With the World Cup finally taking a brief pause – and not just for hydration breaks but an actual day without matches – it’s the perfect time to catch up on the latest happenings in the transfer market.

Earlier, we rounded up the notable transfers that slipped under the radar during the group stage. But as the round of 32 and round of 16 unfolded, several more intriguing moves took place across the footballing world.

The headline transfers so far include Elliot Anderson’s switch from Nottingham Forest to Manchester City, Sandro Tonali’s move from Newcastle United to Tottenham Hotspur, and Mateus Fernandes’ transfer from West Ham to Spurs.

As the knockout rounds kicked off on June 28, the transfer activity intensified. Here are a dozen moves you might not have noticed amid the World Cup excitement.

Former West Ham striker Sebastien Haller has made his first club move outside Europe, joining Japanese side Sanfrecce Hiroshima on a free transfer. Haller, who managed just one goal for Utrecht last season, has shown remarkable resilience after recovering from testicular cancer a few years ago. Now 32 and omitted from Ivory Coast’s World Cup squad, he will spend the 2025–26 season in Hiroshima.

Alfonso Pedraza, once on loan at Leeds United back in 2017, has left Villarreal permanently for the first time at the age of 30 to join Lazio. The Serie A club is working on a ‘net zero’ transfer budget, focusing on free transfers such as Pedraza, who has signed a three-year deal.

Manchester City quietly signed 19-year-old winger Detourbet, without even announcing the move. The youngster, who made 14 appearances for Troyes last season, has since joined Monaco on loan, with the French club identifying City as his parent team. As per Fabrizio Romano, City’s deal for Detourbet is valued at €25 million.

Brighton have been notably active in recent weeks. While their acquisition of Pascal Struijk from Leeds attracted attention, they also secured Austrian defender Svoboda from Venezia after his pivotal role in their promotion from Serie B. Despite assumptions that he might be a young prospect, Svoboda, 27, was an unused substitute for Austria at the World Cup. He has agreed to a four-year contract, marking his first spell in the Premier League.

David Carmo’s stint at Nottingham Forest ended before it began. After joining from Porto in 2024, he was immediately loaned to Olympiacos – where he had already been playing – following negotiations between Evangelos Marinakis and Evangelos Marinakis. After spending last season with Oviedo in Spain, Carmo has now returned to Greece permanently, signing a three-year deal.

Billy Koumetio, once a Liverpool prospect, spent six years at Anfield, making one EFL Cup and one Champions League appearance before leaving in 2024. Following two seasons with Dundee, he has re-entered English football with a four-year contract at Charlton Athletic. Reports suggest the Championship club paid around £500,000 for the 23-year-old French defender.

Burnley’s full-back Hartman, who experienced relegation in his debut season, has moved to La Liga with Espanyol on loan – a deal likely facilitated by Burnley chairman Alan Pace, who also serves as Espanyol’s president.

Eliezer Mayenda, who managed just two goals in Sunderland’s first Premier League campaign after promotion, has nonetheless earned the club a significant fee with his transfer to Rennes. The 21-year-old striker, formerly with Sochaux, now ranks among Sunderland’s top three most expensive departures.

Chris Brown’s transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt to Bayern Munich might have been overshadowed by Germany’s World Cup exit in the round of 32. The left-back, fresh from his first major tournament, completed a €55 million move shortly after the national team’s elimination. He follows Ismael Saibari, who joined Bayern from PSV for €50 million, as part of the club’s major summer reinforcement plan.

Former Chelsea academy graduate Myles Peart-Harris, who made only four Premier League appearances for Brighton, rebuilt his career in the EFL, spending the last six months with Oxford United. Following the expiration of his contract, he has joined Middlesbrough on a four-year deal, staying in the Championship. Middlesbrough recently sold Hayden Hackney to Everton, making Peart-Harris’s arrival a timely addition.

Leeds United continue to have faith in their youth system. Harry Gray, younger brother of Archie Gray, spent the latter half of last season on loan with Rotherham United in League One. The 17-year-old forward is now set for another League One outing, joining Sheffield Wednesday on loan.

Finally, 19-year-old Ekhator has completed a step up from Genoa to Juventus after two seasons in Serie A. The young forward made his Italy debut in June, albeit in a squad dominated by under-21 players. Juventus, recognising his potential, have invested €16 million to secure his services.