According to ESPN writer and broadcaster Sam Tighe, with the dust settling on a manic 2026 summer transfer window, it is clear which clubs prospered and which did not. Tighe notes that you have heard all about the major deals, the winners and losers, and the late drama that ensconced the watching world on deadline day. However, there are other, more under-the-radar stories that shaped the window. Tighe's alternative awards hand out eight off-beat trophies to those who did not quite make the spotlight. One of these awards is for the unluckiest player, which has been given to Érik Lira of Cruz Azul. Lira was set to join Monaco, but the deal fell through due to a lack of non-EU squad spots available to the Ligue 1 club. Balogun's decision to reject the move to Everton meant that Lira was left without a transfer, and he has since received an apology from Monaco.