It’s been a record-breaking summer of gluttony in the Premier League.
Some 153 players have been purchased for a combined total of £3.09billion — enough to cover half the annual gross domestic product of the Isle of Man.
Of those 153, some will be game-changing additions who’ll become legends for their clubs. Others will absolutely stink the place out and be loaned to Charlton Athletic.
But who falls into which category? Well, we love a thankless task at The Athletic, so we’ve put them in order of worst to best. Well, maybe worst is harsh, but the ones higher up this list are possibly going to be less effective, or unlikely to play much for their new club, or are just a bit risky.
First, some housekeeping. This is not a list ordered purely on ability, but also cost effectiveness, how important they will be to the team who have signed them and whether they fill a dire and necessary need in a certain position.
We’ve trimmed it down to senior, first-team players only, so those who’ve gone straight into under-21s football, like Armin Pecsi at Liverpool, aren’t in here, ditto newcomers who have immediately left on loan: for example, Chelsea brought in Mamadou Sarr, Kendry Paez and Mike Penders and then farmed them all out to a club in France’s Ligue 1 (you don’t need me to tell you which one).
Another bit of housekeeping — at the last moment of writing, nearly five hours after the window closed at 7pm on Monday, Gianluigi Donnarumma’s move to Manchester City had not been officially confirmed. The Athletic’s David Ornstein expects that deal to be completed, but he has been excluded from the list below.
Right, let the list commence. And please leave your angry comments below.
153. Marcus Bettinelli, Chelsea to Manchester City
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Nominal
Contract length: One year
Made one appearance in four years at Chelsea. Will be lucky if he matches that at City, where he is behind several goalkeepers in the Scott Carson role; a ceremonial position that could be filled by the Honey Monster if required.
152. Marc Guiu, Chelsea to Sunderland
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
It was good while it lasted. Three appearances, 103 minutes, one goal against third-division Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup… and gone. A solitary injury to a fellow striker at Chelsea scuppered what was supposed to be a season-long loan at the Stadium of Light, and Guiu was recalled to the mothership after just over three weeks. Thanks for the memories.
Guiu’s loan at Sunderland has been cancelled already (George Wood/Getty Images)
151. Armando Broja, Chelsea to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £20m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
It’s pretty hard to make a case for Broja being the striker to fire promoted Burnley to top-flight safety, given his record in the past three completed seasons for Chelsea and during loans to Everton and Fulham is three goals in 58 appearances. That’s not a typo.
150. Tom King, Wolverhampton Wanderers to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Nominal
Contract length: Two years
King of putting the cones out, right? The 30-year-old has gone from being fourth-choice goalkeeper at Wolves, making one substitute appearance in his two seasons at Molineux, to third-choice at Everton. Looks to be one of those ‘Keep standards high in training’ signings.
149. Loum Tchaouna, Lazio to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £12.9m
Contract length: Five years
A 21-year-old winger/forward who has played for France at five youth levels. Was often used a substitute last season, contributing two goals and one assist in 37 appearances; 15 of them were starts but only six of those came in Serie A. Has pace, but this is a real punt.
148. Freddie Woodman, Preston North End to Liverpool
Transfer fee: Free
Reported contract length: One year
The 28-year-old has swapped weekly football in the Championship (37 league starts for Preston last time out) for what’s effectively a season ticket at Anfield. Nice work if you can get it. A third-choice ’keeper who, being English, helps with the homegrown quota.
147. Angus Gunn, Norwich City to Nottingham Forest
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: One year
Championship-standard goalkeeper moves to Premier League club for a nice payday as a non-playing third-choice goalkeeper. Great to have around the dressing room, etc. They’re calling him the Freddie Woodman of Nottingham.
146. Max Weiss, Karlsruher to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £4.3m
Contract length: Four years
An ever-present for a mid-table side in the German second division last season, 21-year-old Weiss offers a cheap, developing backup goalkeeper option at Turf Moor. Related to Arsenal’s Ben White (probably (not really)).
145. Sebastiaan Bornauw, Wolfsburg to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £5.2m
Contract length: Four years
‘No short a***s’ has been the Leeds prerequisite in this summer’s market, and 26-year-old Belgian big boy Bornauw fits the lofty bill at 6ft 3in (191cm). Adds to manager Daniel Farke’s centre-back options but has been an unused substitute in their first three Premier League games so seems likely to be a squad player.
144. Jadon Sancho, Manchester United to Aston Villa
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Did anything scream ‘deadline day panic’ more than Villa getting Sancho through the door on Monday? Sancho is a star in Germany (a goal involvement every 95 minutes across 158 appearances for Borussia Dortmund) but a flop in England (a goal involvement every 225 minutes in 124 games for United and Chelsea combined). Villa helped revive Marcus Rashford’s career with a half-season loan earlier this year, but it’s asking an awful lot for the same to happen here. And they’re paying 80 per cent of his £12million annual salary. Oh Villa. Yep, put this in the ‘risky’ pile.
143. Mark Travers, Bournemouth to Everton
Reported transfer fee: £4m
Contract length: Four years
Never really established himself as first-choice goalkeeper at Bournemouth after coming through their youth ranks, and the 26-year-old isn’t going to usurp England’s No 1 Jordan Pickford at Everton. A solid backup option for the cups.
142. James Justin, Leicester City to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £10m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
Literal one-time England international who has lost his way in recent seasons following ACL and Achilles injuries in 2020 and 2021 respectively, hence the relatively low fee. The 27-year-old full-back will hope a fresh start brings back his old form.
Justin, right, has joined Leeds (Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
141. Kota Takai, Kawasaki Frontale to Tottenham Hotspur
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £5m
Contract length: Five years
Promising 6ft 4in Japanese centre-back whose fee is a record for a homegrown player leaving the J-League. The 20-year-old is currently around Spurs’ first-team squad covering for long-term injury absentee Radu Dragusin, but will likely head out on loan before long.
140. Igor Julio, Brighton & Hove Albion to West Ham United
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Surplus to requirements at Brighton but fills a need at West Ham to replace the departing Nayef Aguerd. The 27-year-old is a strength-in-depth signing if ever there was one.
139. Borna Sosa, Ajax to Crystal Palace
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £2m
Contract length: Three years
Career has flatlined after being earmarked as a future star at Stuttgart. Was expendable at Ajax only a year after joining them and Torino, where he subsequently spent last season on loan, turned down a chance to sign him for £6million, neither of which really bodes too well for his chances at Selhurst Park. An excellent crosser of the ball, though, so every cloud. The 26-year-old Croatia international will act as backup to Tyrick Mitchell as Palace balance domestic football with at least six midweek UEFA Conference League ties.
138. Benjamin Lecomte, Montpellier to Fulham
Reported transfer fee: £500,000
Contract length: Two years
Had to carry Fulham’s entire new signing excitement levels on his shoulders all summer, given that going into deadline day, he was their solitary arrival. French goalkeeper who arrives in the Premier League aged 34, and with 329 Ligue 1 appearances to his name, to be Bernd Leno’s backup and, it seems, to play in the cups.
137. Marco Bizot, Brest to Aston Villa
Transfer fee: Undisclosed
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Three years
“Marco Bizot. Marco Bizot. Marco Bizot.” Had been Brest’s No 1 goalkeeper for the past four seasons and moved to Villa Park probably expecting to be their Carabao Cup goalkeeper, but will now be known for one of the Premier League’s greatest managerial interview meltdowns. Marco Bizot.
136. Axel Tuanzebe, Ipswich Town to Burnley
Transfer fee: Free
Reported contract length: One year
The 27-year-old former Manchester United youth player will hope to avoid a second successive relegation from the Premier League. A cheap, versatile squad player who adds top-flight experience to a group that doesn’t have much of it.
135. Jean-Clair Todibo, Nice to West Ham United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £32.8m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
France international defender Todibo was considered a real coup when initially signed on loan a year ago, but he blew hot and cold in his debut season, not helped by the team around him. He only started 20 of the 38 league matches, with fitness also an issue. Plenty to prove.
134. Lukas Nmecha, Wolfsburg to Leeds United
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: Two years
German forward Nmecha came through Manchester City’s academy, and his ability is not in doubt, but the 26-year-old has endured horrendous luck with injuries and played the equivalent of 15 full matches across the past three Bundesliga seasons, hence the free transfer. A low-risk punt.
133. Zian Flemming, Millwall to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £7m
Contract length: Four years
Has a name that suggests he arrived from a tropical location. Nope, just Bermondsey. The 27-year-old Dutchman had been a solid Championship performer for three seasons and now makes the step up to the top flight. A versatile attacker who should chip in here and there.
132. Veljko Milosavljevic, Crvena Zvezda to Bournemouth
Reported transfer fee: £13m
Contract length: Five years
It’s hard to think of anything more 2025 than Bournemouth having £13million to spend on an 18-year-old centre-back who’s only played 17 top-flight matches in Serbia.
131. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton to Leeds United
Transfer fee: Free
Contact length: Three years
As his debut in the Carabao Cup defeat to Sheffield Wednesday showed, this is a player short of rhythm and confidence. Only scored 17 league goals for Everton in the past four seasons thanks to injuries and, while the lack of a fee takes away an element of risk, Leeds have taken a gamble here. The organisers of Leeds Fashion Week will be delighted, mind.
130. Dario Essugo, Sporting CP to Chelsea
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £18.5m
Contract length: Eight years
A 20-year-old defensive midfielder who will likely provide backup to Moises Caicedo for the time being. The Portugal Under-21 international had been loaned out by Sporting to Las Palmas last season. Potentially one for the future.
129. Bertrand Traore, Ajax to Sunderland
Reported transfer fee: Around £2.5m
Contract length: One year
Just when you think a Premier League transfer window is finally about to pass without anyone signing a Traore, Sunderland go and land Bertrand on Monday night. The 29-year-old former Chelsea and Aston Villa winger offers Sunderland something slightly different in terms of being a left-footed player who drifts in from the right. So we can all sleep easily now.
128. Facundo Buonanotte, Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
One of those deals you see mooted on social media and have to double-check that it’s not from a parody account. Looked set to join Leeds, which felt about right, but instead the 20-year-old has gone to the world champions. Sure, he’s a talented young attacker, but will he actually get a game in west London? You can’t say Chelsea would have signed him if he played for Crystal Palace instead of Brighton.
127. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Arsenal to Nottingham Forest
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Forest chased their man long and hard all summer and finally landed Zinchenko on deadline day. Only joking, they lost 3-0 at home to West Ham on Sunday afternoon and duly signed two surprise players on Monday, including the 28-year-old Ukrainian, who was snapped up after a move for Javi Galan of Atletico Madrid fell through.
126. Arthur Masuaku, Besiktas to Sunderland
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: Two years
One of two free-agent signings at left-back for promoted Sunderland, former West Ham man Masuaku is expected to deputise for fellow newcomer Reinildo Mandava. A bit of a ‘body through the door’, but a necessary one.
125. Marcus Edwards, Sporting CP to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £8.5m
Contract length: Four years
In 2022-23, former Tottenham Hotspur youngster Edwards was making waves at Sporting, including in the Champions League, but his levels have since dropped. Did alright in the Championship last season while on loan to Burnley, but physicality is an issue, and he has been on the bench for their first three matches back in the Premier League.
Edwards has now joined Burnley permanently after last season’s loan (Ben Roberts Photo/Getty Images)
124. Noah Okafor, Milan to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £18m
Contract length: Four years
Leeds have loved a gamble on an injury-prone attacker this summer, albeit this is a much more expensive one than Nmecha or Calvert-Lewin. That said, Okafor only started 11 league games in the previous two seasons with Milan and on loan at Napoli, meaning his role is likely to be as an impact substitute to begin with.
123. Brian Brobbey, Ajax to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £17m
Contract length: Five years
This one feels like textbook deadline-day panic move from Sunderland. They lost teenage striker Guiu after he was swiftly recalled to Chelsea. In terms of seniority, the 23-year-old Netherlands international is a last-minute upgrade, plus Brobbey was the Eredivisie player of the year in 2023-24, scoring 18 goals in 30 league games. However, in terms of prolific output, that remains his only notable season to date (seven goals in 44 games for Ajax in all competitions last season).
122. Jackson Tchatchoua, Verona to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Reported transfer fee: £10.8m
Contract length: Five years
The 23-year-old Cameroon international replaces Wolves’ outgoing captain Nelson Semedo at right wing-back. That’s a downgrade in theory, but Tchatchoua does offer breathtaking pace; he was clocked as the fastest player in Serie A last season, meaning if Wolves are relegated, he can escape pretty quickly.
121. Mathys Tel, Bayern Munich to Tottenham Hotspur
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £38.9m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Six years
The initial agreed fee of £47.6million when the French forward arrived on loan in last season’s winter window was negotiated down after an underwhelming few months. Huge potential, a really high ceiling and still very young having turned 20 in April, but potential is all it is for the moment.
120. Merlin Rohl, Freiburg to Everton
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
With a name like that, you’d surely have to be a dinky, creative, wizard-like winger, but Rohl is actually a 6ft 3in (191cm) central midfielder. A couple of injury issues restricted him to just 11 starts and 967 minutes in the Bundesliga last season, which would be a concern, but this is a beefing-up-the-squad signing.
119. Simon Adingra, Brighton to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £20.7m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
Only five assists and 12 goals in 73 appearances for Brighton leave a question mark over his end product, as does their willingness to let him leave relatively cheaply. Fell away after a great start to last season, but the 23-year-old has bags of talent, and if his confidence returns, he’ll outplay this lowly rating.
118. Bashir Humphreys, Chelsea to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £14.7m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
Nice to see an old-school surname back in the top flight. The 22-year-old flies the Chelsea nest permanently after three loans, including one at Burnley last season. A centre-back who can also play at left wing-back, he’s a solid addition to the squad.
117. Jaydee Canvot, Toulouse to Crystal Palace
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £22.9m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
Marc Guehi’s long-term successor? A graduate of French football’s Clairefontaine academy who then came through the age groups at Toulouse and broke into the first XI in the second half of last season. Turned 19 just over a month ago, and has only 14 Ligue 1 starts to his name. Quick, athletic and can operate at defensive midfield too.
116. Reiss Nelson, Arsenal to Brentford
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
It still feels like Nelson is a youngster, but he’s 26 in December and, after a bit-part role at Fulham on loan last season (two goals and one assist in 572 minutes), it’s now-or-never time to really make an impact in the Premier League.
115. John Victor, Botafogo to Nottingham Forest
Transfer fee: Undisclosed
Contract length: Three years
Another ceiling botherer at 6ft 6in. Aged 29 but spent most of his career on the bench before Botafogo gave him his big chance two years ago; however, it’ll be back to a watching brief for now behind Mats Sels. At least he’ll have a few friendly faces to chat to in three ex-Botafogo team-mates.
114. Callum Wilson, Newcastle United to West Ham United
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: One year
Are West Ham getting the England international of only two years ago, or the guy who didn’t score last season in 22 short-lived appearances (spread across just 458 minutes) and is now 33? An underwhelming signing on paper, but on the early evidence, Wilson looks determined to prove his doubters wrong.
Wilson moved to West Ham (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
113. Cuiabano, Botafogo to Nottingham Forest
Reported transfer fee: £5m
Contract length: Four years
An attacking 22-year-old left back (nine goals in 78 senior appearances) who not only adds to Forest’s Brazilian cohort, which now numbers seven, but also their list of signings from Botafogo (Cuiabano was their fourth from the Rio de Janeiro club this summer, having arrived on deadline day). Exactly what Nuno Espirito Santo wanted.
112. Ben Doak, Liverpool to Bournemouth
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £25m
Contract length: Five years
A fantastic deal for Liverpool, who signed the Scottish winger for £600,000 three years ago at age 16. Doak has frightening ability and registered seven assists and three goals in 24 appearances on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship last season, but given how raw and unproven he is at the top level, this is a bit of a gamble.
111. Jordan Henderson, Ajax to Brentford
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: Two years
His influence in the dressing room will undoubtedly be strong, but has he got the legs and/or the sharpness at 35 years old to anchor a Premier League midfield? If the answer is yes, he’ll be a huge help to the likes of Yehor Yarmolyuk and Mikkel Damsgaard. Either way, a low-risk, low-frills deal. And at least Brentford’s human-rights record is respectable.
110. Christian Norgaard, Brentford to Arsenal
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £12m (with add-ons)
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Two years
A vital cog in Brentford’s wheel but unlikely to have the same impact at a much higher level with Arsenal, particularly given his likely lack of rhythm when he does get a game as a result of being mostly a backup.
109. Jamie Gittens, Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £52m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Seven years
Chelsea go through wingers like London cyclists through red traffic lights, so what are the prospects of them having the patience this 21-year-old will probably need to find his rhythm and develop his game? Gittens is hugely talented, but not the finished product — and it’s difficult to envisage him becoming that at a club like Chelsea.
Gittens has joined Chelsea from Dortmund (Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
108. Kepa Arrizabalaga, Chelsea to Arsenal
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £5m
Contract length: Three years
An upgrade on their previous backup goalkeepers Neto and Aaron Ramsdale, albeit he’s unlikely to challenge David Raya too strenuously for the No 1 spot.
107. Kyle Walker-Peters, Southampton to West Ham United
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: Three years
A long-standing West Ham target who has plenty of Premier League experience with more than 150 appearances, mostly with Southampton. The 28-year-old’s versatility should be helpful.
106. Adam Aznou, Bayern Munich to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £7.8m
Contract length: Four years
Attack-minded, ball-carrying Moroccan teenage left-back who was way down the pecking order at Bayern but will hope to push Vitalii Mykolenko and break into the Everton team at some point. He only just turned 19, so is one for the future.
105. Nicolo Savona, Juventus to Nottingham Forest
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £12m
Contract length: Five years
Lofty (6ft 2in/192cm) Juventus academy graduate who broke into the first team there last year, starting 29 games in all competitions and earning an Italy call-up. Primarily a right-back, but with Ola Aina and Neco Williams for competition there, he may also feature in central defence.
104. Alejandro Garnacho, Manchester United to Chelsea
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £40m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Seven years
Are Chelsea getting the player who could and should evolve into a global star? Or is this Jadon Sancho 2.0? Nosedived pretty spectacularly at Manchester United when his end-product fell off a cliff amid question marks over his attitude from successive managers. Is Stamford Bridge the best place to rejuvenate a ferociously talented player who needs to knuckle down? The jury is out. Will no doubt spend a lot of time on his hair.
103. Jair Cunha, Botafogo to Nottingham Forest
Reported transfer fee: £10m
Contract length: Five years
The 20-year-old centre-back is very much in the up-and-coming mould, with emphasis on the word ‘up’. He’s 6ft 6in (198cm) and needs climbing up to win headers against, but still has ‘good feet for a big lad’. Part of the Brazil squad that won the Under-20 South American Championship in February. You might not see him in Forest’s first team for a while, but when you do, you won’t miss him.
102. David Moller Wolfe, AZ to Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £9.9m
Contract length: Five years
The name of Norway’s left-back alone demands a decent position on this list; Wolfe also has a wolf tattoo. Replaces Rayan Ait-Nouri in the team after his move to Manchester City, but Wolfe, at 6ft 1in (185cm), is a different type of left wing-back to the Algerian and more of a Steady Eddie, which is probably what Wolves need.
101. Dango Ouattara, Bournemouth to Brentford
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £42m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
Brentford are now buying players who often couldn’t get into Bournemouth’s XI for £42million. What an age we live in. Too inconsistent for Andoni Iraola’s liking, only averaging a goal or assist every 175 minutes in all competitions last season, his talent isn’t in doubt, but can Keith Andrews turn Brentford’s record signing into a top-level Premier League player? It is an astonishing amount of money either way.
100. Noni Madueke, Chelsea to Arsenal
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £52m (with add-ons)
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
Positives: a very effective, direct and pacy dribbler who excels in one-v-one situations. Negatives: can be injury-prone, can be inconsistent, his end-product needs work, and the fee is very large for a likely backup forward.
99. Jacob Bruun Larsen, Stuttgart to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £3m
Contract length: Four years
Jacob Bruun Larsen is back, everybody! Remember? The guy Burnley had on loan from Hoffenheim the last time they were in the top flight two seasons ago? OK. Fine, but he did alright, with seven goals in all competitions. A cheap, utility, attacking squad player.
98. Samuel Chukwueze, Milan to Fulham
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
On the fringes at Milan (nine league starts last season), the 26-year-old right-winger hasn’t reached the levels in Italy he showed at Spain’s Villarreal in 2022-23 when contributing 13 goals and 11 assists in all competitions. Fulham needed someone new in attack, and Chukwueze, who is now the third Nigerian international at the club, is a wait-and-see addition.
97. Jorrel Hato, Ajax to Chelsea
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Over £34.5m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Seven years
Classic Chelsea stockpiling. Still only a teenager (aged 19), but played 111 times for Ajax and has been in and out of the Dutch senior squad for almost two years. Predominantly a defensive left-back who can also play in the centre too, he may have to bide his time behind Marc Cucurella.
96. Giovanni Leoni, Parma to Liverpool
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £26m
Reported contract length: Six years
Still a kid at 18, but this centre-back is already a giant at 6ft 4in (195cm). If he has another growth spurt, they’ll need to expand the tunnel at Anfield. An awful lot of money for pure potential, but Liverpool feel he’ll prove to be a bargain.
95. Ladislav Krejci, Girona to Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Loan (£7m fee)
Contract length: One year
Essentially viewed as a permanent deal with a £19.9million transfer likely to kick in once some achievable obligation terms are met. Krejci is a 6ft 3in (191cm), ball-playing centre-back who can also operate in midfield. The 26-year-old, left-footed Czech Republic international adds competition but may well become a starter.
94. Robin Roefs, NEC Nijmegen to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £11.7m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
The 22-year-old, 6ft 4in (193cm) goalkeeper has just earned his first Dutch international call-up. Broke into the NEC team at the start of last season and kept 10 clean sheets in 32 league starts. Risky to place such faith in a young ’keeper, but that is generally the Sunderland way.
93. Sean Longstaff, Newcastle United to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £15m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
Leeds can expect wholehearted commitment from the 27-year-old midfielder, who has flown the nest after spending pretty much his whole life at Newcastle. A good personality to have around in a likely relegation battle.
92. Cristhian Mosquera, Valencia to Arsenal
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £13m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
One for the future, and part of Arsenal’s summer strategy to bulk up their squad. The 21-year-old centre-back could end up being a steal given his impressive list of defensive attributes, although a lack of regular football may initially hinder the excellent progress he was making at Valencia.
Mosquera has moved to Arsenal from Valencia (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
91. Lucas Perri, Lyon to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £15.6m
Contract length: Four years
Another Leeds doorway-frame ducker, this 6ft 5in (197cm) Brazilian goalkeeper feels like an upgrade on Illan Meslier after a decent 2024-25 season in Ligue 1, but only time will tell.
90. Dilane Bakwa, Strasbourg to Nottingham Forest
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £30.3m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
Prefers playing on the right flank and cutting in on his left foot, so what that means for fellow new signings Omari Hutchinson and Dan Ndoye is a very Forest sort of problem. The 23-year-old Frenchman produced 12 goals and 21 assists in 71 matches at Strasbourg after moving from countrymen Bordeaux in summer 2023.
89. Noah Sadiki, Union Saint-Gilloise to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £17.8m
Contract length: Five years
DR Congo international who fits the Sunderland model in terms of age (20) and experience (134 senior appearances for club and country already), and will form part of their midfield engine room alongside fellow newcomers Habib Diarra and Granit Xhaka.
88. Jhon Arias, Fluminense to Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £19m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
John to his mates. On his day, an exciting, game-changing forward, albeit one who won’t fill the departed Matheus Cunha’s boots in terms of end-product. The relatively low fee for a 27-year-old somewhat negates the risk of signing someone who has never played in Europe before, but Wolves will need him to get up to speed quickly.
87. Tolu Arokodare, Genk to Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £23.4m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
Wolves have signed the Belgian league’s Golden Boot winner, blimey! What a coup. Who were the last Belgian Golden Boot winners to play in the Premier League, out of interest? Deniz Undav and Paul Onuachu, oh for f… Anyway, the Nigerian international striker, aged 24 and 6ft 5in (197cm), is a likely backup for Jorgen Strand Larsen.
86. Amine Adli, Bayer Leverkusen to Bournemouth
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £25.1m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
The 25-year-old Morocco international winger can play across the front line, although he has done most of his best work on the left, including in Leverkusen’s German title-winning 2023-24 season, when he provided 10 goals and 12 assists in all competitions. Dango Outtara’s replacement, and a pretty good one at that.
85. Nordi Mukiele, Paris Saint-Germain to Sunderland
Reported transfer fee: £12m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
Has had an impressive list of previous clubs, including Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig as well as PSG, but that just makes you wonder how/why he’s ended up at Sunderland. Made only 31 league starts in the past three completed seasons but, aged 27, brings important top-level experience.
84. Victor Lindelof, Manchester United to Aston Villa
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: Two years
Hard to pick fault with this one, given Villa’s financial restrictions. It’s not going to change the world (well, probably) but the 31-year-old Sweden international a free signing and adds a fourth senior centre-back option alongside Tyrone Mings, Ezri Konsa and Pau Torres.
83. Aaron Ramsdale, Southampton to Newcastle United
Transfer fee: Loan (reported £4m-£5m fee)
Contact length: One year
From the PFA’s team of the year as an Arsenal player in 2022-23 to relegation to the Championship with Southampton in 2024-25, it’s been quite a journey for Ramsdale, but he appears to have a genuine redemption story in his grasp at Newcastle, given their current first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope’s inconsistent form. The epitome of good competition.
82. Alex Jimenez, Milan to Bournemouth
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Real Madrid and now Milan have now both been happy to let the fiery (12 bookings and a red card across all competitions last season) 20-year-old Spanish youth international move on. Enter, well… Bournemouth. Jimenez plays at right-back but can also operate further forward and on the left. The loan deal includes an obligation for a reported £16.5million if he makes 18 league starts.
81. Christantus Uche, Getafe to Crystal Palace
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Interesting player with an impressive recent history, going from Spanish third-tier side Ceuta in early 2024 up to La Liga with Getafe and now the Premier League. Getafe converted Uche from a defensive midfielder into a forward, using the now 22-year-old’s 6ft 3in (190cm) frame and tireless work ethic to lead the line and win headers galore.
80. Lutsharel Geertruida, RB Leipzig to Sunderland
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
The 25-year-old Netherlands international moved to RB Leipzig for around £17million last summer after coming through the ranks at Feyenoord. He played more than 200 times for the Rotterdam club, mostly at right-back, but he can also fit in as a central defender.
79. Senne Lammens, Royal Antwerp to Manchester United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £21.7m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
“Is Senne Lammens any good?” was a trending Google search on Monday night. Well, the 23-year-old Belgian was among Europe’s best shot-stopping goalkeepers last season, is quick off his line and appears to be pretty composed, which would be ideal around his two flapping new goalkeeper team-mates. If The Athletic’s eight-year-old nephew’s opinion is anything to go by, he’s excellent: “Bro, the guy is a Courtois regen.”
78. Kevin Danso, Lens to Tottenham Hotspur
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £20.9m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
Will be Spurs’ third-choice centre-back, but given the injury records of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven, he’ll play plenty and in the meantime is excellent backup compared to the club’s recent standards in that role. Limited as a player but very solid and a great character in the dressing room, plus he’s already a bit of a hero for the part he played in helping them win the Europa League while on loan last season.
Danso’s loan has become permanent (Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images)
77. Walter Benitez, PSV to Crystal Palace
Transfer fee: Free
Reported contract length: Three years
Probably the best backup goalkeeper signing of the summer in the Premier League? You’ll never sing that, etc. The 32-year-old Argentinian brings nine years of top-level European experience with Nice and PSV and will push Dean Henderson for the No 1 spot.
76. Arnaud Kalimuendo, Rennes to Nottingham Forest
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £26m
Contract length: Five years
Came through the ranks at Paris Saint-Germain and scored 17 goals in 33 Ligue 1 matches for Rennes last season. The 23-year-old adds to Forest’s strength in depth as they head back into Europe, but will begin as their third-choice striker.
75. Matheus Cunha, Wolverhampton Wanderers to Manchester United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £62.5m
Contract length: Five years
A truly gifted footballer who has already proved he can thrive in the Premier League, but ironing out the temperament issues that scared higher-ranked teams off will be key to [insert applicable Manchester United head coach/manager’s name here] getting the very best from the 26-year-old.
74. Yoane Wissa, Brentford to Newcastle
Reported transfer fee: £55m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Four years
Ah, the heady days of July 24, 2025, when Newcastle innocently bid £25million for Brentford’s handy Congolese forward. Forty days later, they finally landed the wantaway 28-year-old for a (checks notes) £55m fee. Blimey. Brentford are the winners financially, but was Wissa, whose birthday is on Wednesday, really worth the hassle and the dough? He probably doesn’t even get in Newcastle’s best XI, however he is a good addition to their forward options in a busy European season.
73. Charalampos Kostoulas, Olympiacos to Brighton & Hove Albion
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £31.3m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
On the face of it, a surprisingly risky addition for Brighton, who have spent more than £30million on an 18-year-old who made his Olympiacos debut last season, going on to score six goals in the Greek Super League. He’s 6ft 1in (185cm), operates mostly as a striker but can play deeper, and Brighton will hope to mould him as their next Joao Pedro. A long-term project that could go either way.
72. Enzo Le Fee, Roma to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £20m
Contract length: Four years
Ridiculously talented, works his a**e off and has the touch of an angel. Le fee for 25-year-old Enzo was around £20million, but there is a question mark over exactly where coach Regis Le Bris fits him into the XI.
71. Carlos Alcaraz, Flamengo to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £12.6m
Contract length: Two years
Certainly did enough on loan in the second half of last season to suggest that £12.6million is a bargain fee for the 22-year-old Argentine attacking midfielder. A two-year contract (with the option of a third) is very short, though, which knocks this deal down the list a bit.
70. James Trafford, Burnley to Manchester City
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £27m
Contract length: Five years
Hmm. Trafford had an almost perfect 2024-25 Championship season, bouncing back after being dropped by Vincent Kompany in the Premier League last time around. Doubts remain over his command of his area and his top-level ability.
69. Malick Thiaw, Milan to Newcastle United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £34.6m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Four years
His signing ends a three-year search for Fabian Schar’s eventual successor in central defence. Thiaw, aged 24 and capped three times by Germany, is comfortable on the ball, can play in a high line and is good at switching play. Can suffer lapses in concentration and isn’t the finished product, but that may come.
68. Giorgi Mamardashvili, Valencia to Liverpool
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £29m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Six years
Viewed as Liverpool’s next No 1 goalkeeper, although current first-choice Alisson still has years left yet at 32. You’d be hard-pressed to find a better shot-stopping ’keeper in his age range in Europe than the giant (197cm/6ft 5in) 24-year-old Georgia international.
67. Lesley Ugochukwu, Chelsea to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: Over £20m
Contract length: Five years
That’s big money for Burnley. Was in and out of an abhorrent Southampton team last season after joining on loan from Chelsea, but the 21-year-old France youth international midfielder should fare better at Turf Moor, where he is arguably Sander Berge’s belated replacement after the Norwegian’s departure following the 2023-24 campaign.
66. Evann Guessand, Nice to Aston Villa
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £30.4m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Five years
Two-footed, versatile across the front line and specialises in explosive, driving runs. The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international really came to prominence last season with 12 goals and eight assists in Ligue 1. Needs refining, but Villa manager Unai Emery is known for that sort of stuff.
Guessand was effective for Nice last season (Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
65. Fer Lopez, Celta Vigo to Wolverhampton Wanderers
Reported transfer fee: £21.3m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
The 21-year-old is a talented but raw, ball-carrying flair player who only ever started seven times in La Liga for Celta Vigo, having made his top-flight debut for them last December. Wolves have taken a bit of a gamble – could be incredible, could be a flop. The early signs are good.
64. Jaidon Anthony, Bournemouth to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £8m
Contract length: Four years
An important part of Burnley’s promotion-winning 2024-25 attack, who got better as the season went on. Has now joined them permanently after that initial loan. Aged 25, it’s now sink or swim time for Anthony in the Premier League and he’s started very well with two goals already.
63. Gabriel Gudmundsson, Lille to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £10m
Contract length: Four years
Good for Lille, good for Sweden’s national team, but will the 26-year-old left-back cut it in the Premier League? Tidy, good on the ball, defensively tight and can bomb up the left flank, just don’t expect many assists (three in 137 appearances for Lille).
62. Thierno Barry, Villarreal to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £27.5m
Contract length: Four years
Gareth Barry’s French nephew (probably). A colossus at 6ft 4in (195cm) who can hold the ball up and is mobile, strong and shows good movement. A bit of a risky one, as yes, he’s raw and no, he may not score a load of goals just yet, which could impact his confidence, but the 22-year-old certainly has the potential to be very good indeed.
61. Chemsdine Talbi, Club Brugge to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Around £19.5m
Contract length: Five years
A highly-rated 20-year-old Belgium youth international whose addition from Club Brugge, where he scored twice against Atalanta in the Champions League’s knockout phase last season, is a bit of a coup. High ceiling, but he’s only 5ft 9in (175cm), so that’s not an issue.
60. Mads Hermansen, Leicester City to West Ham United
Reported transfer fee: Around £20m
Contract length: Five years
The fee was considered to be daylight robbery by some Leicester fans, who saw the 25-year-old Dane as one of (if not their best) players in the past two seasons, which admittedly is a bit like winning the best turkey to be killed at Christmas competition. You question how great West Ham’s need for a new goalkeeper was — and Hermansen has made a shaky start — but he should prove a good addition over time.
59. Reinildo Mandava, Atletico Madrid to Sunderland
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: Two years
The first player from Mozambique in the Premier League (finally!), the 31-year-old has filled Sunderland’s problem left-back position for no fee and brings six seasons of experience with Lille and then Atletico.
58. Omari Hutchinson, Ipswich Town to Nottingham Forest
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £37.5m
Contract length: Five years
He didn’t exactly go nuts last season with three goals and two assists at Ipswich, but Forest are paying a premium because of his nationality (English) and his potential (high). One of those who you’d expect more from in a better team.
57. James McAtee, Manchester City to Nottingham Forest
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £30m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
Joins Morgan Gibbs-White, Elliot Anderson and Omari Hutchinson as a core of fledgling English talents at Forest. Perhaps a surprise that City let the 22-year-old go, although there is a buy-back clause in the deal. Richly talented and ready to go to the next level, you feel.
56. Jacob Ramsey, Aston Villa to Newcastle United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £44m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Five years
Very ‘pure profit’, this. Newcastle were short of midfield cover, and Ramsey, with his dynamism, athleticism and positive, attacking mindset, gives them a fresh option. Aged 24, he should be looking to kick on into the England squad in a World Cup year. Injury history is a concern. Unbelievably expensive, but then isn’t everyone this summer?
55. Maxim De Cuyper, Club Brugge to Brighton & Hove Albion
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £17.3m
Contract length: Five years
Great name. Replaces Pervis Estupinan, who has joined Milan, in the squad and provides competition for Ferdi Kadioglu. Creative, a good age at 24, played 54 times in all competitions for Club Brugge last season and broke into the Belgium team, too.
54. Dan Ndoye, Bologna to Nottingham Forest
Reported transfer fee: £35m
Contract length: Five years
Has filled the Anthony Elanga-shaped hole in Forest’s squad this summer. The 24-year-old Switzerland international isn’t the finished product, and his lack of physicality may be an issue, but his desire to take players on and make things happen will be fun to watch.
53. Djordje Petrovic, Chelsea to Bournemouth
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £25m
Contract length: Five years
Unwanted at Chelsea despite their goalkeeping issues, Bournemouth are nonetheless getting a player who enjoyed an excellent 2024-25 on loan at Strasbourg in France, where he was the club’s player of the season and had the second-highest save percentage (78.9) and fourth-best post-shot expected goals minus goals allowed number (+9.9) in Ligue 1.
Petrovic has joined Bournemouth after a good season on loan at Strasbourg (Julian Finney/Getty Images)
52. Mohammed Kudus, West Ham United to Tottenham Hotspur
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £55m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Six years
After a duff second, and final, season at West Ham, the 25-year-old Ghanaian has a point to prove. On his day, a maverick with the dribbling ability to light up and win any match, but inconsistency and his temperament have been issues, even if he has kissed and made up with new team-mate Micky van de Ven over the slap that got him sent off in a Spurs-West Ham game last October.
51. Omar Alderete, Getafe to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £11.4m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
The 28-year-old centre-back has six seasons of top-level experience across Europe (Basel, Hertha Berlin, Valencia, Getafe), as well as 29 appearances for Paraguay’s national team. Composed defender who could prove to be a bargain.
50. Jaka Bijol, Udinese to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £15m
Contract length: Five years
Slovenian international centre-back who had been one of Udinese’s better players in recent seasons. A walking yellow card, but an imposing, no-nonsense defender, too. The 6ft 3in (190cm) 26-year-old’s profile was summed up by an Athletic subscriber under a recent Leeds article: “Big, hard b*****d that can play a bit. Nice one.”
49. Bafode Diakite, Lille to Bournemouth
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £34.6m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Five years
Aggressive, technical French centre-back who was a pillar of Lille’s defence last season, including in the Champions League. Appears to have already formed a commanding centre-back partnership alongside Marcos Senesi in Bournemouth’s new-look defence. Aged 24 and looks capable of big things.
48. Harvey Elliott, Liverpool to Aston Villa
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Considered by many to be worth more than the fringe role he was given at Liverpool last season, it’s now time for Elliott to step up. The 22-year-old forward will almost certainly join Villa permanently, with 10 appearances during his loan for the remainder of this season triggering a deal of around £30million. Should thrive under Unai Emery.
47. Mateus Fernandes, Southampton to West Ham United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £41m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
In a summer of eye-watering fees, this might just top the lot, but the 21-year-old Portuguese midfielder is what West Ham needed in theory — a dynamic, technical, energetic type who should elevate a rather flat, one-paced midfield. Did pretty well last season even as Southampton finished last in the Premier League with just 12 points, but still, this really is a lot of money.
46. Anthony Elanga, Nottingham Forest to Newcastle United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £55m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
How much?! But, fine, it’s hard to see how this won’t be a good addition, given Elanga’s rapid improvement at Forest in the past two years. His new team-mate Jacob Murphy set a high bar for Newcastle wingers in the second half of last season, but Elanga should suit coach Eddie Howe’s tactical style and improve their attack.
45. Soungoutou Magassa, Monaco to West Ham United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Around £17.3m
Reported contract length: Four years
French defensive midfielder who started to make a big impact with Monaco last season. He was in the top five players in Ligue 1 for tackles and interceptions combined (5.96 per match) and while he’s only 21, West Ham have bought a player for now as well as the future.
44. Kevin, Shakhtar Donetsk to Fulham
Reported transfer fee: £34.6m
Contract length: Five years
Get ready for a million Home Alone memes whenever this guy does something wrong. This Kevin is an exciting 22-year-old Brazilian left-winger who evolved into the star of Shakhtar’s attack last season and scored four goals with two assists in three Europa League qualifying-phase games last month.
43. Igor Jesus, Botafogo to Nottingham Forest
Reported transfer fee: £10m
Contract length: Four years
Has a name that sounds like a Juventus fan lamenting a substitution their manager has made. Forest needed competition for Chris Wood, and the 24-year-old fits the bill as a senior Brazil international who has scored at a healthy rate back home, and also got the winner against Paris Saint-Germain in the group stage of this summer’s Club World Cup. Different to Wood in that he’s quick and mobile. Nice signing.
42. Diego Coppola, Verona to Brighton & Hove Albion
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £9.4m
Contract length: Five years
Brighton needed their next Lewis Dunk with the original version turning 34 in November, and they may have found an exotic, sexier (sorry, Lewis) version in Coppola, a towering (6ft 3in/192cm) aerial presence who broke into the Italy squad last season after consistently good performances for Verona. Strong, physical, athletic and pretty quick, too, but only 21, so will need time.
41. Habib Diarra, Strasbourg to Sunderland
Reported transfer fee: £30m
Contract length: Five years
A dynamic, all-action, box-to-box midfielder who has already greatly elevated Sunderland’s midfield and will look to drive forward and score goals. Very talented, and only 21.
40. Joao Pedro, Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Over £50m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Seven years
Already been in England for five years (three with Watford, two at Brighton) and offers a pretty much guaranteed source of goals and assists, with Chelsea’s only quandary being how best to use him in their forward line. Petulant and quite annoying, but also great to watch.
39. Rayan Ait-Nouri, Wolverhampton Wanderers to Manchester City
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £31.2m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
City finally have an orthodox left-back in the form of the 24-year-old Algerian, who came on leaps and bounds at Wolves and can be spectacular. Still needs to refine his defensive game and add finesse in attack. You’d expect those improvements to come under Pep Guardiola’s management.
Ait-Nouri joined City from Wolves (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
38. Tommy Watson, Sunderland to Brighton & Hove Albion
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £10m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
A 19-year-old with the world at his feet, with those feet being at the end of a lanky, gangly, dribbling maestro. Watson’s incredible Championship play-off final winning goal in May was the perfect departing gift for Sunderland, and you’d think Brighton would be the ideal club to nurture his undeniable talent.
37. Martin Dubravka, Newcastle United to Burnley
Transfer fee: Undisclosed
Contract length: One year
James Trafford’s immediate replacement isn’t a long-term solution, but as far as cheap (we assume, Burnley aren’t telling) goalkeepers go, the 36-year-old Slovakia international is pretty much as good as it gets for a relegation-battling Premier League club.
36. Antoni Milambo, Feyenoord to Brentford
Reported fee: £20.25m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
Would be way up at the top of any ‘best names’ list of summer signings. Broke into Feyenoord’s team last season, having previously become the Dutch club’s youngest ever player at 16 years, 131 days. Now aged 20, the driving, attacking midfielder should fit in well in the Premier League with his pace, physicality and creativity.
35. Nick Woltemade, Stuttgart to Newcastle United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £69.3m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Six years
They can’t exactly call him their first choice, but Newcastle finally have a forward in the door and yes, he’s a very good one. Woltemade is not only one of the most expensive signings of the summer, but he’s also the tallest (6ft 6in/198cm). He was the top scorer at the Under-21 Euros in the summer and has an outstanding technical skill set. Surname will be pronounced ‘Walt Made’ by thousands of Geordies.
34. Benjamin Sesko, RB Leipzig to Manchester United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £73.6m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
The 22-year-old is not the finished product (he is still honing his all-round game and needs more consistency in front of goal), but United are getting a lightning-quick, relentless, agile attacking artist who, in theory, should be a superstar in time.
33. Bryan Mbeumo, Brentford to Manchester United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £71m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
Last season’s fourth-highest Premier League goalscorer (20, plus seven assists) makes his big move. United have a habit of turning great signings into disasters, but on paper, Mbeumo, with his age (26 last month), work ethic and ability to both score and create, should be a success. Should.
32. Michael Kayode, Fiorentina to Brentford
Reported transfer fee: £14.5m
Contract length: Five years
An exciting, athletic, 21-year-old right-back who initially joined Brentford on loan in January. The Italy Under-21 international has started the season in the team, and boasts a Rory Delap-esque long throw. Has some maturing to do, but could be a real bargain.
31. Milos Kerkez, Bournemouth to Liverpool
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Around £40m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
May take a while to settle in and adapt, but it’s hard to see the 21-year-old Hungarian, who was recently named in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year for last season, not being a success. Energetic, aggressive and unpredictable.
30. Liam Delap, Ipswich Town to Chelsea
Transfer fee: £30m
Contract length: Six years
A rare Chelsea bargain buy at only £30million (thanks to a relegation-related release clause), which is peanuts in the current striker market. Scored 12 times in the Premier League for a very poor Ipswich side last season, has worked with Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca before (at Manchester City’s academy) and is likely to prove a fan favourite. It’s a big step up in level, but the 22-year-old appears to have the attributes and attitude to make it. Just a shame he’s pinged his hamstring for the time being.
29. Tyler Dibling, Southampton to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £40m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
A ball-carrying magician. Elegance personified in the way he saunters upfield and past defenders, although he is only 19 and his all-round game (including his end-product) needs a lot of work. Still, Everton have bagged a potential superstar. Also adds to their low-socks cohort after the arrival of Jack Grealish.
28. Douglas Luiz, Juventus to Nottingham Forest
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Things (clearly) didn’t work out at Juventus after a £42million move there from Aston Villa last summer. A player Forest could only dream of signing a couple of years ago (welcome to big school, etc). If he shows his Villa form… sheesh. Still only 27. The deal includes an obligation to buy based on appearances, and an option to do so for £25.9m.
Luiz has joined Forest on loan from Juventus (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
27. Piero Hincapie, Bayer Leverkusen to Arsenal
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Yep, very good. Arsenal are just boasting now, taking last season’s small-squad criticism and dispensing with it like it’s a tunnel cover at the Emirates Stadium. Hincapie has been primed for a move to an elite European club for some time; the 23-year-old can play at left centre-back or as a wing-back and is actually a bit of a luxury signing, given Arsenal’s options already.
26. Martin Zubimendi, Real Sociedad to Arsenal
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £55.8m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
Should complement Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard and should be an upgrade on Thomas Partey, who left the club this summer. If Arsenal get the player they think they are getting Zubimendi will help facilitate an improved attacking dynamic for Mikel Arteta’s side.
25. Quilindschy Hartman, Feyenoord to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £10m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Four years
Again, just an outstanding name. Injury put the kybosh on a mooted move to Chelsea in 2024, so it feels like a real coup for Burnley to now sign the 23-year-old Dutch international left-back, who is also eyeing a World Cup spot next summer. Good enough to stay in the Premier League next season, with or without Burnley.
24. Florian Wirtz, Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £116m (with add-ons)
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
The key to unlocking defences and arguably the key to Liverpool’s season. The fee is absolutely astronomical. Can he possibly live up to that and the hype? Extremely gifted and will make things happen that others can’t even dream of.
23. Yeremy Pino, Villarreal to Crystal Palace
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Over £21.6m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
If someone said four years ago that Pino would end up at Palace, you’d think his career had gone drastically wrong, but this wonderkid at Villarreal saw his progress stalled by a serious knee injury in late 2023. Having played 15 times by Spain, the 22-year-old probably isn’t as effective a dribbler as the departed Eberechi Eze (Pino has taken over his No 10 shirt), but his close control and acceleration are excellent. Great signing.
22. Jeremie Frimpong, Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £29.6m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
Fast, fast and fast. Did we mention he’s fast? A flying attacking right-back who can also play further up the pitch, Frimpong’s pace covers a multitude of defensive sins, and he’s a big asset in attack. Low price and good age (24), but may need to rein in his instincts at times.
21. Eberechi Eze, Crystal Palace to Arsenal
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £67.5m (with add-ons)
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Four years
Feels nailed-on to make a big impact if he can fit into Arsenal’s style and handle expectations at a huge club. Should benefit from playing alongside better players than at Palace and is capable of reaching double figures in both the goals and assists columns. Adds much-needed balance to Arsenal’s attack.
20. Randal Kolo Muani, Paris Saint-Germain to Tottenham Hotspur
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract: One year
Kolo Muani is at Spurs for a reason, that being he has struggled at PSG and not many other clubs can afford his wages. But also, he’s at Spurs. The 26-year-old France striker is a bit of a statement signing. So quick, so dangerous in the final third, and surely so motivated to revive his career in a World Cup year. Nicely done.
19. Tijjani Reijnders, Milan to Manchester City
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £61m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
Adds physicality and dynamism to a midfield that sorely lacked it last season. A gliding, elegant midfielder who will run all day and did not miss a single game through injury in his two years at Milan.
18. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Chelsea to Everton
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £25m
Contract length: Five years
The epitome of a team player, Dewsbury-Hall will run himself into the ground in midfield, break the lines with his passing and dribbling and add goals and assists. What’s not to like?
Dewsbury-Hall has started well at Everton (Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
17. Anton Stach, Hoffenheim to Leeds United
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: Over £17.3m
Contract length: Four years
As seems to be the case with every Leeds signing in this window, his feet stick out the end of the bed. The 6ft 4in (193cm) midfielder excels at breaking up play, reading and dictating the game and playing incisive passes. A real steal at £17.3m, too. Looks Leeds’ best signing of the summer.
16. Olivier Boscagli, PSV to Brighton
Transfer fee: Free
Contract length: Five years
Brighton tried to sign the now 27-year-old Frenchman a year ago, but PSV stood firm, and Boscagli helped them win a second straight Eredivisie title. He now arrives on a free. A pacy, ball-playing defender who completed more long passes than anyone in Europe’s top seven divisions in 2023-24 cost nothing but his wages. Could be one of the summer’s best deals if/when he breaks into the team.
15. El Hadji Malick Diouf, Slavia Prague to West Ham United
Reported transfer fee: £19m
Reported contract length: Five years
Signing a left-back was a priority for West Ham, and the 20-year-old Senegal international, one of the outstanding players in the Czech league last season, looks a real prospect. Has followed the path of Vladimir Coufal and Tomas Soucek from Slavia to east London. An overlapping full-back who can whip over a hell of a cross.
14. Florentino Luis, Benfica to Burnley
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
It’s a well-trodden footballing career path, for sure. If ever a signing epitomised how the Premier League is a Super League in all but name, it’s Florentino Luis joining Burnley (who even have an option to buy him included in the deal). Only one Primeira Liga midfielder produced more tackles and interceptions combined than his 134 last season and he’s just played 144 matches in three seasons at Benfica. A defensive midfielder’s defensive midfielder.
13. Xavi Simons, RB Leipzig to Tottenham Hotspur
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £52m
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
Tough to judge, this one. An all-encompassing No 10 who put up great numbers (10 goals and six assists in 25 Bundesliga league appearances) in a struggling team last season. Intelligent, agile, an expert ball-carrier and a supreme creator in the final third. The 22-year-old Dutchman has had a weird career path and needs a permanent home and a bit of love, but he could be a game-changer for Spurs if new coach Thomas Frank can mould the attack around him.
12. Kyle Walker, Manchester City to Burnley
Reported transfer fee: £5m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Two years
His lightning pace has clearly waned with age, but the right-side centre-back is perfect for a now 35-year-old Walker, who will essentially lead this Burnley side in their fight to stay up. A player full of experience in a squad lacking it. Great addition.
11. Granit Xhaka, Bayer Leverkusen to Sunderland
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £17.3m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Three years
From a Ballon d’Or nomination to joining Sunderland in 12 months. This is an eye-catching and pretty incredible signing. Midfielder Xhaka adds leadership to a young team and, at 32, still has the legs, skill and vision to make a big impact.
10. Caoimhin Kelleher, Liverpool to Brentford
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £18m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
A goalkeeper once described by Jurgen Klopp as the best No 2 in the world now steps up to be a Premier League No 1. Brentford have arguably upgraded the position (Mark Flekken has gone to Bayer Leverkusen) and managed to do it on the cheap.
9. Jorgen Strand Larsen, Celta Vigo to Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £23m
Contract length: Four years
The fact that Newcastle were considering a bid of around £60million for a player who had cost £23m three months earlier backs up the theory that this was one of the best-value deals of the summer. Scored 14 league goals for a struggling Wolves team last season on loan and has the profile to kick on.
8. Viktor Gyokeres, Sporting CP to Arsenal
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £63.4m (with adds-ons)
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Five years
A brisk, brutish battering ram with a lusty, horny desire for scoring goals. Obviously won’t replicate his Primeira Liga record, and he’ll need to adapt his game for the Premier League (as Arsenal will need to adapt to his game), but he has an incessant determination to better himself. In theory, Gyokeres is exactly what Arsenal need and a potential game-changer for their title ambitions. You’ll see that goal celebration of his often enough for it to become annoying.
7. Jack Grealish, Manchester City to Everton
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
Not a cheap loan, given his extortionate wages, but, like with Dewsbury-Hall, have Everton pulled off a masterstroke by reviving the career of a player who had lost his way at a bigger club? If Grealish, in a World Cup year, is given the freedom to express himself and be their main man, this has a good chance of being one of those ‘benefits everyone’ signings.
6. Hugo Ekitike, Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £79m (with add-ons)
The Athletic’s reported contract length: Six years
It feels rare for a striker who is both young and extremely expensive to hit the ground running in this way. Ekitike’s pace, height and physicality look ideally suited to the Premier League.
5. Alexander Isak, Newcastle United to Liverpool
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £125m
Reported contract length: Six years
Forty-four Premier League goals in the past two seasons, a great age at 25 (he’s 26 later this month), a professional attitude to his work… OK, fine, it was a messy ending at Newcastle and he handled himself dreadfully, and no human being is worth £125million, but Isak could very well become the best striker in the world now he’s at Anfield. A sorry saga but, ultimately, Isak wins. And so should Liverpool now, in terms of a lot of trophies.
4. Adrien Truffert, Rennes to Bournemouth
Reported transfer fee: £14.4m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
The 23-year-old Frenchman was Rennes’ captain and one of Ligue 1’s best full-backs last season. Capable of eye-catching and all-encompassing left-wing displays (both defensively and offensively), and appears to have the potential to even be an upgrade on predecessor Kerkez. Overlaps for fun but can hold his own against the best wingers, too. A massive ‘one to watch’ this season.
3. Rayan Cherki, Lyon to Manchester City
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £36.3m (with add-ons)
Contract length: Five years
He’s 22 years old, gifted, two-footed, versatile and can win any match on his own. Not at the top level yet and needs to improve his work ethic, but he’s at the right club to do that. A potential steal at an initial £30.3m — he could be worth five times that amount in three years.
2. Estevao, Palmeiras to Chelsea
The Athletic’s reported transfer fee: £49m (with add-ons)
Reported contract length: Eight years
Not 19 until next April, but with 83 first-team appearances under his belt for Palmeiras, plus five senior appearances for Brazil. Expect all-action, full-throttle wing-play, outrageous ability and an adventurous, fearless attitude, trying things that many wouldn’t even think of. Just a kid… but the hype feels justified.
Estevao has joined Chelsea from Palmeiras (Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)
1. Joao Palhinha, Bayern Munich to Tottenham Hotspur
Transfer fee: Loan
Contract length: One year
For two years with Fulham, Palhinha was arguably the Premier League’s best hairy-a***d ball-winning anchorman, and possibly one of Europe’s best too. For Spurs to bring him back to England for peanuts adds a layer of steel to their midfield that has been missing for some time. Palhinha will not only shore up their defence, but will also help allow their creative talents to shine.
(Top photos: Getty Images; design: Eamonn Dalton)
Source link
