted with around £9.35 million for the big man post-tournament – a great deal for Torino who originally got him for a mere £250,000. Glik will give everything to the cause.
Grzegorz Krychowiak (Sevilla to PSG)
Ever wonder why PSG’s interest in bringing N’Golo Kante back to France never materialised? That reason is Grzegorz Krychowiak, the Polish central midfielder who has joined up with his old boss at Sevilla, Unai Emery, in Paris.
Krychowiak is no stranger to the country – aside from his two successful years at Sevilla he has spent his entire professional career in France.
He probably felt very much at home at Euro 2016, which perhaps explains why he bossed the midfield of every pitch he set foot on. Wearing number 10 but playing as an old school, box-to-box midfielder, Krychowiak’s will to win and indefatigable energy levels helped drag Poland to the quarter finals.
In the absence of Ibrahimovic, PSG will need some born leaders in their side. In £34 million man Krychowiak, they have one of Europe’s best.
PSG sign Grzegorz Krychowiak to five-year deal through 2021!! #TheDreamHunter https://t.co/0J3kS2CNQE pic.twitter.com/SIQY7Jm1Pw
— PSG English (@PSG_English) July 3, 2016
Samuel Umtiti (Olympique Lyonnais to Barcelona)
Eyebrows were raised when Lyon’s Samuel Umtiti was selected in France’s Euro 2016 squad. The 22-year-old Cameroon-born defender had never been capped by France at senior level before the tournament.
Injuries, Mamadou Sakho’s unavailability and Adil Rami’s suspension finally opened the door for Umtiti. His chance came in the quarter finals, and in fact his only three caps for France to date have come in a quarter-final, semi-final and final. Not bad.
Umtiti’s summer was capped by a €25m transfer to Barcelona. That’s right, Barca splurged on an actual centre-back. Not a left-back, not a re-trained central midfielder, but an actual centre-back. If he can break into that side Umtiti can expect to be a regular in the France team for years to come.
SEE ALSO: Sammy Umtiti among our best young players to watch in France in 2013
Michy Batshuayi (Olympique Marseille to Chelsea)
Belgium don’t lack forwards – Romelu Lukaku, Christian Benteke and Michy Batshuayi all battle for the sole place upfront. Batshuayi made his competitive debut at Euro 2016, coming off the bench against Hungary and scoring with his first touch. That goal came off the back of a career best season in which he bagged 17 league goals for a poor Marseille side.
Batshuayi was restricted to cameo appearances at Euro 2016 but showed glimpses of his talent. The reported £33m fee Chelsea have paid might seem steep, but as ever these days Chelsea are paying for big potential.
It’s official! Welcome to @ChelseaFC, Michy Batshuayi! https://t.co/wZIjQm5DSe
#WelcomeMichy pic.twitter.com/bigpsiuDkX— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) July 3, 2016
Raphael Guerreiro (FC Lorient to Borussia Dortmund)
The left back solved a real problem for Portugal at Euro 2016, stepping into the breach caused by Fabio Coentrao’s injury and providing the side with great balance.
Guerreiro attacked brilliantly, but also – unusually for a modern full-back – defended resolutely when needed. The only facet of his game we didn’t see much of was his accurate set pieces, because trying to get a Cristiano Ronaldo off free-kick duty is impossible.
Having spent his entire career in French football, Guerreiro made the leap abroad after Portugal’s Euro win. Heavily linked with Arsenal, it was Borussia Dortmund who paid Lorient £9.5m for his services. That fee could end up being an absolute bargain for a player who is just 22 and looks to be the complete full-back already.
Bartosz Kapustka (Cracovia to Leicester City)
Versatile 19-year-old Bartosz Kapustka – comfortable in attacking midfield or out wide – is part of an exciting generation coming through for Poland. He already has 11 senior caps and impressed at the Euros, particularly in the opening game against Northern Ireland where he earned the Man of the Match award. The fleet-footed youngster’s style could be perfect for Leicester City, who signed him for £7.5 million.
Welcome to Leicester City, Bartosz Kapustka!
— Leicester City (@LCFC) August 3, 2016
Arkadiusz Milik (Ajax to Napoli)
Arkadiusz Milik went into Euro 2016 off the back of a season banging in 24 goals for Ajax, and many wondered if he would outshine his more famous striker partner Robert Lewandowski.
Milik showed glimpses of his ability and clever running off the ball, and Napoli have splurged around £30m of their Higuain money on the Pole in the hope the 22-year-old takes his Ajax form into Serie A.
Graziano Pelle (Southampton to Shandong Luneng)
You have to hope Graziano Pelle enjoyed leading the line for Italy this summer because now he’s moved to China he might not see another call up. Andrea Pirlo and Sebastian Giovinco have both experienced being frozen out of the national side following moves to “lesser” leagues and Pelle will likely suffer the same fate.
His pain will probably be eased by becoming one of the top six best paid players in world football, but his performances for Italy suggested he could still have a lot to give at the very highest level. Signed for £12 million, he can expect to plunder plenty of goals for Shandong Luneng if he maintains that form.
OFFICIAL: Shandong Luneng Taishan FC have signed Italian ST Graziano Pellè from Southampton FC. #GoShandong ⚽
pic.twitter.com/IYaTpfEsQx
— Luneng Taishan FC (@sdlnts1993) July 11, 2016
OFFICIAL: Shandong Luneng Taishan FC have signed Italian ST Graziano Pellè from Southampton FC. ARCHIVE: Graziano Pelle: Ladykiller, Goal Assassin
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…and 11 players whose Euro 2016 form could earn a move
Those are some of the summer’s major deals so far. Now here are 11 more players who look to have secured moves off the back of their impressive Euro 2016 displays. Scouts, pay attention!
Hal Robson-Kanu (free agent)
No matter what Hal Robson-Kanu goes on to do in his career, he will be forever defined by that goal for Wales against Belgium – and what a goal to be defined by! It made plenty of scouts sit up and take notice of the former Reading man, officially without a club at Euro 2016.
Since then, Robson-Kanu’s name has been a regular feature in the transfer gossip columns, but no move has materialised. A switch to Hull City was mooted, some clubs in China are thinking of making him rich beyond his wildest dreams and, madly, links to Champions League finalists Atletico Madrid also surfaced.
He didn’t have the best of seasons for Reading, but the Euros proved he could be a great addition to any team if well used. A Premier League transfer awaits.
Robbie Brady (Norwich City)
Robbie Brady scored the goal against Italy that sealed Republic of Ireland’s passage to the Euro 2016 knockout stages, but as well as the goal he also showcased his impressive versatility.
For Norwich he played at left-back and left wing, but with Ireland he also proved an adept attacking central midfielder. Relegation didn’t dent his reputation, and his international performances have only increased the interest in his services.
With Leicester City, Southampton and West Brom all linked it’s hard to image Brady will still be in the Championship come the end of August.
Mario Gomez (Fiorentina)
Mario Gomez started Euro 2016 on the bench, with Mario Götze preferred up front. It was soon clear that the experiment with the out-of-sorts Götze wasn’t going to work though, and Gomez came in for the final group game and gave Germany an extra dimension.
Writing the 31-year-old off seems to be a popular sport. His loan spell at Besiktas has ended and he’s unwanted by Fiorentina, so there should be a queue of potential employers. He may be in his 30s but he showed at the Euros that he can still perform at the highest level – and was badly missed in Germany’s semi-final defeat to France.
Axel Witsel (Zenit St. Petersburg)
Belgium’s so-called “golden generation” may have underachieved in the last two tournaments but that does not seem to have affected the stock of the country’s players. Among those looking to leverage international reputations into a move is Axel Witsel. Now 27 and approaching his peak years, he looks to be angling for a move away from Zenit, with Everton and Juventus among those interested.
Witsel was reliable in an ever-changing Belgium side at Euro 2016, and plenty of clubs will have taken notice of his work rate and passing ability. His stamina would be well suited to the helter-skelter of the Premier League, but it remains to be seen whether any club will stump up the kind of big money Zenit expect for one of their gems.
Ready
#EURO2016 #Wal #Bel #Tousensemble pic.twitter.com/DjydXqye3y
— Axel Witsel (@axelwitsel28) July 1, 2016
Marco Parolo (Lazio)
The person whose reputation was most enhanced by Italy’s Euro 2016 performance was coach Antonio Conte – his tactical masterclass belied those who thought Italy would fail with a squad lacking star names. Nonetheless, plenty of Italy’s unheralded squad enhanced their reputations too.
One man was Marco Parolo – not a household name outside of Serie A, but the 31-year-old would have impressed those unfamiliar with him in France. A midfielder with a penchant for a long range strike, Parolo played a disciplined role for Conte’s side. This could be the Lazio man’s time for a final big move.
Birkir Bjarnason (FC Basel)
Everyone enjoyed underdog Iceland’s run to the quarter final (well, except maybe England) and a big part of that was the blond haired midfielder Birkir Bjarnason.
Nicknamed “Thor”, for obvious reasons, the FC Basel player really enhanced his reputation in France and even earned himself a modelling contract. Bjarnason is already well-travelled, with his current spell in Switzerland following stints in Italy, Belgium and Norway, and at 28 could be ready for a move to one of Europe’s “big” leagues.
Linked with Torino, Roma and former club Sampdoria, plenty of suitors will surely knocking at Thor’s door.
Rui Patricio (Sporting CP)
Portugal goalkeeper Rui Patricio is a one-club man, amassing over 250 appearances for Sporting CP in 10 years at the club. Still only 28, he has his best years ahead of him and is already excellent – as evidenced by the Euro 2016 winners medal on his mantelpiece and his selection in the UEFA team of the tournament.
Patricio has been linked with moves away from Sporting before but his stock has never been higher. He has obvious quality, he’s reliable and has bags of experience – it could be the ideal time to test himself outside of his homeland.
Rui Patricio has had a fantastic tournament. #POR
— Just Football (@JustFootball) July 10, 2016
Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle)
The very definition of a fairweather player, Moussa Sissoko is capable of turning in a world-beating performance one minute and a totally anonymous one the next. Sissoko suffered relegation with Newcastle and it seemed the days of being linked with Europe’s top clubs were gone.
Then Euro 2016 happened. Sissoko reminded everyone of the type of player he can be when he’s up for it. Newcastle fans would have been annoyed by the Frenchman saving his best performances for the big stage, but it was perhaps the ideal time for him to remind the world what he can do.
Since then he’s been linked to moves to Juventus, Arsenal, Manchester United and even Real Madrid. It’s pretty certain now that he won’t be gracing pitches in the Championship this season – what a difference a couple of major tournament performances can make!
Ivan Perisic (Internazionale)
Croatian midfielder Ivan Perisic was eye-catching in more ways than one at Euro 2016, matching impressive performances on the pitch with garish hairstyles that got people talking.
Quaresma's hair competing with Perisic. #Euro2016Finale #euro2016 #POR #FRA pic.twitter.com/U1fZjIsHnR
— Rick Strom (@RickStrom) July 10, 2016
With two goals and an assist in four games Perisic was one of Croatia’s more impressive performers in a team that wowed in the group stages. He has an eye for a pass and a goal, and it’s hard to imagine an underachieving Inter keeping hold of him in the long term.
Perisic is versatile – he’s happy playing in central midfield, on the wing, or behind the striker – and that combined with his goalscoring reputation means that he has two virtually priceless commodities to bargain with. He’s had a journeyman career already, turning out for six clubs at the age of just 27, but the transfers may not yet be over for him.
Ragnar Sigurdsson (FC Krasnodar)
The 30-year-old centre-back went into Euro 2016 as a virtual unknown in England, but ended it having knocked them out (scoring a goal and being named man of the match in the process) and being linked with a move to the Premier League. He will certainly have opportunities to leave Russian club FC Krasnodar.
Ragnar Sigurdsson is a player who always gives his all, and seems far more imposing than his 6 foot 1 inches. He’s played in Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Russia but could easily perform in the Premier League or Serie A. Who knows, he may well have a few more opportunities to bury the ball past Joe Hart!
Jeff Hendrick (Derby County)
It’s a credit to Jeff Hendrick that the 24-year-old central midfielder has never played a top flight game yet didn’t look at all overawed at playing for Ireland at Euro 2016. The Derby County player showed his quality in all four games, and in a fairer world his energy and forward running would have earned him a few goals. Hendrick has been heavily linked with a Premier League move and the Euros suggested he can easily complete at that level.
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The post Euro 2016 Transfers: Bartosz Kapustka and 23 players whose Euro form put them in the shop window appeared first on Just Football.