Premier League clubs increased their spending in the January window to £370 million — up on the £100 million paid out last year — though Manchester City are chiefly responsible after splashing out £180 million of that on their own. We were nowhere near the 2023 record of £815 million, but will the summer see a rise in expensive moves?

This year, for the first time, the transfer window has been split into two because of the Club World Cup. The first window ran from June 1-10, and it was closed for six days before reopening (for Premier League clubs at least) on June 16. But as always, international deals not involving clubs in the Club World Cup, and free transfers, didn’t go through until July 1.

Here are grades for all the major confirmed transfers in the men’s game, with each listed by date and then by highest fee.

All fees are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.

Aug. 29

RB Leipzig: B+
Tottenham Hotspur: C+

Simons’ career path is starting to look downright bizarre, and it’s hard to escape the idea that the constant chopping and changing has affected his ability to realise his potential.

Perhaps this move to Tottenham Hotspur provides him with a clean slate, and working with an attentive coach in Thomas Frank will help him nail down exactly who he is as a player and help him finesse his decision-making in the final third, which stands out as a current weakness in his game.

Southampton: A
West Ham: C+

Make no mistake, Fernandes is a quality player. He more than stepped up to Premier League level last season in spite of Southampton’s struggles, combining creativity with workrate in a series of all-round displays. But this looks like a panic move from West Ham’s perspective, who have started the season horribly and ended up paying about £10m more than they were hoping to for the Portuguese.

Aug. 26

Chelsea: A
Borussia Dortmund: B-

Chukwuemeka is obviously brimming with potential, but given injuries have restricted him to just 1,128 league minutes in the past five years, it’s a minor miracle the Blues have managed to recoup €20m, potentially rising to €24m, and secure a “heavy” percentage of any future deal, too.

Perhaps the fact Chelsea defender Aaron Anselmino is also heading to Dortmund on loan has acted as a bit of a sweetener. Ultimately, BVB badly need players, while Chelsea badly need to get rid of them.

Aug. 25

Southampton: A-
Everton: B

Dibling is affectionately known in some circles as “Tyler Dribbling,” as that’s his forte on the pitch. He ranks in the 99th percentile for successful take-ons and the 98th percentile for progressive carries, neatly reflecting what he excels at.

There isn’t a whole lot else to his game right now, but he’s very young and played for an extremely poor team last season, and it’s understandable that he didn’t rack up goals, assists or touches. Southampton have secured a good fee, with potential add-ons and other clauses, while Everton are rightly investing in obvious potential. Anyone who can dribble like this has the chance to become a top player, and Dibling is likely to learn a lot from Jack Grealish this term.

Aug. 23

Crystal Palace: A
Arsenal: B-

After conducting plenty of early summer groundwork on Eze, Arsenal will be delighted to finally secure the 27-year-old’s signature. In doing so, they’ve swooped in and gazumped their great rivals, Tottenham Hotspur, at the 11th hour — which makes the deal even sweeter. Eze has grown into a Premier League star and looks fully ready for a big move like this. He’ll add creativity to the Gunners’ left side and balance out the team nicely, taking some of the focus off Bukayo Saka on the right.

Palace lose a legend, a player they cannot hope to replace like-for-like, but after helping them win the FA Cup, he departs with a blessing — and for a club-record fee that could end up as high as £67.5m with add-ons.

Borussia Dortmund: B
Borussia Mönchengladbach: C+

This isn’t how it was supposed to go for Reyna. The American emerged as a potential USMNT superstar when he debuted for Dortmund at the age of 17, but over the past four years, his career has stalled completely at the club and international level.

Gladbach are taking a cheapish punt on what could still be an electric talent, but he needs to steer clear of injuries and add more creative layers to his game to prove worth even the modest €7m fee.

Aug. 18

Liverpool: A
Bournemouth: C+

If you ever hear anyone ask how Liverpool can afford such a mighty summer spend, point them to this deal. Doak is no doubt brimming with potential, with quick feet and an eye for a pass, but securing £25m for a player who has just three Premier League appearances to his name is phenomenal work.

This is pricey stuff for Bournemouth, but they are (A) flush with cash after letting a host of top players leave, and (B) in a race against time to rebuild a team that has been ravaged. At the very least, they’ve been able to plump for a player who will only get better.

Aug. 17

Aston Villa: B+
Newcastle United: B

The phrase “pure profit” comes to mind. Aston Villa often turn to Ramsey when fit, but as an academy graduate, he’s basically a walking PSR fix that the club have decided to flick the switch on. £39m, potentially rising to around £44m, is a good fee, and it could unlock two or three more new signings for them this month.

Newcastle is acquiring a talented, homegrown player whose direct style of play suits Eddie Howe’s tactics, but the “when fit” notion is key. Ramsey has endured a series of injury issues these past two years, starting just 27 Premier League games out of 76 as a result.

Aug. 16

Ipswich Town: A
Nottingham Forest: B-

Ipswich’s 2024-25 Premier League campaign might have ended in a rather meek relegation, but some players still caught the eye for the right reasons. The first was Liam Delap, who moved to Chelsea for £30 million, and the second was Hutchinson, who has sealed his own quick return to the top tier with Forest.

The £37.5 million fee is a little on the steep side, but he’s young, homegrown, creative and full of potential; this is about the right price to sign such a player. In a better team, there’s every chance he hits new levels, fast.

Bournemouth: A
Brentford: C+

Ouattara is a solid Premier League performer — 11 goal contributions last season, from a variety of different positions, prove that to be the case — but a £37 million deal that could rise to £42.5 million with add-ons, for someone who has not commanded a spot in Bournemouth’s best XI for two years, has a tinge of desperation to it. Unfortunately, that’s just the situation Brentford are in.

After losing their manager (Thomas Frank) and a host of stars (Christian Norgaard, Bryan Mbeumo), they now prefer to recruit younger players and slowly integrate them. But given the talent drain they’ve experienced this summer, it would perhaps have been wiser to go for a more-proven player.

Manchester City: A-
Nottingham Forest: B

From City’s perspective, the initial £22 million fee might look a bit low for a player or McAtee’s quality, but there’s more to this deal than meets the eye. First, it could rise to £30 million with add-ons, and second, there’s a clause to claim a percentage of his next transfer and also one that gives City an option to re-sign him in case he goes supersonic and Pep Guardiola demands him back.

Forest will be happy to add a homegrown left-footer to their options on the wing following the departure of Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United. McAtee captained England to Under-21 European Championship glory this summer and is ready for the next step.

Aug. 15

Parma: A
Liverpool: B-

Liverpool have swooped really early for what they believe is a future star at center back. Leoni is 18, fewer than 35 senior appearances into his career and has just 14 top-level starts to his name.

One particular trait the Reds likely keyed in on was his brilliance in duels. He’s 6-foot-5 and won 63% of his aerial duels last season, but more impressive than that, he stood up to Romelu Lukaku in a 0-0 draw with Napoli and Juventus’ Dusan Vlahovic when Parma won. He’ll need coaching up in other areas — particularly his pass selection. The fee goes down as the fourth-biggest the Crociati have ever received for a player and it’ll allow them to strengthen across the board.

Aug. 12

Manchester City: C+
Everton: C+

This is an exciting but seriously expensive gamble by Everton and no, that ridiculous £50 million option fee isn’t even a factor in that. Reports suggest this deal could cost the Toffees as much as £12 million for the year, once you account for the loan fee and a large chunk of Grealish’s wages being covered.

Soon to be 30, and with only 1,720 Premier League minutes under his belt in the past two seasons, it’s a lot to stake on a player who once dazzled but now represents a question mark.

AC Milan: B+
Newcastle United: B+

A transfer that works out nicely for all parties? It’s a rarity in football, but Malick Thiaw stands proof it can happen. Newcastle have been in desperate need for another center back for over a year now. In Germany international Thiaw they’re getting a player who can play on either side, suit multiple partners, match the physicality and speed of the league and thread a nice pass through the lines.

Milan bank a fee they couldn’t refuse, which could rise by a further €4 million with bonuses. They can use it to further bolster a squad that has seen more than 15 senior players depart this summer.

Bournemouth: B
PSG: B

PSG pursued Zabarnyi all summer, finally striking a deal in the week the Premier League starts. This is a great fee for Bournemouth to receive, but context and timing must be considered for the grade: They’ve now lost four-fifths of their starting defensive unit from last season and look extremely undermanned ahead of the opening game at Liverpool.

The Ukrainian’s developed quickly into a solid all-round center back. He was always a good passer, but he has improved significantly in the air since joining Bournemouth and is well suited to PSG’s style of play.

Aug. 11

Napoli: B
Atlético Madrid: B

Raspadori’s a nifty, nippy striker who comes alive in the box and finishes naturally off both feet. You can see why Diego Simeone would want that kind of profile in his squad, especially when you consider Atleti have endured a mini-exodus of forwards lately, losing Ángel Correa, Álvaro Morata and Memphis Depay in the past 12 months.

The Italian never quite managed to win a starting role at Napoli, and with Antonio Conte clearly preferring a target striker such as Romelu Lukaku or new arrival Lorenzo Lucca, the time seems right to try something new.

Aug. 9

RB Leipzig: A
Man United: B-

Man United emerged victorious in the tug-of-war with Newcastle for Sesko’s signature. Eyebrows have been raised at the price (add-ons could see it rise to an eventual €85 million), but this is the cost of doing business in the young striker market, after Hugo Ekitike joined Liverpool for just under €80 million in July.

Leipzig played the situation perfectly. First, they refused to budge when Arsenal bid less earlier in the summer; then, they stoked a bidding war between two other Premier League giants, eventually extracting maximal value.

Lille: B
PSG: B+

Signing a young goalkeeper when you already have one of the best in the world (Gianluigi Donnarumma) seems a strange thing to do. But with Donnarumma’s contract talks stalling (he’s into his final year), PSG moved quickly to land the 23-year-old Chavalier for a decent fee. It’ll be odd if they don’t find a new club for Donnarumma now though.

Lille, meanwhile, bank a very decent fee for one of their top young stars. And that will help them rebuild.

Liverpool: B+
Al Hilal: B-

After spending an initial €75 million to sign Núñez from Benfica a few years ago, Liverpool did well to recoup most of it. Núñez is unpredictable as a player and never quite settled, so it’s right for both parties to move on, and the Reds can use the money for another signing.

It’s not the marquee transfer Al Hilal got when bringing in Neymar, but Núñez should fare better in Saudi Arabia than he did in the Premier League.

Aug. 8

OGC Nice: C+
Aston Villa: B+

Following the departures of Jhon Durán and Marcus Rashford this year, Villa urgently needed to find another striker in this transfer window. In Guessand, they’ve signed a player who has a No. 9 skill set but can happily play wide, making him a smart fit in terms of squad building.

The Ivory Coast international just turned 24 years of age and provided 20 goal contributions in Ligue 1 last season, making the initial fee — which could rise to €34m with add-ons — look good from Villa’s perspective, but perhaps a little low from Nice’s.

Aug. 6

Club Brugge: A-
AC Milan: B+

Jashari shone for Club Brugge in the Champions League last season, often feeling like the heartbeat of a midfield that stood up to some incredibly strong tests. He can receive the ball under pressure, skip forward with it and redistribute, then even arrive in the box for the odd goal.

After an arduous negotiation, both sides will feel like they’ve come out with a fair deal. If add-ons are met, this fee could reach €39m, which would be a record departure for Club Brugge; while Milan have found an excellent replacement for Tijjani Reijnders.

Chelsea: B
Everton: B+

Dewsbury-Hall experienced a strange 2024-25 season with Chelsea. He signed for £30m but barely featured in the Premier League (259 minutes), instead being restricted to Conference League action. He did at least feature in all 13 European games, scoring four goals and helping the Blues win the competition. But that’s not enough to satisfy anyone, so a move to Everton works for all parties.

If he rediscovers his Leicester City form from the year before — where he scored 12 goals and provided 14 assists en route to the Championship crown — then £25m, plus a potential £4m in add-ons, will prove good value for a team in need of his skill set.

Tottenham Hotspur: A+
LAFC: B

The way Son has bowed out at Spurs is genuinely heartwarming: He captained the club to a long-awaited trophy, then departed on his own terms, playing his final game in South Korea. It’s picture perfect. It was also fairly obvious he was slowing down and picking up more injuries last season, so, quietly, Spurs will be delighted to receive a really strong fee for the 33-year-old.

With a transfer fee of $26.5m, LAFC have set a new MLS record for a player who ideally plays in the position their current biggest difference-maker, Denis Bouanga, plays. It’s a big marketing move, but will it work out on the pitch? Can Son adapt, potentially by shifting to striker, and deliver the star performances this kind of fee demands from the off?

Juventus: C+
Marseille: B

Weah’s playing time took a nosedive from the point Igor Tudor was appointed Juventus manager in March, starting just three Serie A games over the stretch and barely featuring at the Club World Cup. A summer move always felt likely.

Marseille are getting a decent player on favorable terms, as the loan means they can push the payment into next season and they can sign him permanently for €14m. Weah will replace Luiz Henrique, who moved to Inter in early June, as a versatile right-sider.

Vancouver Whitecaps: B+

Müller’s move to MLS is one of the most fascinating deals of the summer. He’s built an elite career out of being smarter than everyone else and taking up clever positions you wouldn’t expect, but to unlock that skillset, you need teammates who complement you and have the vision to pick you out.

No doubt he’ll enjoy playing off Brian White, who occupies defenders, and with Ryan Gauld, who should be able to play those unexpected passes when fit again. The way Jayden Nelson runs at defenses will open pockets for Müller, too. On paper, it’s a fit, but will it translate to the pitch?

Aug. 3

Ajax: B-
Chelsea: B+

Hato is not your average teenager. He is incredibly experienced for his age; he’s played more than 100 games for Ajax’s first team, operating at both left back and center back in back-three and back-four systems. Few gain this much exposure, this early.

He’s a technically gifted footballer who moves smoothly across the pitch and shows great passing technique and range. There’ll be plenty to learn defensively at Premier League level and he’s also a bit too one-footed for comfort, but Chelsea will be confident they can coach up what is obviously a stellar prospect.

Bayern Munich: C
Tottenham Hotspur: B

Palhinha is not the midfield profile Spurs are crying out for; they need a reliable controller and playmaker from deep, whereas the big Portuguese excels in the defensive side of the game. That said, on a loan with no obligation, he’s a handy presence to add to the squad.

The 30-year-old’s time at Bayern Munich has been a complete failure and the club haven’t exactly secured a particularly good deal here. It would be no surprise if Spurs did not take up the €30m option to make the move permanent in 2026, leaving Bayern right back where they started.

July 31

Napoli: C
Galatasaray: B

There’s two ways to look at this transfer from Galatasaray’s perspective. The first is that, for a player of Osimhen’s quality — he’s arguably a top-five striker in world football — this is a pretty reasonable fee. For a comparison, Alexander Isak would cost double this if he were to move. The second is that this blows the Turkish transfer record out of the water. It was previously set by Youssef En-Nesyri’s €19.5m move to Fenerbahce, so more than tripling that figure seems incredibly excessive in the context of the Süper Lig.

Whichever way you look at it from Napoli’s perspective, they haven’t managed this situation well. They’ve fumbled opportunities to earn more from this transfer in the past after the relationship between the club and the player completely broke down in 2023. Sure, they still won Serie A last season without him, but they have taken a financial hit.

DAN NDOYE
€40m (£34.6m; $46.1m)

Bologna: B+
Nottingham Forest: B

Ndoye’s had a phenomenal 12 months, first starring at Euro 2024 for a strong Switzerland team, then capping a great domestic campaign by helping Bologna win the Coppa Italia to end a 51-year trophy drought. He leaves the Rossoblù‘s in a good place, having netted them a fee that could rise to €45m with add-ons.

As a winger, he’s fast, clever when he needs to be, and physical when he needs to be. Forest certainly need those qualities now Anthony Elanga has departed, so Ndoye stands to become an important player for the club very quickly.

July 30

Liverpool: A
Bayern Munich: C+

It’s tough to escape the feeling Liverpool have played a blinder here. They insisted Díaz was going nowhere all summer, then watched as Bayern scratched around for solutions in an increasingly desperate situation.

The German champions said goodbye to Thomas Müller and Leroy Sané, missed out on Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, then saw Jamal Musiala brutally injured at the Club World Cup. They probably shouldn’t have paid this much to sign a 28-year-old winger, but perhaps felt they were left with no other choice. Liverpool will be quietly happy to take the money and reload.

July 29

Burnley: D
Manchester City: A

Trafford enjoyed an unbelievable 2024-25 season with Burnley, keeping 29 clean sheets en route to promotion, going 1,132 minutes without conceding at one stage, and preventing 11.8 more goals than expected based on the shots he faced.

To top all that off, he’s so good with the ball at his feet he looks like an outfielder at times. Losing this player upon promotion is frankly horrid for the Clarets, who stand no chance of finding a like-for-like replacement.

The £27m fee received isn’t anywhere near enough to save the optics on this, even if there may have been a PSR element at play.

City, though, will be delighted. Trafford is an academy graduate who has flourished elsewhere and is now returning to provide a long-term solution between the sticks.

July 26

Sporting CP: B
Arsenal: B

Arsenal’s long chase for a No. 9 is over. Gyökeres brings goals, physicality and a determination to prove he belongs at Premier League level. The fact he’s tormented teams in the Champions League for Sporting suggests he won’t have trouble doing that.

– Various: How Gyökeres became the most-sought striker in soccer

While €10m of potential add-ons could take this transfer above the €70m mark, it still feels like it’s relatively in keeping with the market — and that’s a win for the Gunners, because their desperation for a striker threatened to drive this price into orbit.

Atletico Madrid: C
Inter Miami: A

Lionel Messi continues to open doors for Inter Miami. De Paul was desperate to unite with his compatriot at club level and has seemingly made a sacrifice to do so, as he’ll only earn a Designated Player salary starting in 2026 should Miami make the move permanent.

– Becherano: How Inter Miami were able to sign De Paul

This is a huge coup for the MLS club, who in ordinary circumstances would not be able to nab a quality midfielder from Atlético Madrid.

July 24

Valencia: C-
Arsenal: A

All of Arsenal’s summer business has been geared towards the here and now up until this point, but Mosquera represents a nod to the future. He’s nowhere near ready to challenge William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães for a spot in the XI, but his physical tools suggest he could be molded into something great. If you’re thinking this fee looks a little low, Valencia would regretfully agree.

A package that could rise to roughly €20m is below market value for a high-potential center back with 82 LaLiga appearances to his name already, but Los Che lacked leverage in negotiations as Mosquera had entered the final year of his contract.

July 23

Eintracht Frankfurt: A
Liverpool: B

Liverpool tried and failed to sign Alexander Isak. Instead, they settled for the next best thing on the market in Ekitike.

The Frenchman’s career is firmly back on track after a brilliant 18-month spell with Eintracht Frankfurt saw him register 19 goals and 10 assists in the Bundesliga. The way Ekitike plays the No. 9 role is far from traditional. He’s tall and slim, but would rather peel off to the flank, collect the ball and start dribbling, as opposed to battling defenders and seeking contact.

It’s easy to see him slotting into that role with the Reds, as that’s largely how Luis Díaz played as their center forward last season. There’s a cap on how high Liverpool’s grade can be here because this is a big fee (it could rise to £79m), but Ekitike is at least the right style and age (23) to spend heavily on.

Manchester United: C+
Barcelona: A

Something had to give for Rashford to find a new home this summer. In the end, it was Rashford himself. He has reportedly taken a sizable wage cut to facilitate a loan to Barcelona. This is still far from ideal for Man United, as the much-coveted permanent exit has not come, while the permanent option price has dropped from £40m to around £26m.

But it is, finally, a concrete step toward Rashford’s time at Old Trafford coming to an end. Barça, meanwhile, have ended up replacing Ansu Fati with a player who can contribute much more, offers a completely different dimension to the team and still hasn’t actually committed to anything long term.

July 21

Brentford: A
Manchester United: C

Man United zeroed in on Mbeumo and, in the end, paid more than pretty much anyone expected to make the deal happen. He’s been a consistently strong performer in the Premier League for the last four seasons and has a wand of a left foot. The concern should be whether the Cameroon international’s historic 2024-25 season, in which he scored 20 goals and provided seven assists, can be repeated. He overperformed his xG (expected goals) to a frightening degree, scoring 7.5 goals more than expected, and likely won’t get to take six penalties next year as a teammate of Bruno Fernandes.

Brentford, obviously, will not care about any of this. They’ve extracted a huge price from United here; it could rise to £71m with add-ons.

July 18

Chelsea: C+
Arsenal: B-

This is a curious transfer from just about every angle. Madueke has done well to add elements to his game over the past two years and now seems definitively good enough to play for a top club. Yet just as he made that leap his departure was sanctioned, while the winger Chelsea signed this summer (Jamie Gittens) isn’t as polished.

Arsenal certainly needed to add a winger, but it felt like a left sider who could also play on the right was the clear move — not the other way around. It’s a touch surprising that Madueke, who seemed on the verge of exploding, would either accept a losing battle against Bukayo Saka for the right-wing spot, or commit to the less-favored left wing. There must be more pieces to this puzzle. Consider the low(ish) grades open to revision, should more come to light.

July 17

Rosenborg: C
Man City: A+

In what was starting to look like Martin Ødegaard’s tour of Europe in 2014 to select his next club at age 16, his Norway compatriot Nypan has settled on Man City. Nypan is expected to spend the first phases of his career in England out on loan.

But the key to this deal, and the reason why City get an A+, is that £12.5m is reportedly the sum total of the fee. No clauses, no add-ons; just £12.5m for one of Europe’s premier young talents.

July 16

Real Betis: B
Atlético Madrid: B

Cardoso proved quite the find for Betis, who signed him 18 months ago for $6.3m, reached a Conference League final with his help, then flipped him for roughly five times their investment.

The American is a prolific tackler and interceptor (94th percentile in LaLiga in 2024-25) and has a knack for turning out of pressure on the ball well, often pirouetting or skipping away from markers. Diego Simeone will love those traits, plus the fact that he doesn’t dally with his passes. He’ll have to fight hard for a spot in this midfield, but he brings a fresh, youthful, energetic element to the setup.

July 15

Charlotte FC: B
Derby County: B+

Agyemang feels like the exact sort of striker profile that can make a splash in the Championship. He’s a little rough around the edges, sure, but he can battle, hustle defenders and provide a threat on goal. It’s an outside-of-the-box signing for Derby, which should be praised, but it’s in no way cheap, considering their typical budget.

This fee could rise to around $10m in the future, which gives Charlotte a lot of flexibility to replace him, especially now MLS clubs can sign each other’s players for money.

July 14

Benfica: A
Real Madrid: B-

Carreras is a tall, physical, rumbling fullback who drives into space with a powerful stride; from a stylistic point of view, think Marcos Alonso in attack. He’s arguably better defensively than he is going forward, which likely makes him a good counterbalance to Trent Alexander-Arnold on the other flank.

Benfica have done brilliantly to hold out for Carreras’ full release clause and, 18 months after signing him for less than €10m, have quintupled their investment.

FC Copenhagen: D
Barcelona: A+

Bardghji, 19, stands as proof of football’s cruel, unpredictable nature. Back in November 2023, when he scored a beautiful Champions League winner against Manchester United, the world appeared to be at his feet; but an ACL tear in May 2024 ruled him out for a whole year, delaying his progress.

This is a gamble well worth taking for Barça, who know full well what Bardghji could become if he stays fit and gets back on track. For Copenhagen, it’s a gut punch to lose what looked set to be a huge payday for so little, as his contract ran into its final six months.

AC Milan: A

It threatens to be a turbulent summer at AC Milan; they have another new manager, another new sporting director and are shedding top talents like Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernández.

In that situation, an experienced head like Luka Modrić could prove to be a low-risk, high-value pickup, especially when you consider the man in charge, Max Allegri, has always preferred a veteran makeup to his team.

July 12

PSV Eindhoven: A-
Bayer Leverkusen: B

The rising star of the United States men’s national team, Tillman’s big summer just got even bigger thanks to a move to Bayer Leverkusen, where he’ll attempt to fill the Florian Wirtz-sized hole in their team. The 23-year-old looks like a good fit for new coach Erik ten Hag’s squad, as he not only boasts tremendous off-the-ball movement and natural finishing technique, but also works extremely hard defensively and uses his big frame well.

PSV will miss him, but at least €35m plus another €5m in add-ons makes him one of their five most expensive departures ever.

July 11

Nottingham Forest: B+
Newcastle United: B-

After three straight windows of chasing his signature, Newcastle finally have Elanga. Manager Eddie Howe is all-in on him and believes he can elevate his first XI — which is something the club haven’t managed to do for a whole year. The Sweden international scored six goals (including a magnificent solo effort against Manchester United) and provided 11 assists last season. He’s one of the fastest players in the league and, at 23, you get the sense he’s still on the up.

Forest will miss him dearly, but have at least landed a strong fee (which could rise to £55m with add-ons) in return for him.

AC Milan: C
Al Hilal: A

It’s not often Saudi Pro League clubs land what feels like a bargain, but it’s hard to escape the idea that a fee that could top out at €30m with add-ons for one of the world’s best left backs is anything other than a steal. He should enjoy life as a wing back under former Inter manager Simone Inzaghi.

That said, Hernández had a poor season in 2024-25 and had come to the final year of his contract, so perhaps this is the best Milan could do out of a bad situation.

July 10

West Ham: A-
Tottenham Hotspur: B

Kudus is one of the most exciting footballers to watch in world football; very few can dribble or carry the ball over long distances in the way he can. Unfortunately, there’s a distinct lack of composure, decision-making or end-product at the end of those runs — five goals and three assists last season was a disappointing haul — that has deeply frustrated Hammers fans.

Spurs are making a big bet that they can be the ones to finesse Kudus’ game and unlock his remarkable potential. On paper, Thomas Frank is exactly the kind of coach who can do that, but off the back of a £55m transfer fee, there isn’t much room for error.

Brentford: D
Arsenal: A-

With both Jorginho and Thomas Partey’s contracts expiring at the end of June, Arsenal have been pushed to totally revamp the base of their midfield. In that situation, a proven, Premier League-quality, experienced head and good all-rounder like Nørgaard seems a smart pickup.

The fee may rise to £15m with add-ons, but that still feels like a rough deal for Brentford, who just lost their captain and heartbeat. He made 34 league starts, provided nine goal contributions and racked up the most combined tackles and interceptions on the team (128) last season; that’s a tough player to replace.

July 6

Real Sociedad: A
Arsenal: B

It was finally time for Zubimendi to move on from his beloved Real Sociedad. They did well to hold on to him for as long as they did, and after a difficult season in which La Real finished 11th in LaLiga, the €60m can fund a rebuild.

The Spain international is a masterful midfielder whose top quality is that he tends to make everyone around him better. He’s a strong possession recycler and anticipates how play will develop superbly, which makes him a natural fit at the base of Mikel Arteta’s midfield.

July 5

Borussia Dortmund: A
Chelsea: C+

Gittens had a curious 2024-25 season. The Englishman was one of Dortmund’s best players during their dysfunctional run up to Christmas, scoring nine Bundesliga goals and adding three assists during that time. But he then faded to a substitute role as the team found structure and discipline after the winter break.

What, if anything, can we take from that? Chelsea have signed him because they see potential; they love his sharp movements, incredible agility and improving finishing. But there’s plenty for Gittens still to learn and he’ll have to compete hard for a spot in this XI.

July 4

Lille: D
Juventus: A-

Following five consecutive strong scoring seasons with Lille, David finally gets his big move. Not only does Juventus feel like a good fit for him, but from the Old Lady’s perspective, the reported wages — circa €100,000 per week — are quite reasonable considering how out-of-control free transfers can often get.

But what’s good for David and Juve is not good for Lille. Europe’s top clubs have sniffed around David year on year and Les Dogues refused to agree to a transfer; now, they’ve lost him for nothing, and they stand no chance of replacing him like-for-like (38-year-old Olivier Giroud is their attempt).

July 2

Brighton: B+
Chelsea: B-

Pedro joins Nicolas Jackson and Liam Delap to create a suddenly well-stocked, well-rounded forward group at Chelsea. The Brazil international’s game is far more subtle than the other two, and perhaps he’s the closest thing to Roberto Firmino the Premier League can offer: He’s good for about 10 goals, then offers so much more in terms of playmaking, flicks and chance creation.

There’s a fair question to be raised as to whether this style of striker would encroach upon Cole Palmer’s space, but Pedro can also play wide or as the attacking midfielder, meaning there’ll be options as to how to deploy him. The fee, which could rise to £60m with add-ons, means Brighton have been well compensated for their loss.

Villarreal: B+
Atlético Madrid: B-

Over the past two seasons, Baena has marked himself out as one the most creative players in Spain, creating the most chances in LaLiga (176), registering the most assists (23), and coming second only to Lamine Yamal in big chances created (36). This is undoubtedly a skill set worth paying a fee that could rise to €50m for, but should we be concerned that the majority of genius midfielders that link up with Diego Simeone’s combative Atletico side tend to fall flat?

Liverpool: B
Bayer Leverkusen: B

Quansah has become the latest young Englishman to embrace the lure of the Bundesliga. Leverkusen lost Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich earlier this summer so were in the market for a good young defender. They’ve picked a good — potentially great — one.

From Liverpool’s perspective, it always hurts to lose an academy product, but Quansah only just ticked over 1,000 minutes last season in all competitions due to the presence of Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté. If he’s feeling the need to kick on at 22, at least the Reds got a healthy fee for his transfer, with another potential £5m in add-ons.

July 1

Bayer Leverkusen: C
Liverpool: A-

Replacing Alexander-Arnold at right back in like-for-like fashion is impossible, so it’s for the best that Liverpool have opted for a completely different type of player in Frimpong. The Dutch player is more of a winger who will now need to adjust and convert back to a position he hasn’t called home for a good few years.

A fee of €35 million represents a clever, opportunistic deal for the Reds. But it’s tough on Leverkusen, who are losing an excellent player in his prime, who was a huge personality in the squad, for below market rate.

Espanyol: C-
Barcelona: A

García has emerged as one of the outstanding young goalkeepers in world football. He was the best shot-stopper in LaLiga last season, saving 7.7 more goals than expected based on the shots he faced, and was a willing sweeper off his line too.

On the face of it, it doesn’t feel like Barcelona need another goalkeeper, given Marc-Andre ter Stegen is fit again and Wojciech Szczesny has extended his contract. But the former is 33 years old and the latter 35, so it seems like the team has one eye on the future with this signing. At €25m it’s an unmissable market opportunity — and the fact they’re taking him off local rivals Espanyol makes it even sweeter.

Chelsea: C
Arsenal: A

Recruiting reliable second-choice goalkeepers is a tricky task. Put simply, you want quality, but you don’t want to commit too much money toward a player you don’t plan on using too often. With that in mind, Kepa for £5m is a bit of a masterstroke from Arsenal; the Spaniard is vastly experienced, confident with the ball at his feet and a great deputy for David Raya.

For Chelsea … well, it’s the end — finally — of an incredibly unsuccessful €80m deal (which is still a world record for a goalkeeper) struck back in 2018.

Barcelona: B+
AS Monaco: C+

Fati once stood where Lamine Yamal now stands — with the world at his feet — but injuries have derailed what was supposed to be a fast track to stardom and he has managed just 747 league minutes across the past two seasons. It left Barcelona stuck with a huge contract (reports suggest the Spaniard earns more than €250,000 per week) that they can’t afford, and a player who no one will sign permanently because he’s barely played since 2023.

A loan move (with an €11m option to sign permanently) is probably the best Barça could do given the situation, while he signed a new three-year deal to preserve his transfer valuation. For Monaco, time may prove this a shrewd move, but for now it looks like an expensive gamble given they’re covering half of his salary.

Manchester City: C-
Napoli: B+

It’s the end of an era for Manchester City and the Premier League as a whole, with Kevin De Bruyne departing for new pastures. Soon to be 34, it’s no disaster that the Citizens didn’t get a fee for the Belgian; it just stings that a club legend is gone.

Napoli have signed a hugely experienced, talented and driven midfielder, one who should keep famously combustible manager Antonio Conte happy. The lack of longevity in this deal prevents it from earning an A grade, but it’s still an extremely exciting pickup for the Partenopei.

June 28

AS Monaco: A-

At 32 years of age, having last played 90 minutes in March 2022, we truly have no idea what Pogba can offer following the end of his 18-month ban after he tested positive for DHEA, a banned substance. But, in a way, that doesn’t really matter. Simply getting the midfielder back on the pitch is a win for the sport, as he’s such a joyful, elegant presence, while there’s barely any risk from Monaco’s perspective with this deal. They’re happy to see what he’s got left in the tank.

June 26

Bournemouth: B
Liverpool: A-

Athleticism is the name of the game for top-level full-backs and Kerkez has a seemingly unlimited supply of it. At 21, his game still needs some refining, but the signs are incredibly promising. The last time Liverpool bought a rampaging, aggressive left-back from lower down the Premier League hierarchy it was Andy Roberson from Hull City in 2017. That move worked out better than anyone could have imagined, so why not try it again?

The fee of £40m may prove slightly better value for the Reds than it does for Bournemouth in the end.

June 20

FLORIAN WIRTZ
£100m (€117.5m; $135.5m)

Bayer Leverkusen: A+
Liverpool: B

Wirtz is one of the finest young players in the world, a creative machine, ranking in the 93rd percentile (or better) across Europe for shot-creating actions, progressive passes and successful take-ons. It’s no wonder the elite clubs queued up and fought for him. The byproduct of that scramble, though, is that the price has gone up and up and up.

An initial £100m, plus another £16m in add-ons, makes this monster deal — the fourth-most expensive of all time, if things go to plan. Barely any deals in this sort of price range actually prove to be a success because expectations are ramped up to an obscene degree, and that’s something Wirtz will battle from the moment he walks through the door. The Germany international is a phenomenal footballer, but B is the maximum grade we can give Liverpool for this transfer because of the price.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, have played this masterfully.

June 14

MATHYS TEL
€35m (£29.8m; $40.4m)

Bayern Munich: A-
Tottenham Hotspur: B

Spurs rightly bristled at the €60m asking price for Tel back in January, opting instead to pay €10m to loan the France U21 forward. Clearly they like what they saw, as they’ve paid a further €35m (plus a possible €5m in add-ons) to make him a Lilywhite for good.

Once considered one of Europe’s hottest prospects, Tel’s lack of gametime (nine Bundesliga starts in 2½ years) at Bayern set him back. Spurs are smart to try to tap into that potential for a more reasonable fee, while Die Rekordmeister have somehow made a profit on a player they didn’t really improve along the way.

June 13

River Plate: A
Real Madrid: A

The River Plate production line just keeps on rolling. In the last few seasons alone, they’ve developed Enzo Fernández, Julián Álvarez, and Claudio Echeverri — and now, come August when he turns 18, Mastantuono’s name will be added to the list of famous exports.

The teenager has already dazzled in the Argentine Primera División, teeing up goals, scoring spectacular efforts himself, and constantly nutmegging defenders. He plays with the sort of freedom and spontaneity that marks him out as a potential superstar.

June 12

Bayern Munich: C
Galatasaray: A

This is a showstopper of a transfer from Galatasaray, who have managed to coax 29-year-old Sané to the Turkish Süper Lig on a three-year contract. They’re reportedly paying him plenty, but the figures mentioned — around €175,000 per week plus a loyalty bonus — hardly tip into the extortionate.

It’s worth remembering there’s a signing on fee at play too, so Gala have invested a substantial sum into the German despite the transfer technically being “free,” but the fact Bayern will be sad to lose him says it all. What a way for the Turkish champions to compound their dominance.

Wolves: A
Man United: B

Wolves parted with £44m to sign Cunha in 2022. At the time, few doubted his talent, but many pointed to a lack of production in front of goal as a concern. He answered those worries with 19- and 21-goal contribution campaigns in the past two seasons, effectively carrying his side through turbulent times.

The Brazil international looks an ideal fit for Rúben Amorim’s support forward role in the 3-4-3 formation, and he’s clearly a player willing to take responsibility and make things happen in the final third, which Man United need more of. This is a player in his prime, ready to lead … but his hot-headed nature can sometimes get the better of him.

June 10

AC Milan: B
Manchester City: A-

Reijnders is a beautiful player to watch. He doesn’t run, he glides, and it won’t take City fans long to fall in step with the Dutchman. He’s mobile, smooth, uses the ball well and offers a goal threat, too.

It’s a €55m deal that could rise to €70m with add-ons, which is a price that suits everybody. Milan will be loathe to lose him, but after finishing eighth in Serie A and missing out on European football altogether, the financial shortfall has to be made up somewhere.

Lyon: C+
Manchester City: A

Cherki’s move to Man City is fascinating, as it puts one of the most skillful, mercurial young footballers on the planet in the hands of Pep Guardiola. That should be a match made in heaven, but Pep has had some trouble with off-the-cuff attackers in recent years — just ask Jack Grealish and Jérémy Doku.

But while success is not guaranteed, the fee — which could rise to €42.5m — makes it a must-seal deal for City, as the Frenchman has the talent to potentially step into the Kevin De Bruyne void. Lyon will miss him dearly, but they need the revenue.

Sunderland: B
Borussia Dortmund: B+

Even promotion to the Premier League isn’t enough to keep your star players! Sunderland will play top-tier football in 2025-26 but do so without a key fixture in their midfield, as Jobe Bellingham follows his brother Jude’s path to Dortmund. At the very least, they receive a club record fee for the 19-year-old — €33m, potentially rising to €38m.

Dortmund are hoping lightning strikes twice, and the signs so far are positive: Jobe boasts remarkable physical dominance, plus the unerring tendency to pop up at the right time and deliver a crucial moment.

June 9

Wolves: C+
Man City: A

In what’s threatening to become an extremely expensive full-back market once again given the dearth of quality at the position, £33 million for Äït-Nouri is a dreamy deal for City. He’s a superb carrier of the ball, capable of hugging the touchline or venturing infield, and looks really strong technically. At just 24 years of age, there’s room for more improvement too.

Most would have expected Wolves to bank more for the Algerian. He has only one year left on his deal, but there was an option for the club to trigger another season top. Instead, they’ve let him move onwards and upward.

Bayer Leverkusen: C-
Bayern Munich: B-

A Leverkusen stalwart, Tah has a career trajectory that suddenly shot upwards in 2023-24, when he expertly marshalled the back line to an unbeaten Bundesliga title run. The role Xabi Alonso curated for him was very specific, at the heart of a back three, which brought out his best. It’ll hurt to lose the Germany international for free.

Clearly, Bayern are convinced Tah is the plug-and-play answer to their central defensive issues, but they’ll have to get more out of him, over a longer period, than Leverkusen did for that to be the case. There’s reportedly a big signing-on fee (€15m) and big wages (over €200,000 per week) being committed to this deal, so don’t be fooled into thinking Tah has come particularly cheap.

He was due to join on July 1, but Bayern paid a small fee to bring the transfer forward for the Club World Cup.

June 6

Marseille: B
Inter: B+

After months of negotiations, Inter and Marseille reached an agreement on Luis Henrique in time for him to represent the Nerazzurri at the Club World Cup. The €25m fee might seem a touch low for the Brazilian, but L’OM’s bargaining position was weak, given they had to sanction his departure before mid-June in order to avoid a financial breach.

Curiously, Luis Henrique arrived at the club while they were managerless, with Simeone Inzaghi having left for Saudi Arabia. He likely would have been set for an adaptation to wing-back under the now former boss, but now? We must wait and see.

June 5

Al Ahli: D
FC Porto: A

Two years ago, Veiga became a flash-point topic in football. A rising star in LaLiga, fresh off a breakout campaign with Celta Vigo, he opted to join Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli over Napoli on a reported annual salary of €12m, became one of the first young or prime-age players to make such a choice, and drew staunch criticism for it — notably from Toni Kroos, who labelled it “embarrassing.”

Now Veiga returns to Europe, having helped Al Ahli win their first Asian Champions League crown. In signing him, FC Porto have elevated their midfield in time for the Club World Cup for an extremely reasonable fee.

June 4

Ipswich Town: C
Chelsea: A-

Delap caught the eye in his first Premier League campaign despite his team’s overall struggles and eventual relegation. He scored 12 goals for a team that collected just 25 points, bulldozing his way into shooting positions and running the channels nonstop.

While there’s no guarantee the 22-year-old adapts to a top club and elevates this Chelsea squad, taking advantage of his £30m release clause was a no-brainer. There’s just no downside to this deal for the Blues: He’ll either make an impact, or they’ll easily move him on … probably for more money.

June 3

Liverpool: B-
Brentford: A

Kelleher’s long-awaited move to become a Premier League No. 1 has arrived. He was the perfect deputy at Liverpool, stepping in and playing to an extremely high level when Alisson was injured, yet never kicking up a fuss when sent back to the bench. There’s only so long you can keep a player like that until they want and deserve more.

Brentford have pulled off a masterstroke in nabbing him. A £12.5m initial fee looks like a steal, and while add-ons could take the deal up to £18m, it’s still low given the Republic of Ireland international’s age (26) and proven quality. In sending Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen and replacing him with Kelleher, the Bees have upgraded between the sticks.

June 2

Sporting CP: C-
Chelsea: B+

Essugo was tucked into a larger deal that also takes 18-year-old winger Geovany Quenda (€52m) to Chelsea in 2026. He’s the lesser-hyped of the two, although he did make waves when he made his Champions League bow aged 16 in 2021. He’s an energetic, aggressive defensive midfielder who covers ground, plugs gaps and tackles resolutely.

The loan move to Las Palmas this season has helped him get a foothold in the senior game, and his performances suggest Chelsea got the better end of this part of the deal.

June 1

AFC Bournemouth: A
Real Madrid: A

Madrid moved quickly and beat off a host of competition to secure Huijsen’s signature following his 2024-25 breakout campaign in the Premier League. The Spaniard’s comfort with the ball at his feet, slaloming dribbles and genuine two-footedness have marked him out as one of the best young center backs in the world; his style reminds of a young Gerard Piqué.

Bournemouth got to enjoy him for only one season, but in acquiring him from Juventus and accepting a release clause of £50 million, they would have been under no illusions as to whether this was a long-term marriage. Perhaps the big move has come sooner than expected, but they’ve been well compensated nonetheless.

Liverpool: D
Real Madrid: A

We were all set to add Alexander-Arnold’s name to the list of remarkable Real Madrid free transfers — but the FIFA Club World Cup has scuppered that. In the end, Los Blancos paid around €12 million to usher in the right-back before this summer’s tournament, cementing the fact they’re taking it incredibly seriously.

Time might prove this to be an excessive move from Madrid, but at the end of the day, they’ve still signed a stunning player for a small fee. Liverpool’s grade gets bumped up from an F as they at least got something in return for their academy graduate.

Valencia: B
Liverpool: A-

Liverpool have doubled down on their policy of keeping the goalkeepers room stacked with talent by bringing in the best shot stopper under 25 in Europe. Mamardashvili looks like the second coming of Gianluigi Donnarumma; his big, burly frame, incredible reflexes and aerial dominance all impress. It should be noted, though, that he shares the Italian’s lack of finesse when passing the ball.

The transfer fee looks great for the Reds and bad for Valencia. Part of the reason it’s cheap is because Los Che got to keep him for one extra season on loan, but history will read: Mamardashvili for €35 million. And it’ll be seen as an absolute bargain.

ESTÊVÃO
€34m (£28.5m, $38.5m)

Palmeiras: A-
Chelsea: A

“I think he’s going to be a genius.” Neymar’s verdict of Estêvão will be music to the ears of Chelsea, who committed when the player was just 17 years old to a deal that could rise to around €67 million ($76m) if add-ons are met.

He’s ridiculously exciting to watch, already has tons of first-team experience under his belt and led the Brazilian top tier with 22 goal contributions in 2024. Palmeiras were never going to hang on to a player nicknamed “Messinho” for long, but they at least kept him for the Club World Cup.

Bayern Munich: C
AS Monaco: B+

Eyebrows were raised when Bayern signed Dier from Tottenham Hotspur in January 2024. After all, he couldn’t crack Ange Postecoglou’s XI, so how was he going to get game time in Munich? But 18 months and more than 45 appearances later, he departs well regarded. In fact, given the long-term injuries Die Röten are dealing with at center back, they’ll probably end up missing him.

Monaco will be counting on Dier’s experience to guide a team that is, by design, young and full of promise. He looks a good fit for that elder statesman role.