This season is halfway through, and we as soccer fans have collected so many precious memories and momemnts that take us long to digest and reflect. As a result, it is a great opportunity to look back at where we start from, first from signings. Below are the top 10 players, as for we think, to sign this season so far.
10. Malick Thiaw (Newcastle - £35m)Initially viewed as a desperate late signing, the German defender has become an essential starter. He helped Newcastle secure the league's third-best defense (18.8 expected goals conceded) and even contributed a two-goal performance against Everton.
9. Marcus Rashford (Barcelona - Loan)Considered a career "last chance," Rashford revitalized his form in Catalunya. Despite heavy competition from stars like Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal, he capitalized on injuries to become a key winger, tallying 7 goals and 11 assists in 24 games.
8. Joan Garcia (Barcelona - €25m)The 24-year-old goalkeeper controversially replaced Marc-André ter Stegen as No. 1 and has fully justified the decision. With a 79% save percentage and notable performances against Rayo Vallecano and Villarreal, he has kept his starting spot even after Ter Stegen's recovery.
7. Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal - £60m)Zubimendi has been transformative for Arsenal, specifically by anchoring the midfield to allow Declan Rice to thrive in a box-to-box role. Their partnership is being hailed as potentially one of the Premier League's all-time greats as the team chases the title.
6. Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich - Free)Arriving for free from Leverkusen, Tah has seamlessly formed a dominant partnership with Dayot Upamecano. He proved his worth with a defensive masterclass (11 clearances) in a Champions League win over PSG while Bayern was down to 10 men.
5. Granit Xhaka (Sunderland - £17m)In a surprise move to Sunderland, the 33-year-old has driven the club's push for European spots. Xhaka captains the side and statistically leads the team in almost every metric, including assists, chances created, passes, and distance covered.
4. Luka Modrić (AC Milan - Free)At 40 years old, the Real Madrid legend has been vital to Milan’s Scudetto charge. Far from a bench option, he has been an ever-present starter, playing the full 90 minutes in 13 of 15 league games and transforming the team's midfield.
3. Florian Thauvin (Lens - €8m)Returning to Ligue 1 at 32, Thauvin has been the standout signing of the season. With 7 goal contributions in 16 games and two Player of the Month awards, he has led Lens to the top of the table at Christmas and earned a recall to the France national team.
2. Yan Diomande (RB Leipzig - €20m)The 19-year-old Ivorian has been a revelation since switching to the right flank. He recorded 10 goal involvements in just 9 games before AFCON, including a hat-trick against Frankfurt, making his low transfer fee look like a massive bargain.
1. Luis Díaz (Bayern Munich - €75m)Díaz has been sensational in the Bundesliga, outperforming Liverpool's replacements. Benefiting from the league's open spaces, he has logged 14 goal contributions in 14 games. If Bayern secures silverware, he is tipped to be in the Ballon d'Or conversation.