The 10 best European Championship transfers of all time

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 1 Apr 2024 10:25 BST
• 8 min read

The 2024 European Championship is nearly here and fans across the continent will be hoping for glory in Germany.

The biggest names in European football will be taking part and many will be hoping to put themselves in the shop window for a big-money summer move.

Historically, clubs have found great success when buying players after the Euros and this year could be no different.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the 10 best European Championship transfers of all time.

READ MORE: When does Euro 2024 start? Date of opening game and opening ceremony

Bernd Schuster - Free (Koln to Barcelona, 1980)

Bernd Schuster’s career is genuinely incredible. He is the only non-Spanish player in history to play for Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid during his career, while the German previously admitted that Hollywood wanted to make a film about his life.

After starring for FC Koln in the Bundesliga, Schuster decided to leave his homeland following his performances at Euro 1980. He won the Silver Ball at the tournament as West Germany emerged triumphant, earning himself a move to Barcelona.

At Camp Nou, Schuster became one of the world’s best midfielders and he played a key role in the Blaugrana’s European Cup success in 1982 and their La Liga title win under Terry Venables in 1985, which ended an 11-year drought without a league triumph.

He joined El Clasico rivals Real Madrid in 1988 having won eight trophies with Barcelona.

READ MORE: Euro 2024 Draw - Groups, fixtures, knockouts, favourites

Preben Elkjaer - Undisclosed (Lokeren to Hellas Verona, 1984)

Preben Elkjaer’s career was mostly overshadowed by fellow Denmark star Michael Laudrup, but he was a fantastic player in his own right.

He played a prominent role at Euro 1984, scoring two goals in four games for Denmark, and although he missed the decisive spot kick in his nation’s semi-final loss against Spain, Elkjaer was rewarded with a move to Serie A side Hellas Verona.

What followed was sensational. Elkjaer led Verona to a surprise Scudetto win in 1984-85, which remains the only major trophy the club has won in its entire history. His most memorable moment of the campaign came when he netted a fantastic solo strike against Juventus without his right boot on after it had come off during his run to goal.

Elkjaer came second in the 1985 Ballon d’Or after guiding Verona to Serie A glory.

Frank Rijkaard - €3m (Sporting to AC Milan, 1988)

Frank Rijkaard came through the ranks at Ajax, but he joined Sporting CP in 1987 after a bust-up with Johan Cruyff. However, he was registered too late and was ineligible to present the club in any competitions.

As a result, he joined Real Zaragoza on loan and the following summer he was on the move to AC Milan after a brilliant Euro 1988.

Rijkaard played next to Ronald Koeman at centre-back as the Netherlands won the tournament and he joined Milan for €3m following his performance at the Euros.

The Dutchman won nine trophies at San Siro, including the European Cup during his debut campaign. He also played a key role as Milan defended their crown in 1990. Rijkaard returned to Ajax after making over 200 appearances for the Italian giants.

Pavor Suker - €3.6m (Sevilla to Real Madrid, 1996)

Pavor Suker is the first player on this list to earn a move following Euro 1996, and he isn’t the last.

The Croatian striker netted three goals at the tournament, including a memorable chip over Denmark’s Peter Schmeichel which is one of the greatest goals in European Championship history. As a result of his performances at Euro 1996, Suker earned himself a move from Sevilla to Real Madrid as a result.

He had performed admirably with Sevilla and his form continued at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Croatia international scored 24 league goals during his debut campaign with Real Madrid as he helped Los Blancos win La Liga.

Despite playing a smaller role in his second season, Suker was Real Madrid’s joint top-scorer in the Champions League (four goals) as they lifted the historic trophy in 1988.

Alan Shearer - €18m (Blackburn to Newcastle, 1996)

Alan Shearer had already won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers before Euro 1996, so his move to Newcastle United was far from purely due to his Golden Boot win at the tournament, but it certainly helped.

Shearer scored five goals as England reached the semi-final stage, and he joined his boyhood club Newcastle for a world record fee of €18m as a result.

The rest is history. Shearer went on to become both Newcastle’s and the Premier League’s all-time record goalscorer, although he never won a trophy with the Magpies.

Zinedine Zidane - €3.5m (Bordeaux to Juventus, 1996)

Zinedine Zidane is one of the most recognisable names in football history and while he was one of the best players in Ligue 1 during his time at Bordeaux, his move to Juventus after Euro 1996 launched him onto the global stage.

“Zizou” wasn’t at his best during the tournament, but he scored during France’s penalty shootouts in both the quarter-finals and semi-finals, and Juventus opted to spend €3.5m on him.

Zidane became a legend in Turin, winning six major honours at the club before he became the world’s most expensive player courtesy of his €77.5m transfer to Real Madrid in 2001 as part of Los Blancos’ Galactico era.

Lilian Thuram - Free (Monaco to Parma, 1996)

Just like his France team-mate Zidane, Lilian Thuram also earned a big move following his performances at Euro 1996.

He left Monaco to join Serie A side Parma after the tournament in England, and Thuram became a legend at the Italian team, winning three trophies during a five-year spell.

He established himself as a key member of France’s squad during his time at Parma and he was instrumental in Les Blues’ win at the 1998 World Cup.

Thuram and fellow Parma star Gianluigi Buffon then both joined Juventus in 2001, with the France international signing for a whopping €36.2m.

Pavel Nedved - €4.7m (Sparta Prague to Lazio, 1996)

Pavel Nedved is the final 1996 transfer to be included in this list. The Czech Republic star finally left his homeland for Lazio after shining for his nation at Euro 1996.

Nedved scored his first senior international goal during the tournament and he was named Man of the Match during Czech Republic’s semi-final win over France.

The midfielder soon joined Lazio, with the Italian giants impressed by his form in England. Nedved became a legend at the club and he helped them win seven major honours during his time in Rome, including the 1999 European Cup Winners’ Cup.

Nedved was also signed by Juventus in 2001, along with Thuram and Buffon, after the Old Lady lost Zidane to Real Madrid.

Robert Pires - €9.8m (Marseille to Arsenal, 2000)

Robert Pires assisted the winner in France’s Euro 2000 final win over Italy and he joined Premier League giants Arsenal just weeks later.

The French winger had struggled during his time at Marseille, but he shone at the Emirates Stadium, despite a difficult start to life in English football.

Pires won two Premier League’s and two FA Cup’s with Arsenal, leaving the Gunners in 2006, having scored 85 goals and provided 61 assists in nearly 300 games.

Mario Mandzukic - €13m (Wolfsburg to Bayern, 2012)

Mario Mandzukic is the final player on this list and while he isn’t the most glamorous name, he was a fantastic player during his prime.

Although Croatia were knocked out of Euro 2012 in the group stages, Mandzukic ended the tournament as the joint top goal-scorer with three goals. His form on the international stage, and for Wolfsburg, convinced Bayern Munich to spend €13m on him in their bid to win the Champions League.

The Bavarians had lost to Chelsea on home turf in the 2012 final and were aiming to immediately rectify that in 2013. With Mandzukic in the side, that’s exactly what they achieved, beating Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the final courtesy of goals from the Croatian and Arjen Robben.

Mandzukic scored 48 goals and won eight trophies during his two-year stint at Bayern, before leaving under Pep Guardiola’s reign.