Every transfer window has its fireworks, the record-breaking deals, the blockbuster announcements, the glossy unveilings that dominate social media for weeks. But beneath the noise, in the quieter corners of the market, are the signings that rarely trend worldwide yet often change the course of a season. These are the moves that don’t grab headlines but, months down the line, leave fans wondering how the world managed to underrate them in the first place.
The 2025/26 summer transfer window was no different. Europe’s giants were busy flexing financial muscle where Liverpool splashed £116 million on Florian Wirtz, Bayern Munich went heavy for Luis Díaz, Manchester United overspent on Bryan Mbeumo. But amid the big names, several shrewd transfers slipped under the radar. Some were free agents, some modestly priced gambles, others academy products stepping onto bigger stages. Together, they form the heartbeat of this season’s most underrated signings.
Jonathan David to Juventus – The Free That Could Be Priceless
If you blinked, you might have missed it: Jonathan David walking into Juventus on a free transfer. No extravagant unveiling, no massive fee attached, no worldwide trending hashtag. But for Juve, this was a masterstroke.
David has been consistent at Lille, scoring goals in Ligue 1 with a cold, clinical efficiency. Last season alone, he bagged 25 goals across all competitions numbers that would cost most clubs £60–70 million in today’s market. Instead, Juventus paid nothing beyond wages and bonuses.
The significance of this move isn’t just financial. Juventus have been rebuilding their identity post-Ronaldo, post-Allegri, in search of balance between experience and fresh legs. David, still only 25, offers them a forward at the perfect blend of prime years and hunger to prove himself on a bigger stage. He isn’t flashy. He won’t sell shirts the way a superstar might. But he’s exactly the kind of forward who thrives in Italy—disciplined, direct, ruthless in front of goal.
A decade from now, this may be remembered as the deal that restored Juve’s cutting edge without blowing up their books. And right now, it already feels like one of the most underrated moves in all of Europe.
Petar Sučić to Inter Milan – The Midfield Whisperer
Another move that slid past headlines was Inter Milan’s €14 million signing of Petar Sučić from Dinamo Zagreb. At a time when rivals were splurging, Inter’s modest outlay raised few eyebrows. Yet this is exactly the kind of signing that defines seasons.
Sučić is just 21, a Croatian midfielder steeped in the school of technical elegance and tactical intelligence. He’s not yet a household name, but Inter’s scouts have rarely missed on Balkan talent—Marcelo Brozović and Mateo Kovačić being examples of Croatians who became Serie A gems.
The difference with Sučić is timing. He arrives into an Inter side stacked with experience, meaning he won’t be asked to carry the weight of expectation immediately. Instead, he can grow, learn, and absorb the club’s DNA before slowly carving his influence. For €14 million in this inflated market, Inter may have signed the long-term heartbeat of their midfield for the cost of a backup full-back elsewhere. That is the definition of underrated.
Rayan Cherki to Manchester City – A Pep Project in the Making
Manchester City rarely miss an opportunity to snatch up young talent. This summer, amid the chaos of Europe’s mega-deals, they quietly landed Rayan Cherki from Lyon for around €36.5 million. To some, the fee looked steep for a player who has blown hot and cold in Ligue 1. But to those who’ve watched Cherki closely, the move felt like a gamble with sky-high upside.
Cherki is raw, yes. Inconsistent, yes. But he’s also fearless a dribbler with flair, vision, and a left foot capable of magic. Under Pep Guardiola, players with those attributes often transform from rough stones into polished diamonds. Think of Leroy Sané, Phil Foden, even Riyad Mahrez’s reinvention in a tactical system that demanded more discipline.
In a world where €36 million can barely buy a reliable backup, City may have secured a future star. It’s not flashy, because Cherki isn’t yet world-class. But in two or three years, if he’s dictating games in sky blue, this move will be remembered as one of the smartest, most underrated of 2025.
Roony Bardghji to Barcelona – The Quiet Rebuild
Barcelona’s financial struggles have forced them to think smarter in the market. Gone are the Galáctico-style unveilings of €100 million forwards. Instead, this summer they picked up Roony Bardghji, a 19-year-old winger from FC Copenhagen, at a modest fee.
To casual fans, Bardghji might sound like a Football Manager wonderkid rather than a real signing. But those who have tracked his progress know the hype is justified. Direct, fearless, and with a knack for big goals in big moments, Bardghji has long been tipped as one of Scandinavia’s brightest exports.
For Barcelona, this isn’t about instant transformation. It’s about the rebuild—finding pieces of clay that can be molded into a future attacking trident alongside Lamine Yamal. While rivals spent enormous sums on established stars, Barça’s patience and foresight with Bardghji may end up defining their next golden generation.
Why Underrated Matters More Than Overrated
The transfer market is obsessed with superlatives: the “biggest,” the “most expensive,” the “record-breaking.” But football isn’t always won by those who make the loudest noise. Some of the greatest sides in history were built not on galactic superstars, but on astute signings that went under the radar.
Think of N’Golo Kanté’s £5.6m move to Leicester before winning the Premier League. Think of Luka Modrić arriving at Real Madrid to initial shrugs before becoming a Ballon d’Or winner. The underrated signings are where the real alchemy of football happens where money, scouting, and timing intersect to create something transformative.
This summer, Jonathan David, Petar Sučić, Rayan Cherki, and Roony Bardghji may not dominate headlines like Wirtz, Díaz, or Mbeumo. But don’t be surprised if, by the season’s end, they’re the ones everyone is talking about.
Conclusion
Underrated signings remind us that football isn’t always about spectacle. It’s about nuance, strategy, and the courage to see beyond hype. Juventus, Inter, City, and Barcelona all made moves that slipped under the radar but may prove decisive for years to come.
When the dust settles on this season, the headlines may remember the record fees. But the stories fans will cherish the quiet bargains, the unlikely heroes, the players who arrived without fanfare but left a legacy those belong to the underrated.
And maybe that’s what makes them so special: they don’t announce themselves with fireworks. They sneak in, settle quietly, and then rewrite the script.
