Not every summer transfer works out right away, or at all. These players have made immediate impacts on their teams and could become key pieces for their respective clubs both in the near and far future.
Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid)
For years the soccer world had assumed that Jude Bellingham was going to end up at Liverpool after countless rumors and speculation. That transfer never came to fruition and the English midfielder ended up signing for Spanish giants Real Madrid this past summer. Bellingham joined Madrid from Borussia Dortmund in a $100 million deal and has shown he was worth the money already.
Oftentimes new signings need time to adjust to a new league and a new team but Bellingham hit the ground running in Madrid. Bellingham scored on his La Liga debut and went on to rack up six goals and two assists in his first seven league matches for the club. Some of these goals included last-minute winners which gave the club some crucial wins. These game-winners have helped Madrid stay at the top of La Liga where they sit one point above rivals FC Barcelona.
Bellingham’s heroics continued in the Champions League as he scored two goals and assisted once in Madrid’s first two Champions League matches. These goals included a last-minute winner against Union Berlin and an incredible solo run against Napoli.
A big factor in his early success for Madrid has been the freedom that manager Carlo Ancelotti has given Bellingham. Bellingham is a midfielder capable of playing many different roles on the pitch but what makes him special is his creativity and goal-scoring ability in the final third.
Ancelotti has taken advantage of this by playing Bellingham at the top of a diamond midfield with Rodrygo and Joselu as the two forwards in front of him. Winger Vinicius Junior recently came back from injury so he can replace either Joselu or Rodrygo as one of the more advanced players in front of Bellingham in the future. This dynamic has allowed Bellingham to create chances for both his teammates and himself which is his best attribute. His determination and work rate are other reasons his talent often shines and is what makes him a perfect fit at Real Madrid.
James Maddison (Tottenham)
After Leicester City got relegated last season, many expected James Maddison would finally get his big move after being loyal to Leicester for so long. Maddison’s 10 goals and nine assists in the Premier League last season weren’t enough to keep Leicester in the first division, and the club sold Maddison to Tottenham in the summer.
Tottenham are thriving this season as they sit at the top of the Premier League with 20 points and are yet to lose a league match. James Maddison has been a huge part of their success, as his creativity from the midfield is something that Spurs have been lacking since Christian Eriksen left the club back in 2020.
Maddison has five assists on the season which is joint first in the league, and he has added two goals as well. Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou has deployed Maddison as the No. 10 in his 4-2-3-1 formation, and Postecoglou’s fluid style of play has been amplified by Maddison’s creativity and ball-carrying ability. Maddison has shown his ability to score and assist in the final third, but he often plays a role in getting the ball to the final third from deeper areas on the pitch. Maddison often drops deep to receive the ball, and is nimble enough to avoid pressing defenders and allows him to carry the ball further up the pitch where he thrives. Yves Bissouma and Pape Matar Sarr often line up as the double pivot behind Maddison. Their physicality on and off the ball reduces Maddison’s defensive responsibilities, allowing him to focus on his playmaking ability.
Consistency will be key for Tottenham this season, and having a proven playmaker like Maddison pulling the strings will only increase their chances in a potential title charge.
Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen)
Perhaps one of the more surprising stories of the season has been Bayer Leverkusen being undefeated in all competitions this season and sitting at the top of the Bundesliga table. They have been led by a young group of talented players, including their new striker Victor Boniface.
Leverkusen signed Boniface from Belgian club Union SG this past summer, following a breakout season for the Nigerian striker. Boniface scored nine goals and assisted eight times in the league with Union SG, but his most impressive feat came in the Europa League. Boniface was the joint top scorer of the Europa League last season with six goals, sharing the award with Manchester United winger Marcus Rashford. Boniface did this despite his team getting eliminated in the quarterfinals of the tournament by his current club Bayern Leverkusen.
Now with Leverkusen, Boniface has scored seven goals in seven matches in his first season in the Bundesliga and has also assisted twice. His league performances got him the Player of the Month award in August and he is currently a candidate for the September version of the award as well.
Boniface’s goal record so far has been impressive, but his style of play is what has really impressed the soccer world. Despite his lanky 6-foot-4 frame, Boniface has no problems navigating tight spaces as his mobility is very rare for his size. He often uses his big frame to hold off defenders behind him and uses his quickness to either completely turn the defender or just get enough separation to get a shot off. This ability on the ball allows him to not only create chances for himself but for his teammates as well. His speed and dribbling ability help him be a threat on counterattacks as well, making him a dangerous player for any team to face.
At only 22 years old, Boniface is one of the latest young strikers bringing back the classic big-man style at the striker position, and it will be exciting to see how the Nigerian striker continues to develop his game.
