Ligue 1’s transfer deadline day featured a mix of late surprises and strategic moves as clubs finalised squads before the international break.
Notable activity included Ben Chilwell’s two-year deal at Strasbourg and Marseille’s loan capture of Benjamin Pavard from Inter. This capped a window where French clubs spent over £433 million on new talent.
The summer’s business was ultimately defined by a fascinating dynamic: reigning European champions PSG fortified their spine for the future, while challengers Marseille invested heavily in both attack and defence in a bid to close the gap.
The five most expensive Ligue 1 transfers of the 2025 summer window
5. Julio Enciso – Brighton to Strasbourg (£16m)
Showcasing the league’s widespread ambition, Strasbourg made a significant move by raiding the Premier League.
They signed Paraguayan attacking midfielder Julio Enciso from Brighton for £16m (€18.5m). The creative 21-year-old is considered a cornerstone of Strasbourg’s exciting new project, bringing top-flight flair and creativity to their squad.
Paraguay, La Joya está en Francia.
Bienvenido a la Ligue 1, Julio Enciso. 💎 pic.twitter.com/wcN9BMvKYs
— Ligue 1 Español (@Ligue1_ESP) September 1, 2025
4. Nayef Aguerd – West Ham to Marseille (£19.9m)
The rest of the top four is dominated by Marseille and PSG, starting with a major defensive signing for OM. They completed a deadline-day deal to bring Moroccan international Nayef Aguerd back to France from West Ham for £19.9m (€23m). A winner with West Ham in the 2023 Europa Conference League, the 29-year-old adds crucial experience and stability to the Marseille backline.
3. Igor Paixao – Feyenoord to Marseille (£26m)
Marseille’s heavy investment was not just in defence. They also broke their club transfer record to sign Igor Paixao from Feyenoord for £26m (€30m).
The reigning Dutch Footballer of the Year, the 25-year-old adds significant attacking flair after a sensational season with 18 goals and 19 assists. Together, these two major signings signal a clear statement of intent from the club.
2. Lucas Chevalier – Lille to PSG (£34.7m)
The window’s two biggest deals belonged to the champions, Paris Saint-Germain, who focused on future-proofing their spine.
Their first major move was signing top goalkeeper Lucas Chevalier from rivals Lille for £34.7m (€40m). The 23-year-old French youth international is viewed as a shrewd long-term investment, arriving to replace the Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma, who joined Manchester City.
Lucas Chevalier. Monsieur Penalty 🦸♂️ pic.twitter.com/q73ZuCEBy5
— Ligue 1 McDonald’s (@Ligue1) September 2, 2025
1. Illya Zabarnyi – Bournemouth to PSG (£54.6m)
Topping the list is the most expensive signing of the Ligue 1 summer window. PSG invested a massive £54.6m (€63m) to bring Ukrainian international centre-back Illya Zabarnyi from Bournemouth. This move was the centerpiece of the club’s strategy to reinforce their defence after conquering Europe. The highly-rated 23-year-old is expected to be a pillar in the Parisian backline as they aim to defend their domestic and continental crowns.
