The transfer window has slammed shut until 2026 and there was more business done than ever this summer.
Premier League Transfer Window Recap
Record deals were completed, several stars got their dream moves and the Premier League is primed for an epic season as we barrel through the first international break of the season.
Top-flight teams splashed a record £3.19 billion on transfers during the summer months, outstripping last year’s £2.46bn by a significant margin.
Alexander Isak eventually got his move to Liverpool from Newcastle for a British-record £125m fee, while Eberechi Eze snubbed Tottenham late on to join rivals Arsenal instead.
Manchester City added plenty of talent to their squad, as neighbours United made some interesting additions to Ruben Amorim’s struggling squad.
As usual, Chelsea were heavy spenders, but they also showed off their selling power, offloading £287m worth of talent.
But who backed it and who bottled it in the transfer window? Check out our grades for the Premier League’s Big Six below.
Premier League Transfer Grades — Big 6 Transfer Winners & Losers
Arsenal
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta must win a major piece of silverware this season if he is to justify Arsenal’s huge spending during his tenure.
The Gunners have now racked up nearly €1bn in player purchases since their last trophy in 2019, although this summer has seen a slight change of strategy when it comes to transfers.
While there have been a few superstar arrivals, new sporting director Andrea Berta has helped the north London side add plenty of depth to their squad.
Will Arsenal’s New Signings Deliver a Trophy This Season?
The signing of Noni Madueke has already helped ease the burden on star winger Bukayo Saka, who has suffered an early-season hamstring injury, with the former Chelsea man also able to provide competition for Gabriel Martinelli on the left.
Eze and Martin Zubimendi both bring immediate quality to the starting XI, with the former achieving a full circle moment having been let go from the Arsenal academy when he was younger, and the latter proving to be a real coup after turning down Real Madrid early in the window.
Arsenal’s grade is slightly hindered by the signing of Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP. While there is no doubt the Gunners needed to sign an established No.9, questions remain over whether their new £67m Swedish star is the solution to their dry run.
Gyokeres has already opened his account in the famous No.14 shirt with two goals in the 5-0 thrashing of Leeds, but he was invisible away to Liverpool - the exact calibre of game Arsenal need to win if they are to claim a first Premier League title since 2004.
The former Brighton and Coventry man may still storm onto the scene, but there’s no guarantee he succeeds at the Emirates.
Transfer window grade: B
Chelsea
Chelsea
Chelsea remain the envy of most football fans when it comes to operating in the transfer market, but it is actually their ability to offload players that has impressed more than their recruitment drive this time.
The Blues shipped out a grand total of 22 players this summer either on permanent or loan deals, raising nearly £300m in the process.
Notably, this included the sale of some expensive but unwanted talent, including Christopher Nkunku for £32.6m, Joao Felix for £26.2m and Noni Madueke for £48.5m.
Can Chelsea’s Transfer Strategy Win the Premier League?
It meant they were able to buy players freely, without the threat of profit and sustainability restrictions or the risk of overloading their squad.
Joao Pedro’s arrival from Brighton has proved to be one of the signings of the summer, with the Brazilian already notching four goal contributions in three Premier League games this term.
Liam Delap could prove to be a shrewd piece of business for the Blues, while signing three more wingers in Jamie Gittens, Alejandro Garnacho and Estevao Willian gives Enzo Maresca plenty of attacking options for the 2025-26 campaign.
Will it be enough to bridge the gap between Liverpool and Arsenal? Only time will tell.
Transfer window grade: A
Liverpool
Liverpool
Champions Liverpool have arguably had the best transfer window in their history, despite losing Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid.
Having already tied Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah down to new contracts, the Reds went on to spend a whopping £446m, the most ever forked out by a Premier League club in a single window.
Liverpool did recoup some of their funds through the £65.5m sale of Luis Diaz to Bayern Munich and the £56.6m departure of Darwin Nunez to Al-Hilal, but that money did not stay in the bank for long.
Will Liverpool’s Record Spending Secure Back-to-Back Titles?
The £116m deal for Florian Wirtz sent shockwaves around the division, but it was their deadline day move for Alexander Isak that stole the headlines.
In the 25-year-old, head coach Arne Slot has acquired an elite striker who was the Reds’ kryptonite in last season’s Carabao Cup final, and who is capable of catapulting his new club to a different level as they seek back-to-back titles.
Throw in Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike for a combined £139m, and Liverpool look like an incredibly dangerous side who are capable of scoring from defence, midfield or attack.
Transfer window grade: A
Man City
Manchester City
Manchester City lost a lot of quality from their squad this summer.
Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson, Kyle Walker, Manuel Akanji and Jack Grealish have all departed, leaving Pep Guadiola in desperate need of a new core.
City have certainly attempted to fill the gaps, but there is no guarantee their signings will pay off - and they have struggled to click in the opening weeks of the season.
Tijjani Reijnders had an impressive debut against Wolves, but he wears the heavy burden of replacing De Bruyne’s creativity and it means he will be judged harshly in Guardiola’s well-drilled machine.
Can Pep Guardiola Turn City’s Signings into Title Contenders?
At a combined fee of £65m, the additions of Rayan Cherki and Rayan Ait Nouri look good value on paper, but both have already suffered injury issues since joining and have a lot to do if they are to elevate City into title contenders.
The goalkeeper situation at the club also raises more questions than answers. James Trafford was seemingly brought in as the new City No.1, but snapping up GIanluigi Donnarumma on deadline day suggests there are concerns over that particular recruitment decision.
To an extent, it feels like City are throwing darts at a board blind, but Guardiola remains one of the best coaches in the business and if anyone can get the best out of a new-look group of players, it’s him.
Transfer window grade: C
Man United
Manchester United
Manchester United have undoubtedly made some smart signings this summer, but they have also seemingly failed to address their biggest issues on the pitch.
Ruben Amorim’s system has lacked a world class midfielder to provide both attacking and defensive quality, with captain Bruno Fernandes still expected to fill that role, despite fans repeatedly pointing out that he is far better suited in a more advanced position.
Interest in Brighton’s Carlos Baleba was quickly shut down, as were rumours of an audacious move for Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton. Had they signed either, their grade would be significantly higher.
There is also the outstanding issue in goal. The Red Devils have finally recognised that Andre Onana is not good enough to be their starting goalkeeper, but the £18.2m signing of Senne Lammens is a huge risk.
Will Man Utd’s Signings Fix Their Season?
Snubbing Emiliano Martinez - a World Cup winner and globally recognised as one of the best goalkeepers on the planet - to pursue a young talent who may or may not develop into a top shot stopper is a brave move, but one that makes little sense on paper.
United can be given their props for managing to add Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo to their ranks, although with Amorim’s preferred formation not including wingers, there have understandably been eyebrows raised on the edition of the former Brentford star.
Benjamin Sesko cost a heavy £73.7m fee but is yet to start a game since making the switch from RB Leipzig, suggesting that deal could also be a cause for concern, especially considering the career path of Rasmus Hojlund, a player who cost a similar amount and has already been shipped out of Old Trafford.
Transfer window grade: D
Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham have had a busy summer and many fans may tell you that their best bit of business was the outgoing transfer of Daniel Levy from his role as chairman.
But in the player market, Spurs have done plenty of work to ensure their 17th-placed finish from last season does not happen again anytime soon.
Despite missing out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze, the £51.8m purchase of Xavi Simons from Leipzig is an incredibly exciting move, especially as rivals Chelsea had been sniffing around the Barcelona academy graduate all summer.
Can Tottenham’s New Attack Secure a Top-Five Spot?
Alongside Mohammed Kudus and Randal Kolo Muani, Thomas Frank has been handed a new-look attack to tackle the Premier League and Champions League - a much needed move having lost captain Heung-Min Son to Los Angeles FC and James Maddison to an ACL injury.
Joao Palhinha has also been brought in on loan from Bayern Munich to provide some protection in front of a leaky defence that conceded 65 goals last season, and it has been a promising start to the campaign for Spurs, winning two of their opening three matches.
Perhaps an out-and-out replacement for Son would have really elevated the club’s window, but for now, there is plenty for Frank to work with as Spurs enter a new era.
Transfer window grade: B
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