Who Won the Transfer Window? Ranking Premier League Clubs’ Summer Business

The summer transfer window of 2025 has once again seen Premier League clubs assert their financial dominance, collectively spending an astonishing £3.19 billion ($4.28 billion) on new talent—a new league record. This unprecedented outlay brought some of the world’s most sought-after footballers to England’s top flight, making it a window for the ages. From the traditional ‘big six’ racking up monumental bills to newly-promoted sides joining the spending spree with little caution, cash was splashed with carefree abandon across the division.

But beyond the sheer volume of spending, the crucial question remains: who truly ‘won’ the transfer window? Which clubs navigated the market most wisely, securing transformative players while balancing their books? Sports Illustrated delves into the intricate details of each club’s summer dealings, ranking them based on their overall business, strategic acquisitions, and potential impact on the upcoming season.

Total Premier League Spend: Summer 2025 Transfer Window

The aggregate spending in the Premier League this summer surpassed all previous records, highlighting the league’s immense financial power and ambition. Let’s break down how each club fared.

The Bottom Half Performers: Room for Improvement

20. Fulham: Operating on a tight budget, Fulham’s window initially raised alarm bells among supporters with only back-up goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte signed before deadline day. A late flurry saw Kevin, Samuel Chukwueze, and Jonah Kusi-Asare arrive, but it remains an underwhelming window for Marco Silva’s side.
21. Crystal Palace: A difficult summer saw Palace lose Eberechi Eze and miss out on a potential £35 million for Marc Guéhi, who could now leave for free next summer. Their signings, aside from the fleet-footed Yéremy Pino, lacked significant excitement.
22. West Ham United: Despite spending over £100 million, West Ham’s incomings didn’t set the world alight, especially with the departure of Mohammed Kudus.
23. Wolverhampton Wanderers: Similar to West Ham, Wolves spent over £100 million but saw Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri depart. Jørgen Strand Larsen’s retention is a small comfort.
24. Aston Villa: Villa spent the least but crucially retained their key players. Harvey Elliott, Jadon Sancho, and Evann Guessand could prove inspired additions, easing the goalscoring burden on Ollie Watkins.
25. Burnley & Leeds United: Both promoted clubs opted for quantity over quality, prioritizing depth at affordable prices. Transformative signings appear few and far between.
26. Brighton & Hove Albion, Brentford, Bournemouth: These three clubs were forced to replace star talent and largely reinvested well. Brentford secured excellent fees for Yoane Wissa and Bryan Mbeumo, while Bournemouth profited from defensive assets. They should maintain standards, though Brentford will miss Thomas Frank.

Good, Steady Business: Solid Foundations Laid

10. Nottingham Forest: Crucially, Forest retained key players like Morgan Gibbs-White and Murillo. Additions such as Dan Ndoye, James McAtee, and Douglas Luiz are clever, with at least one of their four Botafogo signings expected to impress.
11. Sunderland: Splashing over £180 million, Sunderland now boast a strong squad. Granit Xhaka is an exceptional signing, complemented by impressive depth from Nordi Mukiele, Lutsharel Geertruida, Habib Diarra, and Brian Brobbey.
12. Newcastle United: A stressful but ultimately successful window for Newcastle. They secured a record £125 million for Alexander Isak and signed two super replacements in Wissa and Nick Woltemade. Retaining Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães, and Anthony Gordon, alongside smart signings like Anthony Elanga and Malick Thiaw, makes it a positive outcome.
13. Everton: Everton enjoyed a quietly exceptional window. Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall are already proving massive hits, while Tyler Dibling, Adam Aznou, Carlos Alcaraz, and Merlin Röhl are exciting prospects. Thierno Barry could also be an astute addition.
14. Manchester United: Despite areas still needing improvement, United’s ranking is boosted by three excellent forward signings: Cunha, Mbeumo, and Benjamin Šeško, who should instantly elevate the Red Devils. They also offloaded Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony, and Marcus Rashford.

The Best on Show: Strategic Masterclasses

5. Tottenham Hotspur

Under new management and heading into a Champions League campaign, Tottenham conducted excellent business. They strengthened across the pitch, with a particularly intimidating forward line. Mohammed Kudus and Xavi Simons are fantastic additions with high potential, while the loan signing of João Palhinha is inspired. Randal Kolo Muani provides further cutting edge and crucial depth. Kevin Danso and Mathys Tel joined permanently, and while Son Heung-min’s departure was emotional, Spurs cleared out significant deadwood.

4. Manchester City

Early season form suggests a transition period, but Manchester City still strengthened impressively. Older heads were replaced with youth and energy, particularly in midfield. Tijjani Reijnders is an ideal replacement for Kevin De Bruyne, and Rayan Cherki will add flair once he recovers from injury. Gianluigi Donnarumma is an exceptional goalkeeper, with James Trafford providing backup. City also earned good money from sales like McAtee, Yan Couto, and Máximo Perrone.

3. Chelsea

Chelsea’s ability to spend almost £300 million and still maintain a positive net spend is astonishing. They meticulously trimmed their bloated squad, securing big-money fees for peripheral figures and academy graduates. Their sales were as impressive as their signings, with a clear focus on youth. Twenty-three-year-old João Pedro has made an excellent start, joined by young attackers Jamie Gittens and Alejandro Garnacho. The versatile Jorrel Hato is a smart defensive acquisition, and Esêvão could be one of the signings of the summer after a dazzling start.

2. Arsenal

Arsenal’s only disappointment was their inability to recoup significant funds from player sales, receiving just £9 million, resulting in the highest net spend after splashing £267 million. However, their incomings are cause for immense satisfaction. They finally addressed their striker issues with Viktor Gyökeres, while Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze bolster a forward line previously over-reliant on Bukayo Saka. Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Nørgaard add much-needed depth, and Martín Zubimendi is set to be a quick hit in midfield. Piero Hincapié’s late arrival is an upgrade on Jakub Kiwior.

1. Liverpool

Liverpool shattered the Premier League transfer record, spending a colossal £446.5 million. While a ludicrous sum, few can argue it was wasted, given the quality of arrivals. The Reds eventually secured Alexander Isak for a Premier League record fee after a protracted saga. Florian Wirtz had previously broken the division record (including add-ons) with his £116 million move from Bayer Leverkusen. Both are leading performers in world football. Hugo Ekitiké has hit the ground running, competing with Isak. Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are exciting full-back additions. Giorgi Mamardashvili’s arrival as a wonderful goalkeeper went under the radar, and Giovanni Leoni has enormous potential at centre-back. Liverpool also recouped almost half their summer spend through sales, with Luis Díaz and Darwin Núñez’s departures facilitating these additions. The only minor disappointment was Guéhi’s collapsed transfer, in what was otherwise a perfect window for the Reds.

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