It was wonderful to know about the 2025 summer transfer window, but now that it has closed, we can reflect on what was undoubtedly one of the most exciting and eventful windows in recent memory. Overall, Premier League clubs spent more than £3 billion in this market, breaking the previous record by about £700 million.
All of the discussion of clubs being constrained by PSR did not seem to deter some of them from spending large, while others appeared to be afraid to dive into their finances and upgrade their squads. As a result, they’ve been left in potentially hazardous waters. Having said that, GIVEMESPORT has ranked all 20 Premier League clubs based on the strength of their transfer window, taking into account some essential criteria.
20Wolves
The Wolves’ early-season troubles have kept them at the bottom of the rankings, echoing their position on this list. After three games, the Molineux squad is the only Premier League club without a point heading into the international break.
Rayan Ait-Nouri, Matheus Cunha, and Nelson Semedo left over the summer, complicating matters even more. Frustrated fans went after the club’s owners, demanding either investment or a sale. Meanwhile, promoted clubs have all invested more over £100 million, highlighting Wolves’ lack of desire. New newcomers, such as Tolu Arokodare and Jorgen Strand Larsen, did, however, provide some encouragement.
19Fulham
Fulham’s season has already been marred by dissatisfaction, both on and off the pitch, most notably when a costly VAR error contributed to their defeat to Chelsea. Off the field, spending has been modest, which Marco Silva has expressed concern about.
For much of the summer, the lone addition was backup goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte, who came in for less than £500,000. Former loanee Reiss Nelson’s chances of re-signing have faded. The club did, however, conclude a record £34.6 million signing for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Kevin, fending off late interest from Porto, and also signed Samuel Chukwueze from AC Milan on a temporary basis. However, Fulham’s only three additions, one of which was a glorified backup, were insufficient to propel the club into the top half after finishing 11th last season.
18West Ham
West Ham were under intense pressure going into Sunday after three successive defeats in all competitions, during which they conceded 11 goals. Tensions rose further after captain Jarrod Bowen was seen confronting portions of the away fans following the Carabao Cup defeat.
Graham Potter was said to have been hampered by a terrible transfer window, which included Mohammed Kudus’ high-profile departure. Veteran players Aaron Cresswell, Lukasz Fabianski, and Vladimir Coufal were all released with no clear replacements, while Mads Hermansen and Callum Wilson arrived without much fanfare.
However, the late additions of Mateus Fernandes and Soungoutou Magassa improved sentiments following the morale-boosting victory over Nottingham Forest, and the Igor Julio deal added to the intrigue on deadline day. Above all, Lucas Paqueta remains with the club, despite interest from outside.
17Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace had always had a difficult summer, not least because it was unclear for months if European qualification meant the Europa League or the Conference League. In the end, it was the latter, a development that most certainly destroyed any realistic hope of maintaining Eberechi Eze. Replacing him with Yeremy Pino would never bring the same level of quality, and the squad is undeniably worse as a result.
While Eze’s return to childhood club Arsenal was unavoidable, the handling of Marc Guehi’s future was more concerning. Palace knew he would not renew his contract long ago, but on deadline day, there was tension between Oliver Glasner and the ownership over whether to cash in. In the end, Igor Julio was responsible for Guehi’s failure to complete a move to Liverpool. It may mean the Eagles miss out in the long run, but it will undoubtedly strengthen their defense this season.
16Brentford
Brentford may have had a more difficult summer than the teams positioned just behind them, but they did move to back their manager when changes occurred. The Bees then lost both of last season’s leading scorers, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, as well as captain Christian Norgaard. However, in the situations of Mbeumo and Wissa, the club wrung significant sums from Manchester United and Newcastle, respectively.
Reinforcements arrived, with Reiss Nelson acquired on loan from Arsenal to reinforce the attack, despite his lack of Premier League experience. Jordan Henderson’s addition provides much-needed leadership in Norgaard’s absence, while Dango Ouattara’s record fee strengthens the squad even further. Caoimhin Kelleher, the goalkeeper, is also a savvy businessman who provides Keith Andrews with plenty of options.
15Aston Villa
Aston Villa has invested enormous resources in building a squad capable of competing consistently at the highest level in Europe, but slipping into UEFA’s secondary league has tightened financial constraints and reduced future spending. Profit and Sustainability Rules prompted the sale of academy graduate Jacob Ramsey, who left for Newcastle, infuriating fans.
For much of the summer, the only major arrival was the £30 million signing of striker Evann Guessand, who has yet to prove his worth. Activity ramped up late, with former Manchester United stars Victor Lindelof and Jadon Sancho both joining, with the latter seen as a gamble Emery hopes to resuscitate, similar to Marcus Rashford’s loan success. Harvey Elliott also signed to improve midfield options, but Emiliano Martinez stayed at Villa Park as Manchester United decided to sign Senne Lammens instead.
14Bournemouth
Europe’s greatest clubs are pursuing Bournemouth’s talents this summer, highlighting the club’s previous transfer success. Milos Kerkez, Illia Zabarnyi, and Dean Huijsen all left for Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Real Madrid, respectively, causing a wave of departures that would have a significant impact on any squad.
However, as has become their signature, the Cherries wisely reinvested, with Adrien Truffert and Bafode Diakite making promising early impressions. Additional reinforcements arrived in the form of Alex Jimenez, Djordje Petrovic, Amine Adli, and Ben Gannon-Doak, all of whom are considered great value signings in the present market. Perhaps the biggest success came when Antoine Semenyo agreed to new terms despite Tottenham’s interest. However, the losses of Neto and Ouattara have left them shorthanded in goal and up forward.
13Leeds
Leeds, who showed early promise despite a 5-0 setback at Arsenal, would have embraced four points and two clean sheets after three Premier League games. Victories over Everton and a draw against Newcastle showed that the team can compete at the highest level. A goalless draw with Newcastle, on the other hand, emphasized the urgent need for forward additions, as their single league goal thus far has come from a penalty.
That goal was scored by new signing Lukas Nmecha, while the addition of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who has not reached double figures in the Premier League since 2020/21, provides mixed results. Leeds’ £100 million investment brought in ten new faces, with Anton Stach and Sean Longstaff standing out, while objectives like as Harry Wilson and Facundo Buonanotte were ultimately missed.
12Brighton
Chelsea was once again engaged in the acquisition of another Amex star, this time signing Joao Pedro, bringing Brighton’s revenues from the Blues to well under £300 million over three years. Meanwhile, Manchester United were kept at bay in their brief chase of midfielder Carlos Baleba, as owner Tony Bloom insists the teenager stays for at least another season, believing he can one day meet Moises Caicedo’s £115 million valuation.
Brighton moved quickly to capture their key summer goals, giving newcomers time to adjust, with the exception of Maxim de Cuyper. Stephanos Tzimas, Babis Kostoulas, and Tommy Watson all have the ability to succeed at the Amex. However, with Pedro’s sale and Evan Ferguson’s loan to Roma, the team appears to be short in attack, with Danny Welbeck the only acknowledged striker and Giorginio Rutter played in deeper positions.
11Burnley
Scott Parker has supervised a comprehensive squad revamp at Turf Moor as Burnley seeks to maintain their Premier League position after previously earning a reputation as a yo-yo team. Losses to Tottenham and Manchester United have been balanced out by an important win over Sunderland, last year’s Championship opponents.
The Clarets matched other promoted sides in expenditure, but it remains to be seen how much value that investment provides. Armando Broja signed from Chelsea following a goalless loan spell at Everton, while former teammate Lesley Ugochukwu also arrived, entrusted with improving a defence that has conceded three goals in two of three games. Kyle Walker’s signing, while not at his best, is still a fantastic coup, bringing leadership and expertise to a club that could benefit from it.
10Newcastle
Many will simply be relieved that the transfer window has closed, putting an end to the Yoane Wissa and Alexander Isak sagas at St James’ Park. Newcastle were able to turn around what appeared to be a terrible summer and emerge with things looking lot more positive.
For much of the transfer window, Anthony Elanga was the only confirmed signing, as other targets turned down moves to Tyneside. The largest upheaval occurred when Isak wanted a transfer to Liverpool, rendering his position at the club untenable. His ultimate £125 million transfer to Liverpool, while disappointing, was conducted on Newcastle’s terms. The Magpies responded with a club-record £69 million signing of Nick Woltemade, who had been courted by Bayern Munich, and secured Wissa before the deadline.
Aside from Isak and the signing of Jacob Ramsey, the group that won the Carabao Cup and returned to the Champions League is mostly unchanged, which may be considered as a success.
9Manchester United
Manchester United entered the summer transfer market after their worst Premier League season and a defeat in the Europa League final, which raised concerns about their ability to attract top talent without European football. However, the club’s allure remained intact as they managed to sign Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, all of whom selected Old Trafford over other offers.
A high-profile pursuit of Brighton’s Carlos Baleba finally failed, although goalkeeper Senne Lammens was successfully signed on deadline day. Perhaps more crucial were the outgoings. Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Alejandro Garnacho also left, either permanently or on loan, to relieve Ruben Amorim of some of his headaches. While many fans had anticipated that Tyrell Malacia and Andre Onana would follow suit, the current equilibrium is significantly healthier.
8Manchester City
To some extent, Manchester City’s transfer activity has gone unnoticed since it was accomplished so quickly. Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have both made encouraging starts in their latest chapter, while James Trafford recovered from a shaky debut against Tottenham to appear more convincing the following week against Brighton.
However, Trafford’s tenure as the club’s new number one is likely to be finished due to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s arrival on deadline day. The Italian has already established himself as one of the league’s finest without even kicking a ball in the English top division, and he will undoubtedly be an imposing presence. However, City have lost some key players from previous seasons, including Kevin De Bruyne. Transitioning away from that effect will probably require another window or two.
7Nottingham Forest
Few would have predicted Nottingham Forest to finish this high after Nuno Espirito Santo blasted their lack of transfer activity leading up to the opening Premier League weekend of the season. Within 72 hours of filing those concerns, he had four fresh signings, so you can’t say his requests were ignored.
Forest have invested over £180 million this summer, with Dan Ndoye standing out so far, having already scored and assisted in his first three Premier League games. Former Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz came on a season-long loan from Juventus, while England Under-21 players Omari Hutchinson and James McAtee were brought in from Ipswich and Manchester City, respectively, in moves viewed as wise long-term investments. Furthermore, albeit done in questionable circumstances, the fact that the team was able to retain Morgan Gibbs-White is a positive.
6Everton
Everton had a difficult start to the window, but they made it count in the end. Moyes disliked the fact that Thierno Barry and youngster Adam Aznou were the only players that helped him on his preseason tour. But then business started to perk up.
Unquestionably, Jack Grealish was the most important addition. After months, if not years, in the Manchester City wilderness, Grealish has returned to Merseyside and reestablished his credentials as a top player.
Other newcomers, such as potential talent Tyler Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, will look to light up Hill Dickinson Stadium. So far, the latter has performed admirably in a more advanced function.
5Sunderland
Few could have imagined the remarkable summer Sunderland has had. Shortly after winning the Championship playoff final, the club sold Jobe Bellingham to Borussia Dortmund for a club-record £31 million. Despite this departure, manager Regis Le Bris has gotten full support and has dramatically changed the complexion of his squad.
The early termination of Marc Guiu’s loan was a blow, but the Black Cats soon replied by signing Brian Brobbey on deadline day, along with fellow Dutchman Lutsharel Geertruida from RB Leipzig in a double signing. Habib Diarra remains the standout signing, having joined from Strasbourg for a club record £30 million, while Granit Xhaka and Nordi Mukiele traded Champions League football to improve the squad. With two wins from three games, the Black Cats may have a chance to survive.
4Chelsea
Chelsea is currently in the transfer window. You know it’s going to be chaotic. But, while it was a little erratic at times, you can’t deny that the World Champions have brought in some top-tier talent. Joao Pedro has had a significant influence since joining Chelsea, and Estevao Willian has emerged as one of the world’s most promising young players.
The jury is still out on Liam Delap, Jamie Gittens, and Jorrel Hato, and many will wonder if the Blues truly needed Alejandro Garnacho, considering their offensive depth. They were also able to get rid of some unpopular names, notably Nicolas Jackson, after things became heated following Delap’s injury versus Fulham. However, top earner Raheem Sterling remains, while numerous members of the ‘bomb squad’ have failed to get deals away.
3Tottenham
Tottenham has gone through a lot of changes this summer, and you have to admit that it has worked out for the better. New manager Thomas Frank has been able to bring in some big names while still keeping all of his important players, with the exception of Son Heung-min, who is no longer the player he once was.
Spurs recovered from their failed pursuits of Eze and Gibbs-White by completing a huge coup with the signing of Xavi Simons. Joao Palhinha was probably the bargain of the summer, signing on loan from Bayern barely a year after Fulham sold him to the German giants. Meanwhile, Mohammed Kudus has had an instant influence on Frank’s attacking options, recording two assists in his first three games. Randal Kolo Muani, a deadline-day loan transfer from PSG, adds quality to the attacking lineup.
2Arsenal
You need to give it to Arsenal. They are doing everything they can to go up from second place, and their transfer activity demonstrates a genuine desire to compete for the top spot in what is considered as a now-or-never season for Mikel Arteta.
Upgrades have been made throughout the pitch, whether in terms of depth in specific areas, such as defense with Cristian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie, or gamechangers in attack with Eze and Viktor Gyokeres. Some will be irritated by the lack of permanent outgoings, and the situation with Thomas Partey was not a good look for the Gunners this summer. Their team, on the other hand, is prepared for major success; all they have to do now is deliver.
1Liverpool
Have you ever seen two more dissimilar transfer windows? Last summer, Liverpool and Arne Slot hardly made a splash in the market. This year, they blew it wide open. With a group that was already capable of winning the league title the previous season, the Reds did not rest on their laurels and went all out to enhance their position at the top.
Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz are two players valued at more than £110 million each. Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are changing the guard at full-back. possibly yet, Hugo Ekitike, the newcomer who has made the most of his impact, may be forced to play out of position or possibly miss out on the starting lineup to make room for Isak. It’s a frightening possibility, but the fact that they couldn’t complete the Guehi deal suggests that the Reds’ defensive prospects remain uncertain.
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