The five most expensive La Liga transfers of the summer window | OneFootball

Deadline day delivered its usual drama, but the real story of La Liga’s summer transfer window was Real Madrid’s bold investment in the future.

Indeed, the Spanish giants made three of the window’s five most expensive signings, committing over £130m to secure elite young talent.

That accounts for a huge proportion of the overall spending by La Liga clubs, which amounted to £509m. Almost half of that figure was accounted for by Real and local rival Atletico Madrid.

The most expensive La Liga transfers of the summer window

5. David Hancko – Feyenoord to Atletico Madrid (£25m)

Atletico Madrid bolstered their defence by signing Slovakian international David Hancko from Feyenoord for £25m. The versatile 27-year-old can operate centrally or at left-back. Crucially, he rejected lucrative offers from the Saudi Pro League to seal his move to the Spanish capital.

Viewed as an ideal fit for Diego Simeone’s demanding system, Atletico secured Hancko on a long-term contract until 2030, making him a key part of their defensive overhaul.

4. Alex Baena – Villarreal to Atletico Madrid (£36.3m)

In addition to Hancko, Atletico also completed the summer’s biggest intra-La Liga transfer. They prised creative midfielder Alex Baena from Villarreal for £36.3m, a fee that could rise with add-ons.

The 23-year-old had established himself as one of the league’s most dynamic attackers at Villarreal, and has now signed a five-year contract in Madrid. Ultimately, the move is a major statement of intent from Atletico and represents a record sale for his former club.

3. Franco Mastantuono – River Plate to Real Madrid (£38.5m)

Real Madrid continued their successful South American recruitment strategy. This time they triggered the £38.5m release clause for River Plate’s prodigious talent, Franco Mastantuono.

At just 17, the attacking midfielder is already a senior Argentina international and is widely regarded as one of the world’s elite prospects. He will follow the well-trodden path of stars like Vinicius Junior from South America to the Santiago Bernabéu.

2. Alvaro Carreras – Benfica to Real Madrid (£43.2m)

In a high-profile deal, Real Madrid re-signed former academy left-back Alvaro Carreras. The club paid Benfica £43.2m to bring him home. Since leaving Madrid’s youth setup, the 22-year-old’s career has flourished.

Although he didn’t succeed at Manchester United, he thrived at Benfica, which convinced his boyhood club to invest heavily in his return. This deal also underscores a strategic shift in recent years, showing Madrid are now willing to pay a premium for homegrown talent proven elsewhere.

1. Dean Huijsen – Bournemouth to Real Madrid (£50m)

Topping the summer’s spending was Real Madrid’s boldest move of all. They triggered the £50m release clause for Bournemouth’s 20-year-old centre-back, Dean Huijsen, after the Spain youth international became a breakout star in the Premier League last season.

Madrid moved decisively to bring him back to his home country, where he was developed at Malaga’s academy. Huijsen was immediately integrated into the Club World Cup squad, a clear signal that the club views him as a defensive cornerstone for both the present and the future.

Read – The most expensive Bundesliga summer transfers of 2025

See Also – Why Marc Guehi transfer to Liverpool collapsed on Deadline Day

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