The 2026 Ballon d’Or will spotlight the game’s biggest prizes across the men’s and women’s competitions, with several of Europe’s leading clubs heavily represented on the shortlists.

Paris Saint-Germain headline the men’s field with a remarkable 10 nominations for the Men’s Ballon d’Or, while Barcelona lead overall with 20 nominees across the available categories. Bayern Munich stand alone as the only club to be nominated for both the Men’s and Women’s Club of the Year award. Arsenal, the defending English champions, appear in every men’s category except the Kopa Trophy.

PSG’s list is stacked with Ousmane Dembélé, Achraf Hakimi, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Marquinhos, Nuno Mendes, João Neves, Willian Pacho, Fabián Ruiz, Ferran Torres and Vitinha all named for the Men’s Ballon d’Or. Warren Zaïre-Emery is in line for the Kopa Trophy, Matvey Safonov is on the Yashin Trophy list, Luis Enrique is nominated for Men’s Coach of the Year, and PSG are up for Men’s Club of the Year.

Arsenal’s nominations are more concentrated, with Gabriel, Declan Rice and William Saliba all shortlisted for the Men’s Ballon d’Or. Mariona Caldentey and Alessia Russo are both in the running for the Women’s Ballon d’Or, David Raya is up for the Yashin Trophy, Mikel Arteta is nominated for Men’s Coach of the Year, and Arsenal are in the Club of the Year conversation.

Barcelona’s nominations span both squads, with Pau Cubarsí, Rodri, Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal among the men’s names, while their women’s representatives include Esmee Brugts, Cata Coll, Caroline Graham Hansen, Patri Guijarro, Mapi Leion, Ewa Pajor, Claudia Pina and Alexia Putellas. Vicky López and Clara Serrajordi are on the Women’s Kopa Trophy list, Joan García is nominated for the Yashin Trophy, Pere Romeu is in the Coach of the Year race, and Barcelona are favourites for Women’s Club of the Year.

Bayern’s strongest men’s nominees are Harry Kane, Luis Díaz, Michael Olise and Dayot Upamecano, while Klara Bühl, Pernille Harder and Momoko Tanikawa feature on the women’s side. Lennart Karl is on the Kopa Trophy shortlist and Vincent Kompany is up for Men’s Coach of the Year.

Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester City also have notable representation across the awards, underlining how widely the nominations are spread among Europe’s leading clubs.

Manchester City have completed the signing of Enzo Fernández from Chelsea, bringing the 25-year-old back together with his former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

The transfer closes a turbulent six-month stretch that included a club suspension, interest from several clubs, an ultimatum and repeated hostility from supporters at Stamford Bridge.

The dispute dates back to March, when Chelsea’s vice-captain publicly discussed Real Madrid and made comments about his future that led to a two-match suspension. At the time, then-manager Liam Rosenior said, “A line was crossed in terms of our culture and what we want to build,”

From there, the situation only grew more unsettled. Chelsea’s failure to reach European competition added pressure, before Fernández’s run with Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final kept attention on his next step.

His wish to reunite with Maresca became clear, and Chelsea responded with a firm deadline for City: $162.1 million (£120 million) had to arrive by August 14 at 5 p.m. BST (12 p.m. ET, 9 a.m. PT), or the deal was off.

No offer came by the deadline. A day later, Fernández appeared off the bench in a friendly against Real Sociedad at Stamford Bridge and was greeted by whistles. He received the same reaction in Chelsea’s opening Premier League match at Fulham.

Chelsea later reopened talks with City, which kept Fernández out of the squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Luton Town and the league match against Brighton and Hove Albion. Manager Xabi Alonso said he “needed” players who are fully “focused.”

Fernández had been left choosing between repairing a damaged relationship at Chelsea or starting again under a manager he knows well, while also stepping into Champions League football.

The move also sets a notable financial marker. Fernández becomes the only player ever to command two fees above $135 million (£100 million). He joined Chelsea from Benfica for $131 million (£106 million) in January 2023, shortly after winning the World Cup.

For Chelsea, the sale is their biggest since Eden Hazard’s move to Real Madrid in 2019, and it takes their summer player sales to $575 million (£425 million).

Before leaving, Fernández wrote: “I want you to know that these have not been easy days for me. Writing this is not easy either. The truth is, I haven’t been in a good place,”

“Three years ago, Cobham and Stamford Bridge became home for me and my family. I grew attached to the people, to the shirt and to the badge of this incredible club.”

Deadline Day brings the summer window to a close on Tuesday, but there is still enough time for late movement, fresh tension and a few final breakdowns.

Several long-running transfer situations remain unresolved, and the final hours could still reshape plans for a number of clubs. Here are six of the most notable sagas heading into the close of the market.

Julián Alvarez has made his desire clear, publicly describing a move to Barcelona as his “dream”, but Atlético Madrid have maintained all summer that they will not sell to their domestic rivals. Barcelona left a $135 million bid on the table in mid-July, yet Atlético have not shifted. The Argentine has tried to force change, but the response has been firm. Atlético are prepared to do business with Arsenal for the right price, although the Gunners have not been able to persuade Alvarez to abandon Barcelona. Barcelona have already moved on to Gabriel Jesus, while Arsenal may now look at Malick Fofana.

Tottenham Hotspur’s response to their early defeats has led them into several forward options. They agreed terms with Iliman Ndiaye on Sunday morning and were also hopeful of sending Richarlison back to Everton, though those moves now appear linked. Everton have not yet reached agreement on personal terms with their former striker, which has complicated Spurs’ work. With Cody Gakpo staying at Liverpool, Manchester City have turned their attention elsewhere, while Spurs are moving on and Roberto De Zerbi may yet reunite with Mykhailo Mudryk.

Enzo Fernández remains another major name to watch. Chelsea considered a sale while Liam Rosenior was in charge, with Real Madrid later explored as a possible destination, but City have emerged as the strongest suitor. They are prepared to pay $162 million for the former Benfica midfielder, who has been transformed into a box-crashing midfielder by Pep Guardiola’s successor, Enzo Maresca, at Stamford Bridge.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are still seeking a right-sided forward after being pushed back for Yankuba Minteh and failing so far to turn interest in Ismaïla Sarr into an agreement. Sarr wants the move, but Palace are standing firm after two bids were rejected.

Joshua Zirkzee’s future also remains open. He has turned down a loan move to Fiorentina and prefers Juventus, but their interest in Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade has created doubt. With Jonathan David having joined Atlético Madrid, Juve are prioritising Woltemade.

Everton are also preparing for change, with Ndiaye expected to leave and Jack Grealish emerging as a possible return target after a loan spell that started brightly before a foot injury ended his season in January.