One thing that can dramatically change a team’s fortunes is a successful signing, something multiple Serie A sides truly discovered in the 2022-23 season.
Italian teams spent a total of €851.2m in transfer fees across the two windows – not including wages or commissions – and some of these players went on to play a vital role for their respective clubs, taking them to new heights or keeping things under control as the campaign went on. Some of these have already become true fan favourites, a sign of their immediate impact.
Looking at costs, performances and the underlying numbers, which players were the most impressive signings of the 2022-23 season?
1 – Khvicha Kvaratskhelia
Let’s get the most obvious choice for this list on the board straight away. Kvaratskhelia has been one of the two main symbols of Napoli’s historic Scudetto success this season, exploding onto the scene with his tricky feet, devilish runs, and impressive ability to find the back of the net.
The 22-year-old Georgian winger, who only cost around €11.5m, scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists in his first 34 Serie A appearances, a truly incredible return on investment that helped Luciano Spalletti’s side charge to their third ever Scudetto.
In the space of 12 months, Kvaratskhelia has emerged as one of the most exciting and talented youngsters in European football and is already a fan favourite in the Campania capital.
2 – Paulo Dybala
Many Juventus fans were not particularly happy with the club’s decision to let Dybala leave on a free transfer last summer, and his debut season with Jose Mourinho’s Roma has justified these feelings. The focal point of the Giallorossi attack, no player contributed more to the club this season than the Argentine forward.
The 2022 World Cup winner scored 12 goals and provided six assists in 25 Serie A games under Mourinho, and when he was absent through injury it was painfully felt by his teammates and the fans.
Dybala even allowed Roma to briefly dream on the European stage when he put them 1-0 up over Sevilla in the 34th minute of the Europa League final. Whilst the Giallorossi ultimately went on to lose that match, they wouldn’t have even been there in the first place if not for the 29-year-old.
3 – Andre Onana
Another player who arrived on a free transfer last summer, Onana quickly displaced long-time custodian Samir Handanovic to become the new number one at Inter, and it’s not hard to see why. The former Ajax man perfectly fit Simone Inzaghi’s system, being equally comfortable with the ball at his feet as he is shot stopping.
The 27-year-old was a key figure for Inter in both Serie A and the Champions League, keeping 16 clean sheets in 37 games across both competitions. His work allowed Inzaghi’s side to unexpectedly reach the final of Europe’s premier club competition, and his reliability between the sticks helped the team secure a vital top four finish.
After only a year, Onana has already attracted attention from some of the top clubs around Europe but Inter have no desire to lose the goalkeeper as they look to build on their growth and try to taste victory in Serie A once again.
4 – Kim Min-Jae
Being asked to replace Kalidou Koulibaly is no small task. The Senegalese centre back was the ever-reliable rock at the back for Napoli and a truly loved figure in the Campania capital, so Kim’s ability to instantly fill that void and help the fans move on from Koulibaly is nothing short of incredible.
Seeing over 3000 minutes of action in Serie A under Spalletti, the Korean defender was an important cog in the Partenopei’s tactical system, being both an intelligent and domineering centre back whilst also playing a crucial role in the team’s build-up play, pulling off 4.99 progressive passes and 1.24 progressive carries per 90 minutes on average.
It’s hard to overstate just how important Kim was to Napoli this season and his presence was undoubtedly a key factor in their ability to win the Scudetto for the first time in over three decades. Even if he leaves after just a year, he’ll never be forgotten in the Campania capital.
5 – Boulaye Dia
Kvaratskhelia and Kim were core parts of the puzzle in Napoli’s Scudetto success, but just down in the road in Campania and at the opposite end of the Serie A table, no player was more heroic for Salernitana this season than Dia. Arriving from Villarreal on a loan deal with a buy option attached, the 26-year-old did not disappoint for his new club.
Dia scored 13 goals in 33 Serie A games for the Granata, and his work single-handedly secured a number of points across the campaign for the club. The Senegalese striker’s goals picked up 13 points for Salernitana, allowing them to finish 15th in the table, 11 points away from the relegation zone.
Without the 26-year-old striker, Salernitana could’ve been at real risk of suffering the drop down to Serie B, so it’s no surprise that the Campania side are ready to activate the €12m buy option attached to his deal.
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