The 2018/19 Ligue 1 season got underway on Friday with Marseille thrashing Toulouse 4:0. The transfer window in France will close only on 31 August, but I have made a list of top 5 players signed by French clubs by the beginning of the season.

Gianluigi Buffon

At the age of 40, the Italian legend was expected to finish his career this summer, but instead he decided to move abroad for the first time. Buffon's contract with Juventus expired, and the veteran goalkeeper joined Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. Despite the presence of Kevin Trapp and the world champion Alphonse Areola, Gigi is seen as the first-choice goalie, and he hopes to help PSG win the Champions League, the trophey he badly misses in his collection. By the way, Buffon has already won a title with his new club, as PSG beat Monaco 4:0 in the French Supercup.

Duje Caleta-Car

The 22-year-old centre back played just one game for Croatia at the recent World Cup, yet he won a silver medal with his sensational team. In future, Caleta-Car has a good chance to establish himself as a regular starter in the national team - and now he is expected to do the same at Marseille. During the last four seasons, Duje played for Red Bull Salzburg, and emerged as one of the most highly-rated young defenders in Europe. Sevilla and some other clubs also wanted him, but Marseille won the race, paying a reported fee of 19 million euros for the promising player.

Aleksandr Golovin 

The 22-year-old as seen as one of the most promising players of the Russian football, and he did well at the World Cup in his homeland, helping the host team to sensationally reach the quarter-final. Technically gifted, fast and versatile central midfielder from CSKA Moscow was also wanted at Chelsea and Liverpool, but Golovin ended up in the principality club. Now his goal is to adapt in the new team as soon as possible, which is not always easy for Russian players in the Western Europe.

Jose Fonte

Last season, Lille narrowly escaped relegation - and now the club signed the experienced Jose Fonte and Loic Remy, who should provide leadership. The 34-year-old Fonte, the 2016 European champion, has played every minute of Portugal's campaign at the World Cup in Russia. After that, his contract with China's Dalian Yifang was terminated by mutual consent, and the player decided to return to Europe. He was keen on coming bsck to England wher he had spent numerous seasons in the past, but ultimately was grabbed by Lille as a free agent.

Pele

A quality central midfieler has been bought by Monaco to replace Fabinho, who had left for Liverpool. The 26-year-old did well at Rio Ave, where he was named the last season's best player, and deserved to make a step forward in his career. Born and raised in Portugal, Pele represents Guinea-Bissau on an international level. In 2011-15, he actually belonged to Milan, but failed to play a single match for the first team and had loans spells at different clubs. Now the player is determined to prove that he is capable of performing on top level.