Four World Cup stars putting themselves in the summer transfer shop window

The 2026 World Cup has featured long-range screamers and red cards aplenty, and while some teams might have been eliminated after just two games, others have made their mark in impressive fashion.

At the heart of those nations are a select few stars who are thriving under pressure and putting in performances which are making people take notice. 

For some, that might lead to a move to a new club once the tournament concludes - but who are the individuals who have put themselves in the shop window for a potential summer transfer?

Ayyoub Bouaddi

Having reached the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, there were high expectations of Morocco, and it’s more than fair to say that the Atlas Lions have lived up to the hype so far.

At the centre of it all is 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who has anchored the team in Group C and dictated play with ease.

Against Brazil, he was arguably the best midfielder on the pitch, despite sharing it with more established names like Bruno Guimarães and Casemiro, and how well he handled the pressure will have impressed potential suitors.

Lille’s star was already being tracked by some of the biggest clubs in world football, including Real Madrid and Arsenal, but the number of interested parties could well grow as the World Cup progresses. 

Folarin Balogun

The United States have been one of the most impressive teams so far this summer, with the latest World Cup odds from Goal.com now listing the Stars and Stripes as a value pick to make it to the quarter-finals and maybe further.

Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie had been marked as the star players to watch, but it is Folarin Balogun who has arguably elevated his stock the most this summer.

Scoring twice against Paraguay, the Monaco forward has 11 goals in 29 games for the national side, along with 31 strikes in 91 appearances for his club, making him a hot prospect for interested teams in the Premier League and across Europe.

He’s a more well-rounded player than the one who left England in 2023, and some might be tempted by the reported £43.2m price tag given to him.

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Yan Diomande

Just one year after joining RB Leipzig for £17.3m, Yan Diomande could be on the move for over five times that amount.

Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain and other European teams held an interest in him after the winger managed 23 goal contributions in 36 appearances for the Bundesliga team, but his value has only risen at the World Cup.

The Ivory Coast international might not have managed to score in his team’s two opening group stage games, but his dribbling and speed made him a standout player against Ecuador and Germany. 

He has all the intangibles to star on either wing, so any team looking to sign Diomande this summer will almost certainly need to meet Leipzig’s £112m valuation.

Yasin Ayari

Brighton have a knack for developing young talent and selling them for sizable profit, and it certainly appears as though Yasin Ayari is the next star at the Amex Stadium.

It’s taken the Swedish international time to find his feet since joining from AIK, but he made his mark in the Premier League last season, scoring and assisting three times apiece in 29 games.

Ayari has since taken that form into the World Cup, scoring twice from outside the penalty area against Tunisia, while he could have also added to his tally in the loss against the Netherlands.

The 22-year-old looks set to continue developing at a rapid pace, either at Brighton or elsewhere - and with Newcastle lurking, he could make a move to a Premier League rival this summer.

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