The soccer summer transfer window is open, and there are some transfers that I would like to discuss.
May 9: Real Madrid have roared into this transfer window by purchasing German-born, Turkish star midfielder Nuri Şahin from German Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund for 10 millions euros. Şahin is both the youngest player to play in a Bundesliga match at 16 years and 334 days, and to score in a Bundesliga match the following week. He is currently 22 years-old.
May 9: Italian champions AC Milan have acquired 29 year-old French National Team centerback Philippe Mexès from AS Roma in a free transfer.
May 10: Manchester United have sold 20 year-old defender Joe Dudgeon to Hull City for an undisclosed amount of money. Dudgeon is a defender, and a Northern Ireland international.
May 12: Manchester United have also sold 20 year-old midfielder/centerback Corry Evans to English Championship club Hull City, also for and undisclosed amount. Evans came up through the United youth system, like his brother, current Manchester United defender Johnny Evans. Corry, also like his brother and Dudgeon, is a Northern Ireland international.
May 15: La Liga side Málaga have purchased 30 year-old Argentinean international centerback Martín Demichelis from Bundesliga club Bayern Munich for 3 million euros. This deal will reunite Demichelis with his former manager at Argentinean side River Plate, Manuel Pelligrini.
May 19: Real Madrid have acquired another German-born, Turkish superstar midfielder, this time 28 year-old Hamit Altintop. Madrid received Altintop in a free transfer from Bundesliga side Bayern Munich.
May 24: Italian side Juventus have acquired AC Milan and Italian legend Andrea Pirlo in a free transfer from Milan. Pirlo is 32, and will certainly bring experience to a Juventus side that is trying to restore itself to dominance over the Italian Serie A.
June 1: German powerhouse Bayern Munich have acquired the German National Team goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, from Schalke 04 for 18 million euros. Neuer is only 24 years of age, and has already proven himself to be one of the top goalkeepers in the world.
June 1: Málaga continue their big summer, acquiring Manchester United and Dutch legend Ruud van Nistelrooy from Bundesliga club Hamburger SV. Van Nistelrooy is 34 years-old.
June 8: Italian club Lazio have received Bayern Munich and German legend Miroslav Klose in a free transer from Bayern. Klose is 33, and is one goal shy of tying Brazilian legend Ronaldo for the most goals in World Cup Finals with 14 goals throughout the 2002, 2006, and 2010 World Cups.
June 9: Egyptian fullback Ahmed Elmohamady has successfully signed a contract with English Premier League side Sunderland. The 23 year-old was on loan last season to Sunderland from Egyptian side ENPPI, and has impressed in his time under Steve Bruce. His contract will keep him at The Stadium of Light until 2014.
June 13: Manchester United have signed Blackburn Rovers 19 year-old centerback Phil Jones. This was a great move to provide more depth at the centerback position, and gives United a player for the future. The terms of the move will be finalized after Jones returns from international duty with the English U-21 national team, currently in Denmark competing in the 2011 U-21 European Championship.
June 16: Málaga continue to bring in big names, this time signing 31 year-old Dutch international centerback Joris Mathijsen. Like van Nistelrooy, Mathijsen is coming from Hamburger, on a 1 million euro transfer deal.
June 16: Manchester United have loaned out Portugese winger Bébé to Turkish side Beşiktaş. This is a move that will give the 20 year-old some playing time, which he would not have at Old Trafford.
June 17: Málaga extend their long shopping list by signing 27 year-old French superstar midfielder Jérémy Toulalan from French powerhouse Olympique Lyonnais, more commonly none as Lyon.
June 21 (today): Italian side AS Roma have secured the purchase of Spanish international striker Bojan Krkić from Spanish and European champions Barcelona. Krkić is only 20 years-old, and has a chance to become a truly spectacular player (which he has shown signs of), learning from one of the all-time great strikers, Italian Francesco Totti.
