10 World Cup Stars Poised for Summer Transfers After Shining in North America
The World Cup has a unique way of changing football careers overnight. The grand stage draws intense attention, making standout performances impossible to ignore. Clubs scramble to sign emerging talents or newly recognized stars, and the 2026 tournament is no exception. With more teams and matches than ever before, scouts and coaches have discovered plenty of promising players.
Newcastle recently agreed a £51.5 million ($69 million) deal for Johan Manzambi from Freiburg, a key figure in Switzerland’s journey to the quarter-finals. But who else might be on the move after impressing in North America? Here are 10 players expected to make summer transfers.
Elijah Just (New Zealand)
Motherwell won’t rush to sell Elijah Just, signed just last summer from Horsens, but the New Zealand winger’s value has definitely risen after scoring three goals at the World Cup. Chris Sutton remarked that Just has "added zeros" to his market price. Celtic and Toulouse are reportedly considering offers, with Just potentially fetching around £4 million after a strong debut season where he netted seven times.
Mbekezeli Mbokazi (South Africa)
Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s agent, Basia Michaels, revealed top clubs have already shown interest. The 20-year-old Chicago Fire defender played every minute as South Africa reached the knockout stage for the first time. Napoli and Nottingham Forest are among the contenders for the Orland Pirates product. Michaels said she hopes he ends up in a top-five league and believes he deserves Champions League football.
Tarik Muharemovic (Bosnia & Herzegovina)
Before the World Cup, Inter and Juventus were eyeing Muharemovic, who joined Sassuolo permanently last year. Now, both Serie A giants regret not securing him earlier as Sassuolo raised their asking price. Premier League clubs like Sunderland are interested following his strong performances. Muharemovic prefers a move to Milan, but financial factors might send him elsewhere, possibly to the Premier League.
Julian Quinones (Mexico)
Julian Quinones, who outscored Ivan Toney and Cristiano Ronaldo to win the Saudi Pro League Golden Boot with 33 goals in 31 matches, may now have earned a move to England after scoring in four of Mexico’s five World Cup games. Having recently renewed with Al-Qadsiah, the club isn’t pressured to sell, but Quinones would likely welcome a Premier League chance.
Gilberto Mora (Mexico)
Liverpool are reportedly keen on 17-year-old Gilberto Mora, who rose to prominence during Mexico’s World Cup run. Starting on the bench, he impressed enough to start against Ecuador and England. Though still raw, his potential is clear, attracting competition from Manchester City, Arsenal, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. His valuation now stands near €40 million.
Antonio Nusa (Norway)
Erling Haaland stole the show for Norway, but Antonio Nusa also caught eyes with dynamic displays on the left wing. Tottenham, who passed on signing him in January, now plan a formal bid to RB Leipzig for the 21-year-old. Arsenal might attempt to intercept this transfer after successfully signing Eberechi Eze from Spurs last summer.
Crysencio Summerville (Netherlands)
West Ham’s selling spree has begun with Matheus Fernandes moving to Tottenham for £85 million. Crysencio Summerville looks set to follow, having boosted his value through energetic World Cup performances. Despite limited starts, he contributed directly to four goals and is linked with a £50 million move to Liverpool, who previously competed with Fulham for his signature.
Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco)
Ayyoub Bouaddi stunned many with his calm control against Brazil in Morocco’s opening match. Only 18, the Lille midfielder was always tipped for greatness, and now top English clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United are all keen to sign him. Bouaddi started four of Morocco’s five World Cup games and is considered a major prospect.
Bruno Guimaraes (Brazil)
Bruno Guimaraes faced disappointment after missing a penalty in Brazil’s last-16 loss to Norway, but his overall campaign was impressive. He provided four assists and kept his stock high despite Brazil’s early exit. Arsenal want him to leave Newcastle, but they’ll probably need to pay at least £80 million given his desire to quit St. James Park.
Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast)
Yan Diomande showed his class for Ivory Coast, dazzling with pace and skill even without scoring at the World Cup. Liverpool appeared ready to sign him before the tournament, but Diomande seems set on joining Paris Saint-Germain. Leipzig wants to keep him another season, yet the expectation is a nine-figure transfer to Parc des Princes this summer.
