More than 150 players purchased. A combined total of £3.11billion. Suffice to say it has been another extravagant, not to mention drama-filled, few months of activity for Premier League clubs in the transfer window.
Some exciting arrivals. Some unsavoury exits. This summer has seen both. But with the deadline now passed, who have been the best bits of business in England’s top flight? Who will prove a shrewd acquisition, be it permanent or temporary?
Here at 101 Great Goals, we’re taking a look at five of the best.
Honourable mentions should go to Kyle Walker and Granit Xhaka, two hugely experienced leaders who joined newly-promoted Burnley and Sunderland, respectively, and will likely be key figures as both sides look to consolidate their top-flight status.
Shoutouts also go to promising youngsters Estevao (Palmeiras to Chelsea), Rayan Cherki (Lyon to Manchester City) and Harvey Elliott, who joined Aston Villa on loan from Liverpool after being named player of the tournament as England U21s successfully defended their European Championship crown this summer.
Alexander Isak – Newcastle to Liverpool
It may have dominated most of the summer transfer window headlines. It may have played out like a prime-time British soap opera. It may have even set a negative precedent for player conduct in future windows. But when all is said and done, when the messy fallout from unfeeling 37-word farewells and cryptic agent digs begins to die down, Alexander Isak to Liverpool may well prove to be one hell of a powerplay for the Premier League champions.
An already-impressive window for the Reds was made outstanding with the arrival of the 25-year-old Swedish striker on deadline day for a British record fee of £125m. In doing so, it may have just made Arne Slot’s side – on paper at least – the most formidable in Europe.
Isak and Mohamed Salah is a frightening enough prospect in itself, but add into the mix the likes of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Hugo Ekitike – who appears to have taken to life on Merseyside rather well, with two league goals already earning him a first call up to the senior France team – and Slot’s men will take some stopping.
Jack Grealish – Manchester City to Everton (loan)
After something of a hit-and-miss four seasons under Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, it can be easy to forget just how impressive Jack Grealish was in the latter part of his Aston Villa career.
It is not hyperbole to say Grealish was a talismanic figure for his boyhood club; capable of changing games almost single-handedly and who was, at one stage, the most fouled player in the Premier League.
A loan move to Everton then, where he is already showcasing the kind of unshackled, expressive on-the-pitch freedom apparent during his days in the West Midlands, could prove a real coup for the Toffees, who have been crying out for a player of his quality for some time.
Joao Pedro – Brighton to Chelsea
With the eleventh-hour departure of Nicolas Jackson to Bayern and the hamstring injury suffered by new addition Liam Delap against Fulham that could see the striker sidelined for as long as two months, much of Chelsea’s goal-getting responsibilities during the first-half of the season will fall on the shoulders of Joao Pedro.
Thankfully for Blues fans, the 23-year-old Brazilian’s adjustment to life at Stamford Bridge has been rapid. The former Brighton player, who departed for the capital for £60m in July just in time to feature – and indeed score – in the Club World Cup final, has netted two goals and provided two assists in his first three league games for his new team.
Having been plying his trade in English football for five years already, it seems like a shrewd bit of business on Chelsea’s part to bring such an established top-flight scorer to the club, and one that could well prove to be a shoe-in for many people’s FPL team.
Joao Palhinha – Bayern Munich to Tottenham (loan)
For many, Spurs’ most astute addition this summer has not been on the pitch but in the dugout. Thomas Frank, on early viewing at least, already seems to have instilled a pragmatism and adaptability into his squad, as evidenced in a deserved victory over Manchester City and, prior to that, an 80-minute masterclass against European Champions Paris Saint-Germain.
On the pitch, however, defensive midfielder Joao Palhinha could well be exactly the profile of player the Europa League holders have been screaming out for. An aggressive, commanding presence who – to borrow that well-worn cliche – ‘does the basics well’, the Portugal international already comes with Premier League experience at Fulham and, in his debut season in England’s top-flight in 2022-23, made 148 tackles, a remarkable 48 more than any other player in the division.
Adrien Truffert – Rennes to Bournemouth
Each season, there is almost always a handful of under-the-radar signings that prove to be strokes of genius. This year will likely be no different. But of those less-well-known acquisitions, 23-year-old full-back Adrien Truffert may well be the pick of the bunch.
The Frenchman was Rennes’ captain and one of Ligue 1’s best defenders last term and has the ability to be a standout player for the Cherries. Something of a left-sided all-rounder, capable of operating both defensively and offensively, Truffert has the potential to be an upgrade on predecessor Milos Kerkez, who departed for Anfield earlier this summer.
