The best transfer announcements of the summer window (and the worst) | Transfer window

Alejandro Gómez, Free Agent to Padua

Sometimes it’s best not to overcomplicate things. The former Atalanta playmaker Alejandro “Papu” Gómez loves a dance (his hit single Dance Like the Papu went viral in 2017) and Padua is an absolutely gorgeous city in northern Italy, so this Saturday Night Fever-inspired transfer announcement video for the Argentinian that showcases both works a charm. In what feels like a high-quality production, the 2022 World Cup winner struts around the city in 1970s clobber: a leather jacket, an enormously lappelled shirt and a vintage pair of Copa Mundials, all to the sound of the Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive. The context of this transfer to the Serie B side is that Gómez is finishing a two-year doping ban after taking a banned substance, which the now 37-year-old claimed came from his son’s cough medicine. Gómez, fifth on the all-time list of Serie A assists, continues to train independently but can start training with his new Padova teammates on 19 August.

Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford to Manchester United

A slightly different one in that this was not an announcement video but a farewell, as Bryan Mbeumo issued an Interstellar-themed message to Brentford supporters before his move to Manchester United. This could have gone badly wrong (and the thought of another Interstellar-themed video in the future where Mbeumo is shouting “Don’t let me leave, Brentford” to himself is a tempting one) but the Cameroon forward pitches it perfectly here, as he recreates the incredible scene where Cooper, played by Matthew McConaughey, looks back over years of messages left by his children. There are some heartfelt moments in Mbeumo’s video: his first Brentford goal, his special relationship with supporters and teammates and his memories of Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League. “6 years that felt like 6 minutes,” reads the accompanying caption to the video. “It’s time to take off and to leave the Bees Planet. But before I go, I want to thank all of you. It was an incredible journey full of emotion, smile, laugh and you made every moment very special. You’ll always have my heart. We’ll meet again in this dimension and in the others.”

Saul ñíguez, Atlético Madrid to Flamengo

A fairly obvious pun was the catalyst for this Better Call Saul-themed poster, with Saúl’s head neatly photoshopped on top of Saul Goodman’s body. The image might also be a veiled nod to the call that Saúl received from his former Atlético Madrid teammate Filipe Luís, now head coach at Flamengo. Saúl was on the verge of signing for Trabzonspor after verbally agreeing a deal with the Turkish club but backed out at the last minute, citing “personal stuff”, leading to a furious statement from Trabzonspor’s head coach Fatih Tekke: “Let those who don’t want Trabzon have their fun. We will find a better one.”

Paul Pogba, free agent to Monaco

Another World Cup winner back from a lengthy doping ban, Paul Pogba’s return to football with Monaco struck a very different vibe to Alejandro Gómez. Pogba’s announcement video, Entitled the Renaissanceis more pensive but still slick, with his unmistakeable energy and confidence on show. “Like a kid all excited for his first day of school,” narrates the Frenchman. But a secondary video showing a tearful Pogba actually signing his contract has far more impact. In contrast to the first choreographed video, Pogba’s raw emotion comes to the fore here as his doping ban, injuries and legal cases seem to melt away with the resumption of his career. “I’m sorry – thank you for your trust,” blurts out Pogba to Monaco’s sporting director, Thiago Scuro, with the midfielder barely able to get the words out. “It is very rare to see me cry like that, so I hope you enjoyed it,” Pogba later reflected. “There were so many images that came into my mind. We know the doping story, my injury. Everything came back to me during the signing and I couldn’t hold back.”

Luuk de Jong, PSV to Porto

The most surprising transfer announcement of this transfer window is Porto’s signing of Luuk de Jong, whose arrival was kept completely under wraps until an in-person, real-time reveal in front of the fans at the Estádio do Dragão before a pre-season friendly. In an age when journalists and fans are seemingly privy to transfer detail, De Jong’s deal was a complete secret, and the idea of Porto’s president, André Villas-Boas. With a baseball cap pulled over his head, the 6ft 2in De Jong was lucky not to be seen at Porto airport when he arrived on Sunday, but was smuggled into a taxi without anyone noticing. Even De Jong’s medical was booked as a new player for Porto’s handball team (De Jong’s parents were both professional volleyball players) as the club scrambled to keep his arrival from leaking. After meeting his new teammates in the dressing room before the match, the Dutch striker walked out of the tunnel around 6pm to shock the fans.

And the worst one …

Burnley have carved out a niche in creating unique transfer announcements in the recent past but their Lionel Richie-themed one for Kyle Walker this summer is quite something. Excruciating acting by the England defender and a bizarre concept. Nope.