5 South American Players Making Major Transfers To Europe This Summer
Key Takeaways
Franco Mastantuono, Richard Rios, and Estêvão are among the biggest names making moves from South America to Europe this summer.
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7 min read
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investment
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July 27, 2025
12:32 PM
Forbes
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SportsMoney5 South American Players Making Major Transfers To Europe This SummerByJoseph O'Sullivan, Contributor
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights
Joseph O’Sullivan is a reporter who focuses on South American soccer (this bears monitoring)
Furthermore, AuthorJul 27, 2025, 12:32pm EDTJul 27, 2025, 12:33pm EDTFranco Mastantuono To Real MadridBUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA - APRIL 27: Franco Mastantuono of River Plate celebrates after scoring the, in today's financial world
More team's first goal during the Torneo Apertura Betano 2025 match between River Plate and Boca Juniors at Estadio Mas Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti on April 27, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Moreover, (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)Getty Images Real Madrid has signed Franco Mastantuono from River Plate for $74 million, in light of current trends
Moreover, Mastantuono will join Real Madrid’s first team on August 14th when he turns 18
PSG moved in for Mastantuono at the end of last season, but that advance pushed Real Madrid to act quickly, as the has long admired the Argentinian playmaker
At the same time, Mastantuono is a left-footed number 10 from Argentina
Who does that remind you of
He is nically gifted, physically strong and destined for stardom
Although it must be said that Real Madrid are paying an incredible $74 million fee for a teenager who only made his fessional debut last year
On the other hand, Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi embraces teammate forward #20 Franco Mastantuono after winning, considering recent developments
However, More the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Chile and Argentina at the Nacional Julio Martínez Pradanos stadium in Santiago, on June 5, 2025. (Photo by Javier TORRES / AFP) (Photo by JAVIER TORRES/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images Mastantuono, now capped by Argentina, looks the real deal, given current economic conditions
River Plate has relied on him as their most important player this season (which is quite significant)
Nevertheless, He’s the player River looked to when it needed something special in attack, in today's financial world
He made history with a stunning free-kick against Boca Juniors in the Superclasico and he was also the team penalty taker despite being just 17, in today's financial world
It says a lot his mature character, and he will need a wise head on young shoulders to succeed in the Real Madrid dressing room, in today's market environment
Richard Rios To Benfica Colombian star Richard Rios has made a $35 million switch from Palmeiras to Benfica
Additionally, At the World Cup this summer Rios showed the world the talent that South American soccer fans have been enjoying for years
At the same time, Rios is a box-to-box midfield player that loves to run and press just as much as he loves to bomb forward or try and score
MORE FOR YOU BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA - MARCH 25: Richard Rios of Colombia in action during the South American FIFA
More World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Colombia and Paraguay at Roberto Melendez Metropolitan Stadium on March 25, 2025 in Barranquilla, Colombia
Conversely, (Photo by Mauricio Duque/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)Getty Images Rios helped Palmeiras earn three clean sheets in five World Cup matches and also vided an assist in each knock-out match the team played
Additionally, European s have monitored Rios for some time now and he has finally got his move to a two-time European champion
Rios is 25 years old and has also shown his worth on the international stage
He has made 23 appearances for Colombia and in big wins and a run to the Copa America 2024 final
Jhon Arias To Wolverhampton Wanderers Jhon Arias has moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League, leaving FIFA 2025 World Cup semi finalists Fluminense for an initial fee of $20 million
Arias is another Brazilian-based Colombian who attracted European interest, but a deal never quite materialized, until now
Nevertheless, RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - MAY 02: John Arias of Fluminense celebrates after scoring the team's fifth
Conversely, More goal during the Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2023 group D match between Fluminense and River Plate at Maracana Stadium on May 02, 2023 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)Getty Images Perhaps Arias incredible FIFA 2025 World Cup campaign was enough for Wolves to take the risk on this transfer
Arias won the Copa Libertadores with Fluminense in 2023, played alongside Rios in the 2024 Copa America team, and has been one of the best players in the Brazilian league for the last few years
He is a talented and adaptable player that can succeed at the highest level, in this volatile climate
Estêvão to Chelsea This transfer has been years in the making, and it’s finally happening this summer, in light of current trends
On the other hand, At the same time, Estêvão is leaving Palmeiras and joining Chelsea in London now that he has turned 18
The transfer cost Chelsea $40 million up front but add-ons could take the total transfer fee to $67 million in the future
TOPSHOT - Palmeiras' Brazilian forward #41 Estevao Willian celebrates scoring his team's first goal (noteworthy indeed), in light of current trends
More during the FIFA World Cup 2025 quarterfinal football match between Brazil's Palmeiras and England's Chelsea at the Lincoln Financial Field Stadium in Philadelphia on July 4, 2025
On the other hand, Meanwhile, (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images Many in Brazil regard Estêvão as the country’s brightest young star, given current economic conditions
Estêvão even broke some of Neymar’s domestic records
In contrast, He is creative, a fantastic dribbler of the ball and displayed great maturity and fighting spirit at the World Cup this summer
Additionally, In fact he scored against his new team Chelsea in his last ever game for Palmeiras and showed a level of grit and physicality that will serve him well in England (which is quite significant)
Moreover, Wesley to Roma Italian Serie A side Roma have signed Flamengo’s starting right-back Wesley for $29 million, in light of current trends
Wesley arrived in Rome this weekend to complete his medical and sign the new contract
He s in the footsteps of the great Brazilian World Cup winning captain Cafu, who made the move from Brazil to AS Roma back in 1997
If he can even slightly replicate Cafu’s career then he will be doing alright
However, BRASILIA, BRAZIL - MARCH 20: Wesley França of Brazil controls the ball during the South American
More FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Brazil and Colombia at Mane Garrincha Stadium on March 20, 2025 in Brasilia, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)Getty Images Roma are making a significant investment on the young Brazilian who has never played in Europe and has only just made his international debut
Additionally, Wesley’s fee could rise to $35 million with add-ons and Roma are counting on Wesley to fill the right-back role at just 21 years of age
Moreover, Wesley can attack, defend and connect passes well (which is quite significant)
However, Though he isn’t the tallest, he is fesity and very quick off the mark (this bears monitoring), given the current landscape
He scored a late winner in his last ever Flamengo game this week and has the quality and years ahead of him to go on to achieve amazing things for both Roma and the Brazilian national team (something worth watching)
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