Big-money transfers were few and far between on continental Europe during the winter transfer window, as clubs in Spain, Germany, Italy and France had a quiet month with only a few exceptions. AFP Sport rounds up some of the key moves:
When Neymar left Brazil aged 21 in 2013, bound for Barcelona, he set off to establish himself as a footballing great, seemingly destined to be remembered as his country's greatest player since Pele.
Ousmane Dembele scored a hat-trick for the second time in four days as Paris Saint-Germain hammered Brest 5-2 on Saturday in a dress rehearsal of the upcoming Champions League clash between the two sides.
Neymar announced Thursday he was returning to Brazilian club Santos, where he started his career, after ending his injury-plagued spell with Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal.
Reigning champions Real Madrid will face 2023 winners Manchester City in the plum tie of the play-off round of this season's Champions League, following Friday's draw.
Manchester City came from behind against Club Brugge to reach the Champions League knockout phase, where they were safely joined by Paris Saint-Germain as Arsenal qualified directly for the last 16 on Wednesday in the final round of league-phase matches.
The new league phase of this season's expanded Champions League is all set for a frantic conclusion on Wednesday, as 18 matches are played simultaneously across Europe and the likes of Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain battle to avoid an early exit.
Brazilian star Neymar on Monday ended his injury-plagued 18 month stay in Saudi Arabia as his club, Al-Hilal said they had 鈥榓greed to terminate the player's contract by mutual consent鈥�.
Paris Saint-Germain pushed Manchester City to the brink of Champions League elimination after coming from two goals down to win 4-2 on Wednesday, while Arsenal all but secured their place in the last 16.
Pep Guardiola admitted his Manchester City side 鈥榗ould not cope鈥� with Paris Saint-Germain after throwing away a two-goal lead to lose 4-2 to the French side on Wednesday, leaving their Champions League hopes on the brink.
Real Madrid are the first football club to top a billion euros in revenue during a single season, fuelled by income generated by the revamped Santiago Bernabeu stadium, according to financial experts Deloitte.
A stuttering and entirely unconvincing Champions League campaign for Paris Saint-Germain will come to a head if they lose to Manchester City on Wednesday, an outcome which would leave the French club teetering on the brink of an early exit.
USA national team coach Mauricio Pochettino has been quick to praise the quality of American players but says he wants to inject some Argentine spirit and patriotism into his squad.
Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on Friday completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain from Italian league leaders Napoli, the French champions announced.
Georgia winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia posted a video on social media on Thursday to announce his departure from Serie A side Napoli.
Brazilian striker Neymar said Thursday that former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe became 鈥榡ealous鈥� of his relationship with Lionel Messi when the Argentine superstar joined the club in 2021.
Neymar said that the 2026 World Cup will be his last adding he was confident that Brazil would qualify for the finals in North America.
FIFA announced Monday it had adopted an 鈥榠nterim regulatory framework鈥� regarding player transfers after a ruling earlier this year by the European Court of Justice in a case brought by Lassana Diarra.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique insisted Saturday the statistics indicate 鈥榯he best season鈥� of his career as he brushed aside talk of tensions with some of his players.
France star Kylian Mbappe has referred his former club Paris Saint-Germain to the disciplinary committee of the French league in a row over unpaid wages and bonuses, a source close to the body told AFP on Monday.
The new Champions League format leaves plenty of margin for error for clubs aiming to reach the knockout rounds, and yet European heavyweights such as Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain are currently at risk of an early exit.
A gigantic banner proclaiming 鈥楩ree Palestine鈥� unfurled by Paris Saint-Germain supporters at a Champions League match has no place in a football stadium, France's interior minister said on Thursday.
A Hakan Calhanoglu penalty gave Inter Milan a 1-0 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday, while a 93rd-minute winner ensured Atletico Madrid left Paris with all three points.
Neymar will be ruled out for between four and six weeks after scans revealed the Brazil forward had suffered a hamstring tear, his club Al Hilal said on Wednesday.
Arsenal beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in their heavyweight Champions League duel on Tuesday, while last season's beaten finalists Borussia Dortmund gave Celtic a brutal reality check with an emphatic 7-1 win in Germany.
Kylian Mbappe's entourage said on Wednesday they had refused the French football league's offer to act as a mediator between the France captain and Paris Saint-Germain in their dispute over unpaid wages and bonuses for the striker.
Paris Saint-Germain began their defence of the Ligue 1 title with a 4-1 win at Le Havre on Friday in their first competitive game since the departure of talisman Kylian Mbappe to Real Madrid.
Real Madrid attacker Kylian Mbappe said on Tuesday 鈥榯hings and people made me unhappy鈥� at Paris Saint-Germain before he signed a five-year deal with the Spanish club...
Kylian Mbappe has signed a five-year deal to move to Real Madrid from Paris Saint-Germain, the Spanish club announced on Monday.
Kylian Mbappe said he was proud to leave Paris Saint-Germain with his 鈥榟ead held high鈥� after winning Saturday鈥檚 French Cup final, but said he would wait for the right time to confirm where he will be playing next season...