The most unexpected signings in this transfer window
We understand as 'unexpected' those signings that, whether by their team of origin, destination or by the player himself, have been unexpected and surprising movements. It has no negative hue at all.
Nabil Fekir (Betis)
The world champion surprised the football world by signing for Betis. Their new star was on the brink of signing for Liverpool last season.
Alen Halilovic (Heerenveen)
The Croatian has become one of the most promising gems of recent history at La Masia. He has previously played for Sporting, Hamburg, Las Palmas, Milan and Standard de Liege, and is now loan to Heerenveen.
Jesé Rodríguez (Sporting CP)
Jese became considered as the new Cristiano when he rocketed up the ranks at Madrid, He signed for PSG and, after trying his luck in Las Palmas, Stoke and Betis, he looks for a new opportunity at Sporting CP.
Leilei Gao (Ponferradina)
In this case, the 'unexpected' does not fall on the source team, on the destination or on the player. But that someone pays 250,000 euros - sponsorship through - for playing football already places him right on this list.
Dani Alves (Sao Paulo)
The player with the most titles in history left Europe despite the great Copa América (MVP of the tournament) and his role in Barca, Juventus or PSG. He unleashed the madness and, without a doubt, his signing is one of the most unexpected of the market.
Juanfran Torres (Sao Paulo)
From being right-back at Atlético to right back at Sao Paulo. The Brazilians secured some more cover with the arrival of Juanfran.
Filipe Luis (Flamengo)
The left-back's pain at Atletico over the last six seasons (he left to go to Chelsea for a year and a half), he now returns to his home country 15 years after leaving Figueirense.
Shanji Okazaki (Málaga)
The Japonese was Premier League champion with Leicester City in 2016. His arrival at Malaga raised a great expectation, although he was finally free on the last day of the market and will not play on the Costa del Sol.
Shinji Kagawa (Zaragoza)
Another Japonese who will spend the campaign in the Second Division. He signed for Zaragoza and became one of the names of the market after having spent time at Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund and Besiktas.
Daniele De Rossi (Boca Juniors)
One of the 'shocks' of this market. De Rossi, after spending all his life in Roma, achieved his dream of playing for Boca Juniors.
Arvin Appiah (Almería)
This young striker may not yet sound good, but the fact that Almeria paid almost nine million and snatched a signing to Manchester United deserves the 'unexpected' sign. He comes from Nottingham Forest.
Ante Coric (Almería)
Almeria's new owner has not stopped investing this summer. Coric, previously from Roma, was another one of the summer 'shocks' in the Second Division.
Chicharito Hernández (Sevilla)
The icing on the cake of Monchi is a football one. Chicharito has a lot in his history with steps through United, Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham and, now, he will play for Mexico with an eye on Sánchez Pizjuán.
Sergio Rico (PSG)
The goalkeeper arrived to Paris, previosuly from Sevilla. He lost his first-place position last year and left to go to Fulham, who could not get out of the Championship with him. He has gone to one of the most powerful clubs in Europe.
Mario Balotelli (Brescia)
'Super Mario' was another big surprise in this year's market. He was close to signing for Flamenco, but will finally be the star for Brescia, his ex-team who have recently been promoted to Serie A.
Stephan El Shaarawy (Shanghai Shenhua)
At 26-years-old, he has played for big teams such as, Milan, Roma and Monaco and has now made the move to Chinese side Shanghai Shenhu. The Italian/Egyptian attacker promised a lot more.
Yaya Touré (Qingdao Huanghai)
At 36-years-old, it didn't seem very strange that Toure wanted to play in less competitive leagues. But to go to the Chinese Second Division, that was very surprising.
Frank Ribèry (Fiorentina)
After 12 seasons at Bayern Munich, Ribery said goodbye to Bundesliga and, as a lot of people thought, to football as well. However, he will continue playing in the Serie A side.
Adrián San Miguel (Liverpool)
From training in the facilities of a Regional team to signing for the European champions. This summarises the signing of Adrian who, for more inri, took advantage of Alisson's injury to win the European Super Cup by stopping the decisive penalty in the match.
Thomas Vermaelen (Vissel Kobe)
Ajax, Arsenal, Barca, Roma and Vissel Kobe. The Belgian centre-half, at 33-years-old, has moved to Japan after 14 years in the top European Leagues.
Ricardo Quaresma (Kasimpasa)
Away from the big league spotlights, his stay at Besiktas was closer to the name of Quaresma than his recent signing by Kasimpasa.
Vincent Janssen (Monterrey)
There aren't many players that go from one of the Champions League finalists to the Mx League in a matter of a couple of months. This was done by Janssen, who arrived in Monterrey from Tottenham.
Ivan Saponjic (Atlético de Madrid)
At 21-years-old, the striker surprised everyone by going from Benfica's B team, to Atletico Madrid's first team.
