The ten best signings by Europa League teams
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
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'The new Neymar', Zlatan and the 2016 final man of the match feature in our pick of the UEFA Europa League contenders' summer signings. Disagree? Tell us using #UEL.
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Gabriel Barbosa: Santos to Inter
A star of Brazil's Olympic football win, the left-footed Santos forward was snapped up by Inter on his 20th birthday; not for nothing is he dubbed 'the new Neymar'.
Coke: Sevilla to Schalke
Two-goal man of the match as Sevilla bagged a UEFA Europa League hat-trick in May, Coke accepted a new challenge with Schalke. However, a serious knee injury will postpone his Bundesliga debut.
Dante: Wolfsburg to Nice
The experienced Brazilian centre-back is reunited with his former Mönchengladbach coach Lucien Favre in Nice, a year after swapping Bayern for Wolfsburg.
Breel Embolo: Basel to Schalke
A long-heralded talent, the 19-year-old Switzerland striker left Basel – where he once played UEFA Youth League and Champions League football in the same season – in a big-money move to Schalke.
Pierre-Emile Höjbjerg: Bayern München to Southampton
Still only 21 but a seasoned Danish international, attacking midfielder Höjbjerg has gone from the Bayern fringes (and Schalke loanee) to full-time Southampton player.
Zlatan Ibrahimović: Paris to Manchester United
THE free transfer of the summer, with Ibrahimović having already scored four goals in as many United appearances after linking up with his ex-Inter boss José Mourinho.
Yevhen Konoplyanka: Sevilla to Schalke
A runner-up and a winner in this competition in the last two seasons, Ukraine winger Konoplyanka joined Schalke on loan, 12 months after departing Dnipro for Sevilla.
Pato: Corinthians to Villarreal
Following an ill-fated loan stint at Chelsea, Pato came to Villarreal in a permanent switch from Corinthians – and duly scored on his debut in the UEFA Champions League play-off.
Paul Pogba: Juventus to Manchester United
Following an exciting EURO with France, the midfielder returned to the club he left – in order to Join Juventus – in 2012.
Martin Škrtel: Liverpool to Fenerbahçe
The imposing defender is back in the UEFA Europa League, after heading to Istanbul from 2016 runners-up Liverpool on the back of his EURO exploits with Slovakia.