Premier League Transfer Window Review: Grades for Each Club

After a record-breaking summer of spending and a Deadline Day that felt more like a TV drama than a trading period, every Premier League club has come out looking very different. Some are retooled for a title push. Others are simply hoping they’ve done enough to stay afloat.

Here’s how the window really treated them.

Arsenal – 8/10

Eight senior players out, an eight out of 10 window. The symmetry isn’t lost on anyone at the Emirates.

Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Christian Norgaard, Fabio Vieira, Ethan Nwaneri (loan), Jakob Kiwior and Reiss Nelson have all gone. Only Nwaneri is expected back, and even he was briefly out the door. The rest were judged expendable. The upside? More than £100m banked and serious wages off the books – Jesus’ salary in particular.

This was supposed to be the summer a new left winger arrived. If Arsenal had landed one to replace the two they sold, the score climbs to a nine. If that winger had been Vinicius Junior or Julian Alvarez, it would have been a perfect 10. They pushed, they dreamed, they got in the conversation. Reality bit.

Supporters are split. They accept missing out on Vinicius and Alvarez. They don’t accept heading into a title race without fully replacing last season’s two main left-sided forwards. The club insists the right player never emerged after the Vinicius saga collapsed. So it’s “make do” on the left.

Arteta and the hierarchy are relaxed. Christos Tzolis has already won fans over despite a shaky outing at Villa Park. Eberechi Eze looks comfortable out there. Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka can both flip sides if needed, which would also open the door for more minutes for Max Dowman on the right. Some even argue Riccardo Calafiori could be pushed higher up, just as Arteta once reinvented Mikel Merino and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

No left winger. No new No 9. But almost everywhere else, Arteta has options. One glance at the bench at Villa Park shows the depth in defence and midfield. He can now rotate heavily in those areas without losing competitiveness.

Most importantly, he landed the two he really wanted: Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa. That alone makes it a strong window.

Aston Villa – 7/10

A few weeks after lifting the Europa League, Aston Villa tore up the script. Six of the starting XI from that final – Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa – are gone. Not even Unai Emery saw that coming.

The rebuild has been forced, not chosen. Financial rules have bitten hard. Villa’s answer has been to go younger and hungrier. Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi bring upside, Leon Goretzka and Aaron Wan-Bissaka bring know-how. Nicolas Jackson doesn’t need a settling-in period and impressed on debut. Zion Suzuki’s first outing in goal was encouraging, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis is backing Emery to drag him up to the elite level.

The “Emery factor” matters here. So does the way Villa have balanced the books while ripping out the core of a European-winning side. On paper, it’s smart. In reality, we still need to see these players in claret and blue when the stakes are high.

Bournemouth – 9/10

Twelve months ago Bournemouth were sellers. This summer, they slammed the door shut.

Rayan, Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott all stay. The club’s model allows exits, but not a fire sale. Marco Rose was promised the team wouldn’t be stripped from under him, and the board kept their word despite heavy interest in their stars.

Europe changes the maths. UEFA regulations forced Bournemouth to add depth and quality while trimming costs. They managed it. Michele Di Gregorio arrives after being Juventus’ No 1. Antonio Silva, once linked to Europe’s giants, looks a bargain at centre-back. Juanlu Sanchez strengthens full-back, Alvaro Rodriguez offers a different threat in attack.

Fringe players have been moved on. The business was done early. For once, Deadline Day passed quietly at the Vitality. Rose and the hierarchy can look back on a window that kept the core, upgraded key areas and avoided chaos. Now they have to justify it on Thursday and Sunday nights.

Brentford – 9/10

Brentford’s window borders on immaculate.

They needed a midfielder to build around. They found Mamadou Sangare for £39m, and that already looks cheap. He’s reshaped their midfield almost overnight. El Hadji Malick Diouf should grow into the starting left-back role. Jaidon Anthony has already started twice, Callum Wilson is the ideal back-up – or challenger – to Igor Thiago, and Jannik Schuster covers centre-back while Sepp van den Berg recovers.

The real victory is retention. Jordan Henderson’s leadership is gone, but Thiago, Kevin Schade and Yehor Yarmoliuk all remain. Michael Kayode and Vitaly Janelt have signed new deals. The only late move was Jayden Meghoma heading to Portsmouth on loan to get minutes.

They don’t get a 10 because, as Keith Andrews would argue, there’s always something to improve. But Brentford look like they’ve nailed the brief.

Brighton – 7.5/10

Brighton, usually subtle in the market, went loud. Nine first-team signings. Close to £170m spent. Depth everywhere, especially at the back.

Luka Vuskovic cost a club-record £50m and represents a serious statement. Chema Andres, prised from Stuttgart in a late Deadline Day twist, offers a Spain U21 defensive midfielder profile to plug the Carlos Baleba-shaped hole after his move to Manchester United. He’ll need time, but the talent is obvious.

They’ve lost experience and goals with Danny Welbeck’s exit. Promise David, in on loan, now carries much of that burden. Keeping Yankuba Minteh, with Liverpool circling, feels huge.

Once the injured players return and the new faces settle, Fabian Hurzeler will expect this squad to handle both the Premier League and the Conference League. Brighton look deeper, but the true test will come when the games pile up.

Chelsea – 9/10

Chelsea have changed course. Properly.

Out goes the scattergun youth-only obsession. In comes a blend: Premier League-ready players alongside elite prospects. The pursuit of Jordan Henderson, Emiliano Martinez and Danny Welbeck signalled a shift. Geovany Quenda is one for tomorrow. Martinez, Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix are for today.

Joao Pedro has been tied down on an improved contract. The core is now locked in. After a shambolic campaign that fell apart once Enzo Maresca left, and despite an FA Cup final run, Stamford Bridge felt sour. Xabi Alonso’s arrival and a sharper recruitment plan have changed the mood. The 4-3 thriller against Brighton brought the stadium back to life.

The Enzo Fernandez saga is the one stain. A self-imposed deadline of August 15 passed without clarity. No firm promise he would stay. Anxiety seeped into the new season. Yet three wins from three suggest the dressing room has handled the noise.

Losing Marc Cucurella hurt, but Chelsea sold well. High valuations were met for Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho. They remain one of the best trading clubs in world football. Now they have to prove they can be one of the best teams again.

Coventry – 8/10

Newly promoted Coventry didn’t tiptoe into the market. They charged in.

They’ve spent big, but with a plan. Carl Rushworth returns permanently after starring in promotion. Aurele Amenda adds athleticism at centre-back. Caleb Yirenkyi is a livewire in midfield, Frank Onyeka brings Premier League muscle, and Gustavo Hamer restores a familiar creative heartbeat.

Up front, Taiwo Awoniyi gives Frank Lampard a proven Premier League target man. Loum Tchaouna and Sidiki Cherif add pace and upside either side of him.

Two games, two defeats, no goals: that’s the early reality. Questions over firepower will linger until the attack clicks. But the squad is deeper, more balanced and bolder than the one that went up. For a club fresh back in the top flight, this is ambition without recklessness.

Crystal Palace – 7/10

Palace lost quality. Again. Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz were two of their best. Both gone.

Yet they’ll quietly toast keeping Adam Wharton, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr. Mateta is in his final contract year, still recovering from the AC Milan move that collapsed in January. Sarr must now park the disappointment of a failed Liverpool switch. His performances to January will decide whether Palace were right to dig in.

The market demanded creativity. Palace responded with sensible, not spectacular, business. Axel Disasi, Dwight McNeil, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all proven Premier League performers. Dario Osorio could be the jewel – a highly rated 22-year-old at a club that specialises in polishing rough diamonds. Honest Ahanor bolsters the back line, while Anan Khalaili has the tools to one day take Munoz’s place.

Depth has improved, vital with European football again on the horizon. Palace have become experts at losing stars – Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi – and still progressing. This window doesn’t guarantee success, but the late surge of deals, layered on early planning, suggests they’ll be quietly content.

Everton – 2/10

Chaos. That’s the word that hangs over Everton’s summer.

They halved a strike force that wasn’t prolific to begin with. Beto was allowed to join Fiorentina before Folarin Balogun was secured. The scramble to Joshua Zirkzee when the Balogun move faltered only deepened the sense of panic.

Then came the sale of Iliman Ndiaye, their most exciting talent. The club had insisted all window they held the cards with three years left on his deal. He left for £65m – a huge profit on the fee paid two years ago, but still short of the number that might have soothed supporters.

Ndiaye was initially headed to Spurs for £60m with Richarlison returning for £35m. That valuation for the Brazilian raised eyebrows and, in the end, the deal collapsed. So did a move for Kenny Tete, with Fulham refusing to sell without a replacement – a lesson Everton failed to heed elsewhere.

All this while the ownership pondered a £40m offer from Nottingham Forest for Harrison Armstrong, as David Moyes publicly stressed the need for reinforcements. Fans are left hurt, embarrassed, angry and worried. They didn’t have to be.

There are positives. Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Jack Grealish, Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard, Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George and Brennan Johnson have arrived. But they’re overshadowed by the glaring hole up front. Moyes heads into the season with Thierno Barry as his only recognised striker.

A push for Europe now looks wildly optimistic. If it doesn’t happen, the blame won’t sit with the manager.

Fulham – 7/10

Fulham have changed philosophy and personnel in one sweep.

Alvaro Arbeloa wants a high press, high tempo, and that always brings teething problems. But the club have gone out and bought for his system, not just his squad list.

They needed a striker. Gonzalo García arrived from Real Madrid and has two goals in his first three games. Early signs are promising. The midfield has been rebuilt around Real Madrid academy graduates Cesar Palacios and Manuel Angel, with Shea Charles and Hugo Larsson adding legs and quality.

The centre-backs are now asked to defend higher, full-backs to fly on. That’s exposed them at times. David Affengruber’s Deadline Day arrival looks crucial – an Austria international with the profile to defend big spaces and cope with Arbeloa’s demands.

The oddity is out wide. Harry Wilson and Samuel Chukwueze have gone, but no winger has come in. Palacios has already started on the left, but he’s not a natural there. Some fans will worry.

Still, Fulham have gone bold and aligned recruitment with the manager’s vision. If Arbeloa finds the balance between aggression and control, they should steer clear of a relegation scrap.

Hull – 8/10

Hull wanted pace, athleticism and quality. They signed 18 players to get it.

Six arrived on Deadline Day alone. Owner Acun Ilicali has been central to the pitch, selling a vision of ambition and growth. The club targeted young players who can develop alongside them, accepting the risk for the potential reward.

The starting XI looks stronger, but crucially the core of the promotion side remains. That continuity, wrapped around a new layer of talent, could be the difference between survival and a swift return to the Championship.

Ipswich – 9/10

Ipswich have learned their lesson the hard way.

Two years ago they spent around £110m trying to cling on to Premier League status. It didn’t work. This time they’ve gone bigger – roughly £200m, capped by Zian Flemming’s Deadline Day move from Burnley – but smarter.

Fourteen in, 18 out. The squad has been reshaped, not just padded. Julio Enciso arrives as a record signing. Abdul Fatawu, Emersonn and Exequiel Palacios bring genuine attacking quality. Sasa Lukic, Issa Diop and Florentino Luis add Premier League experience, while Daizen Maeda injects pace and a proven work-rate.

The most striking change is depth. Ipswich haven’t simply replaced; they’ve upgraded almost every line. Gary O’Neil now has options everywhere. The challenge is knitting them together quickly enough to turn a positive start into a stable season.

Leeds – 8/10

Leeds approached this window like a club determined not to repeat last summer’s mistakes.

The Deadline Day capture of Harry Wilson will grab the headlines, especially given how they missed out on him 12 months ago. But the real work was done earlier. Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic and James Trafford all improve the starting XI. That was Daniel Farke’s demand: better individual quality in key positions.

Depth, a major issue last season, has also been addressed. Nico Elvedi, Michael Zetterer and Melvin Bard add options across the back line and in goal.

Then there’s Jean-Matteo Bahoya. The wildcard. Blistering pace, genuine X factor. If he explodes over the next year, this window’s rating will look conservative. Even if he doesn’t, Leeds have built a squad capable of consolidating their Premier League status.

Liverpool – 7/10

Liverpool have ticked several boxes, but left one glaring one empty.

They wanted pace out wide. Bradley Barcola and Victor Munoz provide it. With Cody Gakpo staying – he was never leaving once moves for Yankuba Minteh and Ismaila Sarr fell through – Andoni Iraola now has four wide options when you include Rio Ngumoha. Gakpo can also cover Alexander Isak through the middle while Hugo Ekitike remains sidelined.

Ronald Araujo strengthens both centre-back and right-back, a vital addition with Joe Gomez, Conor Bradley and Giovanni Leoni injured. His style dovetails with Jeremy Jacquet, whose deal was agreed in the winter and who already looks like a classic Liverpool centre-half.

But the Mohamed Salah hole remains. No natural right-sided winger has arrived, even if Barcola, Gakpo, Ngumoha and Munoz can all operate there. A top-class full-back and a specialist holding midfielder would also have elevated this squad significantly.

Still, Barcola brings star power, Munoz looks mentally built for Anfield, and the Araujo–Jacquet pairing resonates with supporters. The average age of first-team signings over the last two summers sits around 22, and Liverpool have also secured teenage prospects Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N’Guessan for the future.

It’s progress. Just not perfection.

Manchester City – 8/10

How do you score a window where you lose Rodri and still come out stronger on paper?

City let the World Cup’s best player join Barcelona. The mood dipped. Then Deadline Day arrived and they detonated their transfer record for the second time this summer to land Enzo Fernandez. He joins Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi in a new £300m midfield that will make plenty of clubs envious.

Money from the sales of Savio, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, Nathan Ake and James Trafford has funded not only Fernandez but also Iliman Ndiaye and Allan in attack. Those close to the club insist the squad is in better shape than at the start of last season.

Enzo Maresca wanted tools for a tactical revolution. He’s got them. Now comes the only question that matters: is this enough to keep City on top?

Manchester United – 7/10

Manchester United finally addressed their biggest problem: midfield.

They entered the window needing a rebuild in the centre. Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba have arrived at a cost of around £155m. Alongside Kobbie Mainoo, they give Michael Carrick a range of combinations across four competitions.

The hole at left-back remains. But United point to Noussair Mazraoui, who filled in there for Morocco at the World Cup, and Diogo Dalot as cover. It’s not ideal, but it’s something.

Departures didn’t materialise as expected. Joshua Zirkzee, Manuel Ugarte and Marcus Rashford all stayed, limiting room for manoeuvre elsewhere. The flip side? If Rashford builds on his bright start, he could feel like a new signing without costing a penny.

Newcastle – 8/10

Newcastle’s summer looked on the brink of collapse. Then it didn’t.

Matias Fernandez-Pardo’s Deadline Day arrival completed an eight-man intake. Of those, Lukas Hornicek, Amar Dedic, Nico Gonzalez and Fernandez-Pardo walk into the strongest XI. Sean Steur, Aladji Bamba, Bazoumana Toure and Ewan Jaouen are raw but full of upside.

They’ve spent £262m, funded by £245m in sales for Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon. The squad is younger, deeper and, crucially, still ambitious. Gonzalez and Fernandez-Pardo, costing a combined £101m, feel like the real statement.

What once threatened to be a disastrous window has been turned around. Add in the early-season impact of Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa – last summer’s big buys – and this feels like a squad still moving forward.

Nottingham Forest – 7.5/10

Oliver Glasner knew what he wanted. Nottingham Forest gave it to him.

He asked for a physical No 9 with big potential. Enter Liam Delap. He wanted a starting wing-back. Daniel Munoz, a familiar face from his past, arrived. Ousmane Diomande was another long-term Glasner target, as was Xaver Schlager, reunited with his old coach from Wolfsburg.

The one miss? A young, dynamic, forward-thinking midfielder to replace Elliot Anderson. They didn’t get one, but they did secure a strong fee from Manchester City. For a first window under a new manager, this is solid ground.

Sunderland – 7/10

Sunderland flirted with farce, then got their man.

They’d wanted a winger all window. Malick Fofana wasn’t the first choice, but as options dropped away he became the best remaining target. The chase turned wild: a tug-of-war at Lyon airport with Crystal Palace, only settled when owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus stepped in, paid up and closed the deal.

After that drama, Fofana has to start. So does big summer signing Dayann Methalie. But the real triumph is retention. Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey and Noah Sadiki all stayed put.

The squad looks stronger, the XI looks sharper. The question now is whether the late scramble for Fofana proves inspired or desperate.

Tottenham – 7/10

On intent alone, Tottenham score 10/10. On execution, they sit at seven.

They spent heavily and aggressively. They beat Manchester United to Mateus Fernandes. They signed Sandro Tonali, a player many thought beyond their reach. Roberto De Zerbi has been allowed to reshape the squad in his image.

Jan Paul van Hecke cost around £50m with only a year left on his deal – the kind of outlay Spurs simply never used to contemplate. Defence and midfield have been addressed. So have the forward areas, with the long pursuit of Savio finally ending and Omar Marmoush joining to the delight of the fanbase.

De Zerbi wanted one more big signing. Cody Gakpo was the dream, but once Manchester City entered the race, that fantasy died. Then came the late twist: a fee agreed with Everton for Iliman Ndiaye, Richarlison heading the other way. It would have been a blockbuster. Ndiaye chose City. Richarlison then publicly criticised Spurs.

Spurs turned to Chelsea. Mykhailo Mudryk and Tosin Adarabioyo arrived, a move that would once have been unthinkable between the London rivals. Mudryk is a huge gamble: he hasn’t played competitive football in nearly two years. But De Zerbi believes he can unlock him, and Chelsea’s insistence on a high loan-to-buy fee suggests they haven’t fully given up either.

The money has been spent. The squad has been reshaped. Now we find out if this bold version of Tottenham can match their ambition with results.