Serie A’s Most Expensive Summer Signings – Who Has Flourished And Who Has Floundered?

With the October international break in full swing, FootItalia takes a closer look into the most expensive summer Serie A transfers and rates their performances so far this season. 

Many have struggled to get going this year but others have hit the ground running with their respective clubs already seeing a handsome return on their investment.

Serie A Transfers – Christopher Nkunku – AC Milan (joined from Chelsea on August 30, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €37million
• ⚽️ Rating: 5/10

As far as Serie A transfers went this summer, AC Milan not only spent the most cash overall, they made the most expensive individual purchase in the form of Christopher Nkunku.

The French forward has struggled to get going at the San Siro so far. Nkunku has featured just three times in Serie A with all his minutes coming from the bench.

However, the 27-year-old did score on his only start in the Coppa Italia second round victory against Lecce. His acrobatic finish earned him the Rossoneri’s Goal of the Month award for September.

Ardon Jashari – AC Milan (joined from Club Brugge on August 6, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €36million
• ⚽️ Rating: N/A

Ardon Jashari arrived in Milan with a fine reputation after he won the 2025 Belgian Player and Young Player of the Year awards at Club Brugge. However, he has only seen 40 minutes of action this season.

The Jashari injury update confirmed the Swiss midfielder suffered a broken fibula in August. The incident occurred in training before MD2 via an accidental collision with Santiago Gimenez.

Therefore, we have decided against giving the 23-year-old a rating. The feeling around the San Siro is that he’ll be a vital cog in Max Allegri’s side but only time will tell if that theory comes to fruition.

Francisco Conceicao – Juventus (joined from Porto on July 22, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €32million
• ⚽️ Rating: 7/10

After Juventus qualified for the Champions League last season, a permanent deal was signed with Porto for the services of Francisco Conceicao – who had spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan at the Allianz Stadium.

The Portuguese winger has operated primarily as a secondary striker this season. And Conceicao has adapted well to the role so far.

He has scored twice in five games across all competitions. Not only that, his slick and neat build-up play have helped Juve remain unbeaten so far.

Sam Beukema – Napoli (joined from Bologna on July 20, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €31million
• ⚽️ Rating: 6/10

Arriving at Napoli after a stellar campaign for Bologna whereby he won the Coppa Italia, Sam Beukema has made a decent start to his career in Naples.

The Dutchman has made five appearances across all competitions but is yet to keep a clean sheet. However, he has adapted well under the guidance of Antonio Conte.

Beukema scored in the MD3 victory over Fiorentina and has been praised for his two Champions League performances. He’ll be vital if the Gli Azzurri retain the Scudetto.

Nico Gonzalez – Juventus (joined from Fiorentina on June 20, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €28million
• ⚽️ Rating: N/A

Similar to Francisco Conceicao, Juventus signed Nico Gonzalez on a permanent deal having spent the 2024-25 campaign on loan with the Bianconeri.

However, the Argentine winger entertained just 17 minutes of action with Juve before being farmed out to Atletico Madrid on September 1.

He failed to score or assist in his two Serie A appearances so providing a rating isn’t applicable. Gonzalez has featured six times for Atleti and found the back of the net on one occasion.

Serie A Transfers – Roberto Piccoli – Fiorentina (joined from Cagliari on August 25, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €25million
• ⚽️ Rating: 4/10

Roberto Piccoli joined Fiorentina with a glowing reputation after starring for Cagliari last year. Nonetheless, the Italian forward has blanked in his five Serie A appearances so far this season.

His big-money move isn’t paying dividends but he has netted in the Conference League. That solitary strike came against Czech side Sigma Olomouc earlier this month.

La Viola supporters will want to see a vast improvement after the international break. Especially as the club have struggled badly in 2025-26.

Nikola Krstovic – Atalanta (joined from Lecce on August 20, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €25million
• ⚽️ Rating: 8/10

After completing his €25m move to Atalanta in August, Nikola Krstovic has been one of Serie A’s finest performers so far in 2025-26.

The Montenegro international has scored twice and provided three assists in Italy’s elite soccer division. La Dea supporters will be very happy with his start – especially as he was drafted in to replace Mateo Retegui.

Krstovic knows he can still improve but he has adapted well under Ivan Juric. The signs are very positive so far for the 25-year-old forward.

Wesley – Roma (joined from Flamengo on July 28, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €25million
• ⚽️ Rating: 7/10

Wesley has gone from the Brazilian Serie A to the Italian equivalent and made the switch look seamless. The attacking right-back scored on his Roma debut in the MD1 victory over Bologna at the Stadio Olimpico.

That was the perfect introduction to the Giallorossi faithful and he has continued to flourish since then. A Selecao international, Wesley has started in every league game this season bar the Rome Derby whereby he was injured.

A costly yet fine addition to Gian Piero Gasperini’s side. Supporters will be confident the 22-year-old can push on for the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.

Noa Lang – Napoli (joined from PSV on July 17, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €25million
• ⚽️ Rating: 3/10

Expectations were extremely high when Noa Lang moved to Napoli. However, the tricky winger has failed to live up to the hype and has floundered somewhat.

On paper, it looked like one of the finest Serie A transfers but the Dutchman has failed to get going yet. Lang is yet to start a match in any competition and has mustered up just 51 minutes of action.

The 26-year-old hasn’t scored or assisted and has plenty of work to do to convince the Gli Azzurri he will be a big hit in Naples.

Serie A Transfers – Neil El Aynaoui  – Roma (joined from Lens on July 20, 2025)

• 💰 Transfer fee: €24million
• ⚽️ Rating: 5/10

Unlike team-mate Wesley who has enjoyed a strong start, Neil El Aynaoui has struggled to nail down a regular place in the Roma starting XI this season.

In his only Serie A start, El Aynaoui was hauled off at half-time during the 1-0 home defeat to Torino on MD3. The Morocco international has only managed 49 more minutes of league action since then.

However, he has been afforded more game time in the Europa League. El Aynaoui has played the full 90 in both matches against Nice and Lille but he has plenty of work to do to establish himself as a regular starter.