Premier League summer transfer grades so far

Jonathan Victoria • 07 Aug 2025 Features

High spending from the bigs but some great acquisitions…

The new Premier League campaign draws ever closer, and with it the excitement of seeing the stars that are donning new shirts, for this season brings a host of key signings for many of the league's biggest clubs – and Manchester United.

Summer’s without football are always tricky (don’t bring any of that Club World Cup nonsense in here, Chelsea have already ruined it), but keeping up with all the transfer rumours, seeing the big names flying around or who your team are targeting makes it more bearable.

This summer has seen a number of major talents vying for a chance to shine in the Prem as sides add to their arsenal with their goals in mind.

With that, I’ve taken a look at 10 of the biggest said signings so far and given my grades to each of them. 

To note, I’ve gone with the reported full value of the transfers, so that's the transfer fee plus any add-ons included. Sure, there may be some add-ons that don’t get triggered, but for the sake of inflating the fees because, simply, I can and want to, I’ve done it this way.

Florian Wirtz, £116m | A

Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool

I feel like I can see the vision that Arne Slot wants to go for, and I’ve got to say, I like it. Signing Wirtz feels like there’s potential to get Liverpool to go back to the Mane-Firmino-Salah days, especially after also signing Ekitike, who we'll get to next.

The midfield doesn’t really need touching. Gravenburch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai  showed to be a good trio with Jones matching the quality within that coming on off the bench, so Wirtz won’t drop in there. 

At first, I thought he'd be played in the middle with Salah on the right and maybe Gakpo on the left. But with Ekitike also brought in, I imagine Wirtz will play on the left so the Frenchman can play as the number nine. It's not exactly the setup Klopp utilised so well with his iconic front three, but it could work well nonetheless.

However Slot wants to use him, Wirtz is a great signing that warranted a hefty fee for the young German with tremendous upside and a bright future, potentially as one of the worlds best.

Hugo Ekitike, £79m | B

Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool

This one made a little less sense to me when it happened, but now I've given it some time I think I can see the vision.

As I said in the above, I imagine that Slot’s idea will be to have Wirtz play on the left side so that Ekitike can play in the middle. He’s more of your standard striker than a false nine so he’s not bringing in the wingers as much, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. If not, he’d be a very solid albeit very expensive off-the-bench option.

Regardless, it’s taking another young talent off the market so as to not allow their competition to pick him up and benefit from potential big growth, so fair play for that.

Bryan Mbuemo, £71m | A-

Brentford to Manchester United

United need a lot of help but it’s often hard to find top-level talents who want to join this once juggernaut of a club. Without any European football this season, it’s hard to attract the big names.

In comes Mbuemo from Brentford, who’s been a standout in a rather subpar team and deserves a good shot. If he went anywhere else to a team with Champions League football, he’d likely fall onto the bench and we’d never see him again.

That’s why this move to United is super beneficial for both. He knows the league so he won’t need to adapt, instead hopefully contributing right away. Mbuemo on the right side with Cunha likely in the middle (unless Benjamin Sesko arrives), I think it’s a decent attack that may bring better fortunes for the Red Devils.

Viktor Gyorkeres, £63.5m | A+

Sporting Lisbon to Arsenal

Window after window, Arsenal would fail to capture seemingly the one position they so desperately need to take that step up from second to first.

But finally, they have done it, securing the services of one of Europe’s most sought-after number nines in the form of Gyorkeres.

93 goals in his previous two seasons at Sporting, including 54 last year alone, plus 26 assists during that time. This big Swede is a serious player, one that I can see Saka really enjoying linking up with this year.

Matheus Cunha, £62.5m | B+

Wolves to Manchester United

This is a provisional B+ which may change to an A if United complete the signing of Sesko. For now, Cunha gets a B+ as he is a tricky player who, like Mbuemo, knows the Prem already so won’t need to adjust, allowing him to get into things right away.

He was most effective last year as Wolves’ number 10 sitting behind the striker, but he wouldn’t miss a step whenever he was played on the left side, either on the left of an attacking midfield duo or on the wing.

Bruno has that number 10 role locked down for United so expect more time on the left from Cunha. He could also sit in the middle similar to Liverpool’s setup and play as a false nine, but should United capture Sesko, he’ll be the main man up top and Cunha will be pushed wide, which again would see him more than comfortable.

Joao Pedro, £60m | A

Brighton to Chelsea

Another side that needed a proper striker and it seems Chelsea have got just that in acquiring Joao Pedro from Brighton.

The young Brazilian has already shown good chemistry with his new teammates, netting three goals in the Club World Cup despite joining the club halfway through the tournament. 

I doubt he’ll be the Blues’ big scorer this season, but that likely isn’t the point anyway. Maresca will want him to link up with Cole Palmer, who is undoubtedly their main man.

Chelsea have gone through many strikers in hopes of finding the one that will help them reach the top once again. In Joao Pedro, I fear they got what they needed.

Tijjani Reijnders, £60m | A

AC Milan to Manchester City

I’ve tried not to let my bias get in the way of my grades, but I’m afraid my half-Dutch side is too excited about seeing Reijnders in the Prem.

The midfielder exploded onto the global scene last season for a helpless Milan side, with 10 goals and four assists from typically defensive midfield – a great contribution given his position.

With Rodri back for City, Reijnders will likely be played as a standard central mid, the same as he plays for the Netherlands, allowing him to get forward a bit more and contribute the same way he was able to last year, only with more potency ahead of him.

Mohammed Kudus, £55m | B+

West Ham to Tottenham

Spurs need a big rebound after a torrid league season last year. They may have won a European trophy, but they also finished 17th in the league. They’ve got to do better, and with an added distraction of the Champions League, they needed to add quality and build depth.

Enter Kudus, who adds to an already stacked midfield. He will likely start despite all their options, especially with Son now gone. He’s capable of playing on either side of the wings or down the middle so no doubt Thomas Frank will have little trouble fitting him in somewhere.

Anthony Elanga, £55m | A

Nottingham Forest to Newcastle

I always thought it was a massive mistake from United to let Elanga go and he’s finally proving that so. Two solid seasons with Nottingham Forest has earned him a well deserved move to Newcastle.

I believe Elanga will thrive under Eddie Howe, whose setup will fit Elanga’s playstyle perfectly. He's explosive out wide with a great capability to cut inside. He's wing play should pair nicely with Isak, but he's also be a threat running on his own.

Add to it that Newcastle were mainly in need of a right winger - that is, as long as they hold on to Isak - and you’ve got the perfect match for both sides.

Martin Zubimendi, £55m | A

Real Sociedad to Arsenal

We end with Zubimendi, a player who had been chased by several Prem clubs in the past couple of windows. The Gunners have won his signature and as such, add a great quality option in their midfield.

They were in need of another defensive midfielder after the departure of their previous first choice (who I will not name and if you know why you shouldn’t be surprised), and while they’ve gone out and gotten two, acquiring Christian Norgaard from Brentford, Zubimendi will likely be the starter.

He has been compared to the likes of various other great compatriots who championed the same position, most notably Sergio Busquets, but I see him learning a lot from his new boss, who also played the same/similar role in his playing time at Arsenal.