Sky Sports' analysts have taken a deep dive into the summer transfer activity across all twenty‑four Premier League clubs, assigning each side a rating based on the quality, quantity and strategic fit of their signings and departures. The exercise follows a whirlwind window that featured record‑breaking expenditures, high‑profile deadline‑day drama and a number of clubs reshaping their squads in pursuit of both domestic and European ambitions.
Below is a comprehensive re‑imagining of each reporter's commentary, expanded with additional context to give a fuller picture of how each club approached the market and what the implications might be for the upcoming season. **Arsenal – 8/10 (Gary Cotterill)** Arsenal’s summer saw eight senior players exit the Emirates, including Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martínez, Leandro Trossard, Christian Nørgaard, Fabio Vieira, loan‑out Ethan Nwaneri, Jakob Kiwior and Reiss Nelson. Most of those departures were deemed surplus to requirements, allowing the Gunners to free up more than £100 million in wages – a particularly significant saving in Jesus’s case given his hefty contract.
The club also recouped a sizable transfer fee, but the lack of a direct left‑wing replacement kept the rating from a perfect ten. While a marquee signing such as Vinícius Junior or Julián Álvarez would have sealed a flawless window, Arsenal’s ability to stay in the conversation for such targets earned them credit. New arrivals like Christos Tzolis have shown promise despite a shaky debut, and the squad’s depth now offers Arteta multiple options on the left flank, including Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka.
The bench at Villa Park highlighted the breadth of talent available, and the acquisitions of Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa were highlighted as the primary objectives that were successfully met. **Aston Villa – 7/10 (Kirsty Edwards)** Villa’s post‑Europa League rebuild was ambitious.
After winning the competition, the club faced the departure of six regulars, including Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martínez, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa. Unai Emery responded by injecting youthful potential such as Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi, while also adding experience with Leon Goretzka and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka. New signing Nicolas Jackson impressed on debut, and Zion Suzuki delivered a solid first appearance in goal.
The balance between financial prudence and squad rejuvenation was praised, though the true test will be the on‑field contributions of these newcomers. **Bournemouth – 8/10 (Mark McAdam)** Bournemouth’s strategy shifted from a sell‑off in 2025 to a retention‑focused approach this summer.
Key players Rayan Cherki, Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott stayed, and the club resisted pressure to off‑load the squad beneath manager Marco Rose. Their European qualification added a layer of complexity, requiring UEFA‑compliant spending while still bolstering quality. Notable arrivals include former Juventus No 1 goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, centre‑back Antonio Silva (a value buy), full‑back Juanlu Sanchez and attacker Álvaro Rodríguez.
Early, decisive action meant Bournemouth avoided a deadline‑day scramble, positioning them well for a competitive season. **Brentford – 9/10 (Uma Gurav)** Brentford’s summer was anchored by the £39 million acquisition of midfielder Mamadou Sangaré, a deal hailed as a bargain and a potential signing of the season. The club also secured left‑back El Hadji Malick Diouf and saw forward Jaidon Anthony earn early starts.
Retaining key figures such as Thiago, Kevin Schade and Yehor Yarmoliuk, while extending contracts for Michael Kayode and Vitaly Janelt, demonstrated a clear intent to maintain continuity. The only notable out‑goings were loan moves, like Jayden Meghoma to Portsmouth, reflecting a balanced approach that left room for incremental improvement.
**Brighton – 7.5/10 (Elliot Cook)** Brighton entered a busy window, spending nearly £170 million on nine first‑team players. The headline signing was Luka Vuskovic for a club‑record £50 million, while young defensive midfielder Chema Andrés arrived from Stuttgart on deadline day, filling the void left by Carlos Baleba’s move to Manchester United.
The club also lost veteran striker Danny Welbeck, hoping loan signing Promise David can offset the loss. Retaining Yankuba Minteh was a positive, and manager Fabian Hürzeler hopes the blend of experience and youth will help the Seagulls compete in both the Premier League and the Conference League.
**Chelsea – 8/10 (James Savundra)** Chelsea’s window reflected a strategic pivot under Xabi Alonso, focusing on Premier League‑ready talent to complement their youthful core. Signings such as Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa met the manager’s primary targets, while the club secured Joao Pedro on an improved deal. The arrival of Geovany Quenda highlighted the continued emphasis on future prospects. However, the Enzo Fernández saga created division among supporters, and the failure to secure a permanent solution for the Argentine midfielder left lingering uncertainty, despite a strong start of three wins in three matches.
**Coventry – 7/10 (Amber Sandhu)** Coventry’s summer combined high‑profile signings with a clear developmental plan. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth returned permanently, centre‑back Aurele Amenda added athleticism, and midfield reinforcements like Caleb Yirenkyi, Frank Onyeka and Gustavo Hamer bolstered the squad. Up front, Taiwo Awoniyi provided a proven Premier League goal threat, while Loum Tchaouna and Sidiki Cherif added pace. Although early season results showed a lack of goals, the depth and experience now available suggest a solid foundation for the newly promoted side.
**Crystal Palace – 7/10 (Chris Reidy)** Palace lost Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz but retained core players Adam Wharton, Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr. Mateta, after a failed transfer to AC Milan, remains a key figure, while Sarr’s performances will be critical to justify the club’s decision to keep him.
New arrivals such as Axel Disasi, Dwight McNeil, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu provide quality depth, and promising youngsters like Dario Osorio and Anan Khalaili could develop into future first‑team regulars. The squad’s increased depth should aid Palace’s European ambitions. **Everton – 5/10 (Vinny O'Connor)** Everton’s window was marked by a chaotic end‑stage scramble.
The club sold Beto to Fiorentina before securing Folarin Balogun, and a failed bid for Joshua Zirkzee added to the disorder. The sale of Iliman Ndiaye for £65 million, after a near‑miss move to Tottenham, further weakened the attack. While the club added several players—including Ainsley Maitland‑Niles, Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney—the lack of a proven striker and a reliable right‑back left the squad under‑resourced, making a European challenge unlikely.
**Fulham – 7/10 (James Cole)** Fulham, under Alvaro Arbeloa, pursued a high‑pressing, high‑tempo style. The arrival of striker Gonzalo García from Real Madrid, who opened his Fulham account with two goals in three games, addressed the need for a quality forward. Midfield depth was enhanced with Real Madrid academy graduates César Palacios and Manuel Ángel, alongside Shea Charles and Hugo Larsson. Defensive concerns remain, but the signing of Austria international David Affengruber may suit Arbeloa’s system, which demands defenders to cover space aggressively.
The lack of a specialist winger was noted, yet the overall recruitment aligns with the manager’s tactical vision. **Hull City – 7/10 (Tim Thornton)** Hull’s ambitious summer saw eighteen new faces, six arriving on deadline day, driven by owner Acun Ilicali’s vision. The club focused on youthful talent capable of developing under the club’s guidance, balancing risk with potential reward. While the starting XI improved, the core that secured promotion remains intact, preserving the team spirit essential for a tough Premier League campaign.
**Ipswich Town – 8/10 (James Green)** Ipswich invested heavily, spending around £200 million plus a deadline‑day signing of Zian Flemming. Record signing Julio Enciso and additions such as Abdul Fatawu, Emersonn and Exequiel Palacios bolstered the squad’s quality.
Experienced Premier League players like Sasa Lukić, Issa Diop and Florentino Luis, together with pace‑player Daizen Maeda, added depth across the board. Manager Gary O'Neil now faces the task of melding this talent into a cohesive unit capable of retaining top‑flight status.
**Leeds United – 7.5/10 (Zinny Boswell)** Leeds focused on strengthening key positions early, signing Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemović and James Trafford, while also addressing squad depth with Nico Elvedi, Michael Zetterer and Melvin Bard. The addition of winger Jean‑Matteo Bahoya offers an X‑factor with lightning speed. The club’s strategic acquisitions aim to consolidate their Premier League foothold.
**Liverpool – 7.5/10 (Vinny O'Connor)** Liverpool addressed several priorities, adding pace on the wings with Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, while retaining Cody Gakpo and securing promising youngster Rio Ngumoha. Defensive reinforcement came via Ronald Araujo, who can cover centre‑back and right‑back, complementing Jeremy Jacquet. However, the absence of a natural right‑winger to replace Mohamed Salah and a lack of a dedicated holding midfielder were noted as gaps.
The club also secured two 18‑year‑olds, Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N'Guessan, for future development. **Manchester City – 8/10 (Ben Ransom)** City’s window featured the record signing of Enzo Fernández on deadline day, forming a potential £300 million midfield alongside Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Despite losing Rodri to Barcelona, the club recouped funds from several departures, enabling the purchase of Iliman Ndiaye and Allan to strengthen the attack. The squad is now considered better balanced than at the start of the previous season. **Manchester United – 7/10 (Danyal Khan)** United prioritized rebuilding their midfield, spending about £155 million on Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba.
While left‑back depth remained thin, the presence of versatile players like Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot mitigated the issue. The club retained key figures such as Marcus Rashford, limiting further spending but providing continuity.
**Newcastle United – 8/10 (Keith Downie)** Newcastle’s £262 million outlay, offset by £245 million in sales (including Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon), resulted in a youthful, ambitious squad. Significant signings included Matías Fernández‑Pardo, Lukas Hornicek, Amar Dedić and Nico Gonzalez. The club’s early season performances from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa suggest the new additions are already integrating well. **Burnley – 7.5/10 (Anton Toloui)** Under Oliver Glasner, Burnley secured a physical striker in Liam Delap and a starting‑calibre wing‑back in Daniel Muñoz.
Ousmane Diomande arrived as a target, and the club re‑signed Xaver Schlager. The only shortfall was the lack of a young, dynamic midfielder to replace Elliot Anderson, though the sale to Manchester City provided financial balance. **Sunderland – 7/10 (Keith Downie)** Sunderland’s deadline‑day pursuit of winger Malick Fofana culminated after a dramatic tug‑of‑war with Crystal Palace, secured by owner Kyril Louis‑Dreyfus’s intervention.
The club also retained key players such as Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey and Noah Sadiki, while adding Dayann Methalie to bolster the squad. **Tottenham Hotspur – 7/10 (Michael Bridge)** Tottenham delivered on their promise to spend, with marquee signings like Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali. Roberto De Zerbi reshaped the squad, adding Jan Paul van Hecke for £50 million and securing forwards Savio Mendes and Omar Marmoush.
While the club pursued Cody Gakpo, he ultimately chose Manchester City, and the subsequent signing of Iliman Ndiaye fell through. The acquisition of Mykhailo Mudryk from Chelsea remains a high‑risk, high‑reward move, given his lack of recent competitive minutes. Overall, the summer window showcased a mixture of strategic planning, financial prudence and occasional impulsive decisions. Clubs that balanced squad depth with targeted quality signings are poised to compete effectively, while those that missed key positions or suffered chaotic endings may face challenges in the months ahead.