The summer transfer window period is one of the most exciting times of the season for soccer fans as they closely watch the market and try to predict where players will go and what kind of impact they will have with their new teams. Every year it seems there are at least a couple of surprise moves that catch us off guard. So while Robin Van Persie and Carlos Tevez both turned heads with notable signings, they weren’t shocking enough to land on our list of the four signings that caught everybody by surprise.
Here is a look at the four biggest moves that opened eyes this summer.
Bastian Schweinsteiger, Manchester United
Manchester United remained quiet for the most part early on in the summer transfer window period and while their fans grew restless early on, they were certainly rewarded in the end with some notable signings – including the addition of a veteran defender in Schweinsteiger. There is no denying his importance to Bayern Munich had declined over time but there was still a feeling that he would remain with the team as a lifetime player. So when he signed with Manchester United in July, it took several soccer experts by surprise. From United’s perspective, it’s a big win as they needed help in the midfield. Schweinsteiger may not be in his peak prime any more but he’s still going to be a difference maker for them.
He had earned 500 career appearances for Bayern Munich and it will definitely be weird to see him wearing a shirt other than those that he wore while playing for Germany or Bayern this season.
Radamel Falcao, Chelsea
Following his fallout at Manchester United, the expectation was that Falcao was destined to leave the Premier League altogether. So when he was given another opportunity to prove himself by Jose Mourinho and the defending Premier League champions Chelsea, it took nearly everybody by surprise. The Blues needed a No. 2 striker to fill the shoes of the departed Didier Drogba behind Diego Costa but few had pegged Falcao as the man they were after.
After all, he was a big letdown for United, so when the deal went down it was a pretty big surprise. There is no doubt the potential is there but after failing to deliver with the Red Devils, all eyes will be on Falcao to see whether he can hold down the No. 2 role with Chelsea this season. The good news is there will be less pressure on him to deliver in this spot. He entered Manchester United with lofty expectations but now enters a Blues team that will have a far more tempered outlook.
Andre Pierre-Gignac, Tigres
The 29-year-old French striker was highly coveted after a strong season for Marseille in the French Ligue 1 – including plenty of interest from England – but he wound up signing with Mexican side Tigres on a free transfer in a move that seemed to take everybody by surprise. Gignac is off to a solid start with the Mexican side and the Premier League teams that missed out on him have to be upset.
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Yohan Cabaye, Crystal Palace
It was only a matter of time before Cabaye left PSG but that didn’t make it any less of a shock when he signed with Crystal Palace. The 29-year-old midfielder had several options but ultimately decided to sign with Palace where he will play a more prominent role on Alan Pardew’s side. Still, it’s not as if they are expected to be a contender as they finished 10th in the EPL last season. He could have had a smaller role on a team more likely to win something.
Palace was rumored to be after a number of players but when they landed Cabaye, it sent a message that they will do whatever it takes to contend in the Premier League this season. Now we’ll see if he can help them move up the food chain.
