The group stages of Euro 2024 produced some exceptional goals, stunning results and entertaining contests (not looking at you, Group C).
At the heart of it all were brilliant individual displays, which have inevitably boosted the players’ stocks. As we’ve seen repeatedly, clubs often seem to go after players who have impressed in international tournaments.
Despite the financial fair play concerns looming across Europe, some clubs might do the same again. And if they do want to dip their toes into the Euros waters, here are 10 players that The Athletic believes could secure transfers after impressing in Germany — and for their clubs beforehand.
Ferdi Kadioglu (Turkey), full-back — Fenerbahce
Kadioglu has been key in Turkey’s charge into the round of 16 at Euro 2024. The full-back has been an excellent passing outlet from the back for his nation, while also performing his defensive tasks admirably.
Kadioglu’s 87 per cent pass completion rate places him in the top quarter of full-backs in the tournament, while his 75 per cent accuracy in long passes ranks him in the top seven per cent. He is also at the top of the list in key passes (3.3) and joint-top in shot-creating actions per 90, level with Joshua Kimmich on 4.3.
Defensively, Kadioglu has won 87 per cent of his tackles and made 5.7 recoveries per 90.
Kadioglu also impressed for Fenerbahce last season, recording two goals and four assists in 44 matches across the Turkish league and Europa League. The 24-year-old will likely be courted by several clubs given the diminished left-back market and his inherent potential.
Riccardo Calafiori (Italy), centre-back — Bologna
Calafiori was already being linked with a move away after impressing for Bologna in his debut season for the club. He seems to have strengthened his case even further at Euro 2024. The centre-back has been solid defensively for Italy, with two interceptions and 4.3 recoveries per 90 to go with a 78 per cent success rate in aerial duels.
What has stood out, though, is his impressive ball-carrying. Calafiori’s 2.7 carries into the final third per 90 is the highest among all central defenders at the Euros, with his game-levelling assist against Croatia on matchday three, after a slaloming run forward, best illustrating his abilities.
Before the Euros, Calafiori scored twice and assisted five times in 30 Serie A matches to help Bologna finish fifth. Despite signing a contract until 2027 upon arriving last summer, the 22-year-old could very easily move again for a big fee if he extends his string of impressive displays into the knockouts.
Nikola Milenkovic (Serbia), centre-back — Fiorentina
Milenkovic was one of the tournament’s best defenders, helping Serbia concede just two goals in Group C.
The 6ft 5in (196cm) centre-back is a towering figure and was virtually unbeatable in the air (75 per cent aerial duel success), while also excelling on the ground with a 100 per cent tackle win rate. Milenkovic is also an aggressive defender who is willing to engage higher up the pitch.
Milenkovic impressed for Serbia (Fabrice Coffrini / AFP)
While Calafiori excels in progressing the ball through carries, Milenkovic is an excellent passer with a 93 per cent completion rate. His 439.3 progressive passing yards place him in the top 13 per cent of centre-backs in the tournament.
The Serbian has already shown all of these qualities at Fiorentina, who he joined in 2017 and has led to back-to-back runners-up finishes in Europe (2022-23 and 2023-24 Conference League). While he is contracted to the Italian club until 2027, a move may be in the offing following his exploits in Germany.
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Denmark), centre-midfield — Tottenham Hotspur
After starring in Denmark’s semi-final run at Euro 2020, Hojbjerg has been impressive in the group stages here, culminating in a player-of-the-match performance against England.
Kasper Hjulmand’s team have struggled to create openings in Germany, but that’s not due to a lack of trying from Hojbjerg, whose 8.9 progressive passes (top three per cent) and 7.5 passes into the final third per 90 show his quality among other central midfielders. Hojbjerg has also been combative defensively, averaging 6.8 recoveries to go with a 75 per cent tackle success rate.
Hojbjerg struggled for playing time at Spurs last season, starting just eight Premier League games. Still only 28, he has quite a bit of football left in him, while his contract expires in 2025, both factors that make him an interesting transfer prospect this summer.
Michel Aebischer (Switzerland), centre-midfield — Bologna
Switzerland are one of seven teams yet to suffer defeat at Euro 2024, and Aebischer, who has played every minute for his nation, has been a key reason.
The midfielder’s positioning and line-breaking passes have been a key feature of his game, and both features were evident in this assist for Kwadwo Duah against Hungary, a game in which Aebischer also scored.
Aebischer has averaged five progressive passes per 90, while also doing his defensive work with 5.3 recoveries per 90.
Before the Euros, he impressed for Bologna, playing 36 of their 38 Serie A matches and even wearing the captain’s armband on several occasions. The 27-year-old is contracted until 2026 and could command a decent fee if he performs well in the knockout stages.
Mykola Shaparenko (Ukraine), centre-midfield — Dynamo Kyiv
Ukraine will consider themselves unlucky after collecting four points but failing to progress out of the group stage. Their campaign certainly had its positives and that includes Shaparenko’s performances.
The 25-year-old scored and assisted his nation’s only two goals of the tournament, both against Slovakia, with a sweeping finish and then from a ball over the top. There is a lot more to his game than scoring, though.
Shaparenko moved Ukraine into promising positions at one end, with 7.4 progressive passes and 3.3 progressive carries per 90 (ranking in the top 12 per cent among midfielders in both). He also provided cover at the other end, with 1.2 interceptions per 90 and a 75 per cent success rate while tackling dribblers.
Shaparenko also enjoyed a solid club season with Dynamo Kyiv, scoring four times and assisting five more in 22 league matches in his first full season after recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered in September 2022. With his contract expiring next year, a transfer could well be on the cards this summer.
Christoph Baumgartner (Austria), attacking midfielder — RB Leipzig
Few could have anticipated Austria finishing top of Group D, but Ralf Rangnick’s team pulled it off. Baumgartner, a fixture in the national team, has been crucial to this success, recording a goal and an assist from midfield.
The RB Leipzig midfielder has had the freedom to move into dangerous positions, resulting him in ranking in the top 10 per cent of his peers in passes into the penalty area (2.3 per 90) and carries into the penalty area (3.2). Baumgartner has also helped Austria slow play down when needed with 2.7 fouls won, and has also performed his defensive duties admirably with five recoveries per 90.
Baumgartner has been crucial for Austria (Ronny Hartmann/AFP via Getty Images)
Baumgartner also enjoyed a decent debut season with Leipzig, scoring five times in 32 Bundesliga matches (11 starts). He is contracted to the team until 2028, but there have already been links to clubs elsewhere.
Xavi Simons (Netherlands), attacking midfielder — Paris Saint-Germain
Offensively, Simons has at times looked below his best at Euro 2024, with a controversially disallowed goal against France adding to his frustration. However, a deeper dive into his stats suggests that the Dutchman is doing just fine — at least through a creative lens.
Simons’ 5.2 shot-creating actions and 0.5 goal-creating actions per 90 are well above the tournament-wide average of 4.2 and 0.4 respectively, while his 5.7 passes into the final third is the highest among his peers. He also nabbed an assist in the 3-2 defeat to Austria, charging forward on the counter before sliding a perfectly weighted reverse pass to Cody Gakpo.
Simons could leave PSG this summer, having impressed at PSV Eindhoven (19 goals and nine assists in 34 Eredivisie matches) in 2022-23 and then on loan at Leipzig last season (eight goals and 13 assists in 32 Bundesliga appearances).
For now, though, he will want to find the back of the net when the Netherlands take on Romania in the round of 16 on Tuesday.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia), winger — Napoli
‘Kvaradona’ was expected to spearhead Georgia at these Euros and while he’s scored only once, he has been electric at times.
The Napoli winger has been instrumental to everything his team have done in attack, ranking high in almost every key attacking and ball progression metric as the graph below shows.
Kvaratskhelia has also used his energy to track back and help Georgia defend in numbers, with his 3.9 recoveries per 90 placing him above every other forward at the Euros, while he is among the top six per cent for tackles won with 0.7.
While not hitting the heights he did with Napoli when they won the title in 2022-23, the 23-year-old still managed 11 goals and eight assists in 34 Serie A matches before this summer’s Euros. Kvaratskhelia’s future has been a question mark for some time now and another bright display against Spain in the round of 16 next week will only enhance his reputation even further.
Dennis Man (Romania), winger — Parma
Romania have been one of the surprise packages of these Euros, impressing in both their 3-0 win over Ukraine and 2-0 defeat to Belgium. Numerous players have exceeded expectations, with Man high on that list.
The Parma forward shone in both those games, grabbing two assists against the Ukrainians, including the one below for Denis Dragus. He also forced Belgian goalkeeper Koen Casteels into three saves, including an excellent one-versus-one stop in the second half. Man’s 4.1 shot-creating actions and 1.5 goal-creating actions per 90 are both team-high figures.
Man’s talent was on display during his club season as well. He played a pivotal role in Parma securing a return back to the Italian top flight by winning Serie B. The 25-year-old scored 11 goals and provided six assists in 32 league matches. And with his contract expiring in 2025, Man could be available for an attractive-looking fee this summer.
(Top photos: Getty Images)
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