Arsenal entered the summer with plenty of ambition, but the failure to land a headline attacking addition could become a major talking point later in the season. Christos Tzolis, Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa represented an impressive start, yet the club never managed to complete the statement signing Mikel Arteta appeared to want.
The Gunners initially explored a move for Morgan Rogers before turning their attention to Vinícius Júnior after the England international moved to Chelsea. That route also ended without success when the Brazilian committed his future to Real Madrid. Julián Alvarez was another possibility, although the Atlético Madrid striker made it clear late in the window that he was not interested in moving.
Arsenal ultimately chose not to force another deal. That decision came despite Gabriel Jesus leaving for Barcelona and Ethan Nwaneri moving to Borussia Dortmund. With Gabriel Martinelli also expected to join Al-Hilal while the Saudi Pro League market remains open, Arteta could find his attacking options stretched if injuries arrive.
Key arrivals: Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle, £75m), Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa, £51m), Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen, £45m), Christos Tzolis (Club Brugge, £34m)
Key departures: Leandro Trossard (Besiktas, £15.3m), Jakub Kiwior (Porto, £14.5m), Gabriel Jesus (Barcelona, £8.6m), Fábio Vieira (Hamburg, £7.7m), Christian Nørgaard (Everton, £7m), Ethan Nwaneri (Borussia Dortmund, loan)
Aston Villa
Aston Villa underwent one of the most significant squad overhauls of the summer. Some uncertainty was inevitable, but a fresh approach had become necessary after concerns that the team had lost momentum.
Unai Emery was not keen to lose so many important players, and his message has remained clear: there will be no season spent simply rebuilding. Villa raised roughly £300m through nine sales while committing approximately £250m to 10 new players. The changes have also reduced the wage bill and altered the overall age and profile of the squad.
Several of the incoming players have generated considerable excitement among rival clubs, particularly Zion Suzuki, Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi. Twelve months earlier, Villa had been forced into a frantic deadline-day scramble that brought Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho in on loan. This time, the process was considerably calmer.
Key arrivals: Johan Manzambi (Freiburg, £51m), Nicolas Jackson (Chelsea, £47.5m), Ibrahim Mbaye (PSG, £47m), João Gomes (Wolves, £34m), Zion Suzuki (Parma, £30m), Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton, £25m), Matteo Ruggeri (Atlético Madrid, £21.4m), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich, free), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham, loan), Alejandro Garnacho (Chelsea, loan)
Key departures: Morgan Rogers (Chelsea, £117m), Ollie Watkins (Al-Hilal, £51m), Ezri Konsa (Arsenal, £51m), Youri Tielemans (Manchester United, £35m), Donyell Malen (Roma, £21.6m), Lewis Dobbin (Southampton, £9m), Lucas Digne (PSG, £8.5m), Emiliano Martínez (Chelsea, £7.5m), Evann Guessand (Crystal Palace, loan)
Bournemouth
For Bournemouth, the most valuable piece of business may have been keeping their most sought-after players. Eli Junior Kroupi, Rayan, Alex Scott and Tyler Adams all remained, despite interest from elsewhere.
Chelsea tested Bournemouth’s resolve with offers for Scott, but the club refused to change its stance. The decision is particularly important as Marco Rose prepares his side for the challenge of competing domestically while also dealing with European football for the first time.
At centre-back, António Silva looks like a logical successor to Marcos Senesi. The 22-year-old arrived from Benfica for £21.4m, offering Bournemouth another promising defensive option. Kroupi’s unusual foot injury, expected to keep him sidelined until November, may also have inadvertently helped the club retain the 20-year-old forward.
Key arrivals: António Silva (Benfica, £21.4m), Álvaro Rodríguez (Elche, £21.3m), Juanlu Sánchez (Sevilla, £11.1m), Michele Di Gregorio (Juventus, loan)
Key departures: Luis Sinisterra (Cruzeiro, £5.2m), Enes Unal (Getafe, free), Álex Jiménez (Fiorentina, loan), Marcos Senesi (Tottenham, free)
Brentford
Brentford avoided the upheaval that had threatened to define their summer and instead focused on preserving the core of their squad while adding quality.
Mamadou Sangaré has immediately attracted attention after arriving from Lens and, at £39m, could prove to be the standout value signing. Callum Wilson supplies experience and know-how in attack after joining without a transfer fee, while Jaidon Anthony strengthens the wide areas following his £15m move from Burnley.
At left-back, El Hadji Malick Diouf arrives from West Ham with considerable room for development. Overall, Brentford appear to have strengthened without losing the identity that has served them well.
Key arrivals: Mamadou Sangaré (Lens, £39m), El Hadji Malick Diouf (West Ham, £35m), Jaidon Anthony (Burnley, £15m), Jannik Schuster (Red Bull Salzburg, £14m), Callum Wilson (West Ham, free)
Key departures: Ethan Pinnock (Coventry, £6m), Jordan Henderson (Chelsea, free)
Brighton
Brighton’s familiar transfer strategy produced another busy summer, with the club reaching 12 additions after deadline-day deals for Nigeria forward Femi Azeez and Spanish midfielder Chema Andrés. Azeez’s signing was only officially announced almost 12 hours after the window had closed.
The club once again benefited financially from player sales. Departures involving Jan Paul van Hecke, Carlos Baleba and Carl Rushworth generated more than £140m, underlining the effectiveness of Brighton’s recruitment model.
There is, however, a concern in attack. Danny Welbeck, last season’s leading scorer, left for Chelsea for only £5m. That could prove costly if new striker Promise David is unable to reproduce the goals Brighton have lost.
Key arrivals: Luka Vuskovic (Tottenham, £46m), Zadok Yohanna (AIK, £21.5m), Chema Andrés (Stuttgart, £18.9m), Pascal Struijk (Leeds, £18m), Femi Azeez (Millwall, undisclosed), Jaouen Hadjam (Young Boys, £11.1m), Costinha (Olympiakos, £11m), Michael Svoboda (Venezia, £4.3m), Promise David (Union St-Gilloise, loan)
Key departures: Carlos Baleba (Manchester United, £70m), Jan Paul van Hecke (Tottenham, £52m), Carl Rushworth (Coventry, £22.5m), Diego Coppola (Paris FC, £15.3m), Danny Welbeck (Chelsea, £5m), Joël Veltman (West Ham, free), James Milner (retired), Solly March (released)
Chelsea
For Chelsea, appointing Xabi Alonso may ultimately prove more important than any individual player signed. The Spaniard’s arrival represents the central decision of the summer, and the club subsequently backed him with a substantial recruitment programme.
Morgan Rogers has made an encouraging beginning following his £117m transfer from Aston Villa. Maxence Lacroix adds strength to the back line, while Marco Palestra can operate across the wide positions. Experienced additions Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson should also contribute to standards inside the dressing room.
The familiar turnover at Stamford Bridge nevertheless continued. Chelsea generated significant money from departures, although losing Marc Cucurella to Real Madrid could prove more damaging than the sale of Enzo Fernández. The biggest concern may be in midfield: Fernández joined Manchester City for £125m and Chelsea failed to replace him, with a late attempt to sign Monaco’s Lamine Camara collapsing.
Key arrivals: Morgan Rogers (Aston Villa, £117m), Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace, £52m), Marco Palestra (Atalanta, £47m), Geovany Quenda (Sporting, £40m), Valentín Barco (Strasbourg, £34m), Emmanuel Emegha (Strasbourg, £21.6m), Pep Chavarría (Rayo Vallecano, £16.3m), Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa, £7.5m), Danny Welbeck (Brighton, £5m), Jordan Henderson (Brentford, free)
Key departures: Enzo Fernández (Manchester City, £125m), Marc Cucurella (Real Madrid, £52m), Andrey Santos (Manchester United, £50m), Nicolas Jackson (Aston Villa, £47.5m), Liam Delap (Nottingham Forest, £45m), Trevoh Chalobah (Como 1907, £25.7m), Tyrique George (Everton, £18m), Marc Guiu (RB Leipzig, £14.5m), Tosin Adarabioyo (Tottenham, £7m), Axel Disasi (Crystal Palace, loan), Alejandro Garnacho (Aston Villa, loan), Benoît Badiashile (Napoli, loan), Robert Sánchez (Como, loan), Mykhailo Mudryk (Tottenham, loan)
Coventry City
Coventry’s recruitment strategy was built around preserving their momentum while making the squad stronger and more accustomed to Premier League football. Frank Lampard wanted additional physical presence, while the club also recognised its shortage of top-flight experience.
Taiwo Awoniyi and Ethan Pinnock bring that experience, although expectations will be high on the attacking players. Coventry were the highest scorers across English football’s top four divisions last season, but the demands of the Premier League will be different.
Awoniyi has never been a prolific scorer for Nottingham Forest, meaning Sidiki Cherif and Ellis Simms may also be required to contribute before Haji Wright returns from injury. Manchester City loanee Stephen Mfuni became the 11th and final arrival, providing another option at left-back.
Key arrivals: Caleb Yirenkyi (Nordsjælland, £23m), Carl Rushworth (Brighton, £22.5m), Sidiki Cherif (Fenerbahce, £20.5m), Loum Tchaouna (Burnley, £20m), Aurèle Amenda (Eintracht Frankfurt, £15.4m), Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, £9m), Ethan Pinnock (Brentford, £6m), Gustavo Hamer (Sheffield United, £6m), Stephen Mfuni (Manchester City, loan), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, undisclosed), Dan Bentley (Wolves, undisclosed)
Key departures: None
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace’s chaotic deadline day was perhaps best illustrated by the extraordinary battle for Malick Fofana. Sunderland eventually won that contest, while Palace continued working deep into the final minutes and confirmed several arrivals only after the transfer window had officially closed.
Pierre Sage, the new manager, will at least welcome the additional defensive depth. Losing Maxence Lacroix to Chelsea created a gap that needed filling, with Axel Disasi and Honest Ahanor arriving on loan to strengthen the back line.
Palace also resisted Liverpool’s approach for Ismaïla Sarr. The Senegal international remains at the club for now, although a move to Saudi Arabia remains possible before that market closes on Sunday.
Key arrivals: Anan Khalaili (Union St-Gilloise, £21m), Quinten Timber (Marseille, £15m), Zavier Gozo (Real Salt Lake, £11m), Axel Disasi (Chelsea, loan), Evann Guessand (Aston Villa, loan), Honest Ahanor (Atalanta, loan), Darío Osorio (Midtjylland, loan), Dwight McNeil (Everton, swap), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax, free), Óscar Mingueza (Celta Vigo, free), Ben Chilwell (Strasbourg, undisclosed fee)
Key departures: Maxence Lacroix (Chelsea, £52m), Daniel Muñoz (Nottingham Forest, £22m), Brennan Johnson (Everton, swap), Borna Sosa (Cologne, loan)
Everton
Everton’s summer exposed several uncomfortable questions, from the ambitions of The Friedkin Group and the club’s financial position following the stadium move to the relationship between manager and chief executive. Few of the answers offered much encouragement.
The owners did earn some credit for responding to supporters and stopping Harrison Armstrong’s proposed transfer to Nottingham Forest. Beyond that, however, the window became increasingly frustrating. Everton lost their leading player for a fee viewed as below market value, failed to complete a move for Folarin Balogun and spent much of the window searching for a right-back.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles eventually arrived, but David Moyes finished the window with just one striker and a smaller squad than he had at the start of deadline day. That outcome came despite the manager repeatedly calling for reinforcements.
Key arrivals: Tyrique George (Chelsea, £18m), Merlin Röhl (Freiburg, £17.3m), Hayden Hackney (Middlesbrough, £16.5m), Christian Nørgaard (Arsenal, £7m), Ainsley Maitland-Niles (Lyon, £4.2m), Brennan Johnson (Crystal Palace, swap), Jack Grealish (Manchester City, loan)
Key departures: Iliman Ndiaye (Manchester City, £60m), Beto (Fiorentina, £15.4m), Tim Iroegbunam (Hull, £13m), Dwight McNeil (Crystal Palace, swap), Idrissa Gueye (Al-Diriyah, free), Nathan Patterson (Torino, free), Séamus Coleman (released)
Fulham
Fulham’s summer marked the end of one era and the beginning of another. Marco Silva departed after five successful years and was replaced by Álvaro Arbeloa, whose recruitment strategy has placed a strong emphasis on younger players.
Several arrivals followed Arbeloa from Real Madrid, including Gonzalo García, César Palacios and Manuel Ángel. Shea Charles also represents an intriguing addition after his move from Southampton.
The squad lost some experienced figures, with Raúl Jiménez joining Wolves and Harry Wilson moving to Leeds. Fulham continued searching for reinforcements until the final stages, completing deals for Hugo Larsson and David Affengruber while failing to secure right-back Andrei Ratiu.
Key arrivals: Gonzalo García (Real Madrid, £34.3m), Shea Charles (Southampton, £30m), David Affengruber (Elche, £10.3m), César Palacios (Real Madrid, £8.6m), Jonah Kusi-Asare (Bayern Munich, £5.2m), Manuel Ángel (Real Madrid, £3.4m), Hugo Larsson (Eintracht Frankfurt, loan)
Key departures: Sasa Lukic (Ipswich, £9m), Issa Diop (Ipswich, £8.5m), Harry Wilson (Leeds, free), Raúl Jiménez (Wolves, free)
Hull City
Hull owner Acun Ilicali predicted in early July that the club was like a volcano about to erupt. Two months later, the scale of the activity made that prediction look remarkably accurate.
Hull completed an astonishing 18 signings and spent more than £150m, while Sergej Jakirovic has already guided the side to two Premier League victories. The transformation is striking when compared with June, when the playoff winners sold two players for a combined £8.5m simply to avoid breaching EFL spending regulations and facing an almost certain six-point penalty.
Hull had also spent the previous season under a two-window EFL transfer embargo. They have certainly compensated for that lost opportunity. Whether such a huge number of new players can quickly develop an effective understanding remains uncertain, but the mood is considerably brighter.
One particularly popular deal saw Joe Gelhardt return permanently from Leeds after becoming a cult figure during his loan spell last season.
Key arrivals: Nobel Mendy (Rayo Vallecano, £20m), Konstantinos Tzolakis (Olympiakos, £20m), Lucas Herrington (Colorado Rapids, £17.1m), Ilyas Ansah (Union Berlin, £14.5m), Mohamed-Ali Cho (Nice, £13m), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (Genoa, £12m), Jens Hjerto-Dahl (Tromsø, £10m), Tim Iroegbunam (Everton, £13m), Christos Mouzakitis (Olympiakos, £12.9m), Sorba Thomas (Stoke, £7.5m), Joe Gelhardt (Leeds, £6.5m), Jack Butland (Rangers, £3.5m), Lucas Gourna-Douath (Red Bull Salzburg, £3.4m), Elliot Stroud (Mjällby, £3m), Robinio Vaz (Roma, loan), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting, free), Matt Targett (Newcastle, free), Óscar Zambrano (Maribor, undisclosed fee)
Key departures: Ivor Pandur (Rangers, £6m), Cody Drameh (Genoa, £3.9m), Abu Kamara (Portsmouth, £2.5m), Kyle Joseph (Middlesbrough, undisclosed fee)
Ipswich Town
Ipswich’s decision to bring in Zian Flemming from Burnley pushed their summer expenditure towards £200m, highlighting just how seriously the club is approaching its battle for survival.
The additions of Exequiel Palacios and Julio Enciso would appear unusual for a side expected to operate near the bottom of the table, while former Fulham players Sasa Lukic and Issa Diop add valuable Premier League experience. Gary O’Neil now has considerable depth in midfield and plenty of pace out wide, where Abdul Fatawu and Daizen Maeda provide dangerous options.
The key question concerns the defence. Ipswich have strengthened significantly overall, but their performance at Old Trafford on Sunday showed how demanding the Premier League can be. Whether the new-look back line can withstand those tests consistently remains to be seen.
Key arrivals: Julio Enciso (Strasbourg, £26m), Emersonn (Toulouse, £24m), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen, £23.5m), Zian Flemming (Burnley, £20m), Abdul Fatawu (Leicester, £20m), Abdoul Ouattara (Strasbourg, £17m), Florentino Luís (Burnley, £16m), Daizen Maeda (Celtic, £10m), Sasa Lukic (Fulham, £9m), Kjell Scherpen (Union St-Gilloise, £8.6m), Issa Diop (Fulham, £8.5m), Chuba Akpom (Ajax, £7m), Kayne van Oevelen (Volendam, £3.4m), Cédric Kipré (Reims, £1.7m)
Key departures: George Hirst (Stoke, £6m), Arijanet Muric (Sassuolo, £6m), Harry Clarke (Preston, £3.5m)
Leeds United
Daniel Farke may have preferred another proven attacking option, but Leeds can still look back on a highly productive window. Seven arrivals have strengthened several areas without radically changing the squad.
James Trafford’s move from Manchester City could be particularly significant. His quality with the ball at his feet should improve Leeds’ build-up play, while his performances in goal could translate into additional points over the course of the campaign.
Tarik Muharemovic also looks like an impressive defensive investment. Further forward, Harry Wilson’s arrival from Fulham provides creativity and gives Leeds another attacking dimension.
Key arrivals: James Trafford (Manchester City, £40.5m), Tarik Muharemovic (Sassuolo, £34.1m), Nico Elvedi (Borussia Mönchengladbach, £6.8m), Michael Zetterer (Eintracht Frankfurt, £4.3m), Jean-Mattéo Bahoya (Eintracht Frankfurt, loan), Melvin Bard (Nice, loan), Harry Wilson (Fulham, free)
Key departures: Pascal Struijk (Brighton, £18m), Joe Gelhardt (Hull, £6.5m), Lucas Perri (Torino, loan), Sebastiaan Bournauw (Hamburg, loan), Joël Piroe (West Ham, loan), Illan Meslier (Arsenal, free)
Liverpool
Richard Hughes’ final transfer window as Liverpool sporting director leaves questions over the club’s recruitment direction under Fenway Sports Group, particularly with 1892 Holdings preparing a £2bn investment.
Liverpool continued moving towards expensive, established names with Bradley Barcola arriving from Paris Saint-Germain for £123m. At the same time, the club retained its long-standing interest in developing young talent through the signings of Jérémy Jacquet and Víctor Muñoz.
There are still clear gaps. Right-back, defensive midfield and the right wing remain areas of concern, especially after Mohamed Salah’s departure had been anticipated since December. Squad depth also looks questionable, leaving considerable pressure on Hugo Ekitiké, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni to return to full fitness.
Key arrivals: Bradley Barcola (PSG, £123m), Jérémy Jacquet (Rennes, £55m), Víctor Muñoz (Osasuna, £34.5m), Ronald Araújo (Barcelona, loan)
Key departures: Curtis Jones (Inter, £25.7m), Harvey Elliott (Valencia, loan), Mohamed Salah (Trabzonspor, free), Ibrahima Konaté (Real Madrid, free), Andy Robertson (Tottenham, free)
Manchester City
Enzo Fernández’s deadline-day arrival from Chelsea for £125m matched the British transfer record and ensured Enzo Maresca had plenty of backing during his first summer in charge at Manchester City.
Fernández joins a midfield recruitment drive that had already brought in Elliot Anderson for £116m and Ayyoub Bouaddi for £85.7m. City also invested heavily in attacking positions through Allan and Iliman Ndiaye, taking the overall spending on incoming players to approximately £457.5m.
The club raised around £281.8m from departures, leaving a net expenditure of approximately £175.7m, the third-highest figure in the division. Such an enormous financial commitment carries obvious expectations, particularly around Fernández and the role he is expected to play.
Key arrivals: Enzo Fernández (Chelsea, £125m), Elliot Anderson (Nottingham Forest, £116m), Ayyoub Bouaddi (Lille, £85.7m), Iliman Ndiaye (Everton, £60m), Allan (Palmeiras, £32m), Mathys Detourbet (Troyes, £21.6m), Jeremy Monga (Leicester, £12.5m), Gerónimo Rulli (Marseille, £1.7m)
Key departures: Sávio (Tottenham, £75m), Nico González (Newcastle, £52m), Tijjani Reijnders (Al-Qadsiah, £52m), Rodri (Barcelona, £51.3m), James Trafford (Leeds, £40.5m), Nathan Aké (Fenerbahce, £7m), Omar Marmoush (Tottenham, loan), Jack Grealish (Everton, loan), John Stones (Inter, free), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid, free)
Manchester United
Manchester United’s recruitment strategy was heavily focused on midfield, with Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba all arriving. Tielemans is expected to operate as a No 8, while Santos and Baleba offer options deeper in midfield.
The obvious omission was at left-back. United had pursued Lewis Hall and other targets but failed to add another specialist in the position. The broader defensive unit also received little attention despite its vulnerabilities.
Financial limitations appear to have played a role, with the club seemingly unwilling to spend without generating funds through sales. Manuel Ugarte’s long-term injury prevented a potential departure, while Joshua Zirkzee was reluctant to move.
That leaves United relying on Luke Shaw, with Patrick Dorgu, Diogo Dalot, Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martínez capable of covering different roles when required. Whether that combination offers enough defensive security remains a significant question.
Key arrivals: Carlos Baleba (Brighton, £70m), Andrey Santos (Chelsea, £50m), Youri Tielemans (Aston Villa, £35m)
Key departures: Rasmus Højlund (Napoli, £43.2m), Casemiro (Inter Miami, free)
Newcastle United
Newcastle labelled their summer business “transformative”, and the description is understandable given the scale of the changes at St James’ Park.
The club raised close to £250m by selling Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães before reinvesting in eight mostly young players. The spine of the team has been reshaped under new manager Matthias Jaissle, who succeeded Eddie Howe.
Amar Dedic, formerly of Benfica, and Nico González, previously with Manchester City, have already begun attracting cult-hero status among supporters. The late capture of Belgium forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille was another significant coup, particularly given the 21-year-old’s potential.
Newcastle’s window looked capable of becoming disastrous at one stage. Instead, they may have managed to turn a difficult situation into a successful rebuild.
Key arrivals: Nico González (Manchester City, £52m), Matias Fernandez-Pardo (Lille, £51m), Bazoumana Touré (Hoffenheim, £43m), Aladji Bamba (Monaco, £30m), Amar Dedic (Benfica, £29.5m), Lukas Hornicek (Braga, £25.7m), Ewen Jaouen (Reims, £21.6m), Sean Steur (Ajax, £20m)
Key departures: Sandro Tonali (Tottenham, £92.5m), Bruno Guimarães (Arsenal, £75m), Anthony Gordon (Barcelona, £69.3m), Nick Woltemade (Juventus, loan), Kieran Trippier (Wolves, free)
Nottingham Forest
Forest’s ability to collect £116m for Elliot Anderson demonstrated that, despite the turbulence surrounding the club in recent years, their recruitment has produced some outstanding value.
After appointing Oliver Glasner, Forest focused on giving the new manager the players he wanted. Ousmane Diomande was the major defensive investment, while Xaver Schlager arrived for nothing and Daniel Muñoz was brought in for £22m.
The priority was a striker, and Forest eventually paid a club-record £45m for Liam Delap. His profile fits the requirement, giving the team a genuine No 9 for the new campaign.
The main uncertainty is whether Anderson’s departure will leave a hole that cannot be filled. Forest did not panic in their search for a replacement, though, and the overall approach remained controlled while the squad was trimmed.
Key arrivals: Liam Delap (Chelsea, £45m), Ousmane Diomande (Sporting, £34.2m), Daniel Muñoz (Crystal Palace, £22m), Steven Benda (Fulham, free), Xaver Schlager (RB Leipzig, free)
Key departures: Elliot Anderson (Manchester City, £116m), Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City, £9m), Omari Hutchinson (Milan, loan), Stefan Ortega (Olympiakos, free), Jota Silva (Olympiakos, loan), Morato (West Ham, loan)
Sunderland
Sunderland’s summer initially appeared relatively quiet after bringing in 14 players the previous year. That changed dramatically on deadline day when Palace attempted to derail their agreement for Lyon winger Malick Fofana.
The ensuing contest became one of the strangest transfer stories of the summer. Both Premier League clubs had private jets waiting at Lyon airport, while Fofana underwent his medical in France without knowing which destination he would ultimately choose. In the end, he opted for Sunderland.
Beyond that dramatic conclusion, retaining their best players may have been the club’s most important achievement. Keeping Granit Xhaka rather than allowing him to move to Chelsea was crucial, while Régis Le Bris can also be pleased that Enzo Le Fée, Robin Roefs and Noah Sadiki remain at the Stadium of Light.
Key arrivals: Malick Fofana (Lyon, £31m), Dayann Méthalie (Toulouse, £24m), Kevin Danso (Tottenham, loan), Thomas Meunier (Lille, free)
Key departure: Eliezer Mayenda (Rennes, £17.1m)
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham opted for a sweeping reconstruction, spending at a level that made this one of the biggest transfer windows in the club’s history and among the most expensive ever undertaken by a football club.
It was the first summer since Daniel Levy’s departure from the chairmanship, with the new hierarchy backing Roberto De Zerbi as they attempt to move beyond the disappointment of last season.
The recruitment strategy was clear: established Premier League experience was prioritised. With the exceptions of Mateus Fernandes and Sávio, every new arrival is at least 25 years old, suggesting the club expects immediate contributions rather than a lengthy adaptation period.
The opening two matches have not delivered the desired results, but Tottenham’s extensive rebuild gives De Zerbi a squad designed to improve quickly. Whether that promise is fulfilled will become clearer as the season progresses.
Key arrivals: Sandro Tonali (Newcastle, £92.5m), Mateus Fernandes (West Ham, £85m), Sávio (Manchester City, £75m), Jan Paul van Hecke (Brighton, £52m), Tosin Adarabioyo (Chelsea, £7m), Omar Marmoush (Manchester City, loan), Martin Dubravka (Burnley, loan), Mykhailo Mudryk (Chelsea, loan), Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth, free), Andy Robertson (Liverpool, free)
Key departures: Luka Vuskovic (Brighton, £46m), Cristian Romero (Atlético Madrid, £34.1m), Djed Spence (Inter, £25.6m), Radu Dragusin (Fiorentina, loan), Guglielmo Vicario (Juventus, loan), Pape Matar Sarr (Juventus, loan), Kevin Danso (Sunderland, loan)
