Sky Sports' team of reporters have evaluated the summer transfer activity of each Premier League club, assigning scores and offering detailed commentary on the deals, departures and strategic moves that defined the window. The analysis covers a wide range of teams, from the traditional powerhouses to the newly promoted sides, and highlights both the successes and the shortcomings of each club's approach. **Arsenal – 8/10** Gary Cotterill gave the Gunners an eight out of ten, noting that eight senior players left the squad, including Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Christian Norgaard, Fabio Viera, loaned-out Ethan Nwaneri, Jakob Kiwior and Reiss Nelson. While the departures cleared a significant wage bill—especially in the case of Jesus—the club failed to replace the two left‑wingers that were sold.
Cotterill argued that securing a high‑profile left‑winger such as Vinícius Júnior or Julián Álvarez would have pushed the rating to a nine or even a perfect ten. Nevertheless, Arsenal have depth on the left side: newcomer Christos Tzolis, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka can all cover that area, while Max Długolny has the flexibility to shift to the right.
The manager, Mikel Arteta, also has several options in midfield and defence, meaning the squad can rotate without a noticeable dip in quality. The window was deemed successful because Arsenal secured two primary targets—Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa—who directly address the team's needs.
**Aston Villa – Optimistic Outlook** Kirsty Edwards highlighted the dramatic shift at Villa, where six regular starters from the Europa League‑winning side departed within weeks of the trophy lift. Unai Emery faced the challenge of replacing Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martínez, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa while adhering to strict financial regulations. The solution was a blend of youthful prospects such as Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi, alongside seasoned professionals like Leon Goretzka and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka.
New signings Nicolas Jackson and Zion Suzuki made promising debuts, and Taylor Harwood‑Bllis showed potential for growth. Edwards remains cautiously optimistic, emphasizing that the true test will be the players' performances in a Villa shirt. **Bournemouth – A Model of Stability** Mark McAdam praised Bournemouth for retaining key assets—Rayan, Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott—while resisting pressure to sell the squad beneath manager Marco Rose. The club added goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio (formerly Juventus No.1), centre‑back Antonio Silva (a value signing after interest from larger clubs), full‑back Juanlu Sánchez and attacking option Álvaro Rodríguez.
Their approach focused on early, decisive action rather than last‑minute deadline‑day deals, allowing them to avoid the frantic scramble that often characterises transfer windows. The result is a balanced squad ready for European competition, with a blend of experience and emerging talent. **Brentford – Strong Mid‑Season Prospects** Uma Gurav awarded Brentford high marks for their summer business, chiefly because of the acquisition of midfielder Mamadou Sangare for £39 million—a bargain that could become a season‑defining signing. Additional arrivals such as El Hadji Malick Diouf (left‑back) and the continued contributions of Jaidon Anthony, Callum Wilson and Jannik Schüster provide depth across the spine.
Brentford also secured the futures of key players with new contracts, while loaning out youngster Jayden Meghoma to Portsmouth for development. Gurav stopped short of a perfect score, noting that there is always room for improvement, but the overall consensus is that Brentford have built a solid platform for the upcoming campaign. **Brighton – Busy but Inconsistent** Elliot Cook gave Brighton a rating of 7.5/10, citing a busy window that saw nine first‑team players arrive for close to £170 million. The headline signing was Luka Vuskovic, a club‑record £50 million acquisition, while defensive midfield talent Chema Andrés arrived on deadline day to replace the departing Carlos Baleba.
Brighton also lost veteran striker Danny Welbeck and will rely on loanee Promise David to fill the goal‑scoring void. Despite these changes, the club retained promising youngster Yankuba Minteh, which is a positive sign for the future. **Chelsea – A New Direction** James Savundra described Chelsea's window as a revolution, with the club shifting from a long‑term developmental focus to immediate impact signings. New arrivals such as Georginio Wijnaldum‑style midfielder Geovany Quenda, and the rapid contract upgrade for João Pedro, illustrate this change.
The club also secured Emiliano Martínez, Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix, strengthening the starting XI. However, the Enzo Fernández saga created division among supporters, and the deadline set for his transfer failed to produce the desired outcome.
Overall, Chelsea have demonstrated world‑class trading ability, but the ultimate test will be translating that into on‑field success. **Coventry City – Ambitious Promotion‑Ready Squad** Amber Sandhu highlighted Coventry's bold summer, mixing experienced Premier League players with younger talent. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth returned permanently, while centre‑back Aurele Amenda added athleticism. Midfield signings Caleb Yirenkyi, Frank Onyeka and Gustavo Hamer bring both experience and creativity.
Up front, Taiwo Awoniyi provides a proven Premier League goal threat, supported by pace‑players Loum Tchaouna and Sidiki Cherif. Sandhu noted early-season scoring woes but concluded that the squad is markedly stronger and deeper than the promotion‑winning side of the previous year. **Crystal Palace – Retaining Core While Adding Depth** Chris Reidy focused on Palace's ability to keep key players—Adam Wharton, Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr—while supplementing the roster with sensible signings such as Axel Disasi, Dwight McNeil, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu.
Young prospects Dario Osorio and Honest Ahanor could develop into future stars, and the club's depth now equips them to compete on multiple fronts, including European competition. **Everton – Turbulent and Under‑Resourced** Vinny O'Connor painted a bleak picture of Everton's window, describing a chaotic end‑stage scramble that saw the club lose striker Iliman Ndiaye for £65 million and fail to secure a replacement for the departed Beto. The club brought in several players—Ainsley Maitland‑Niles, Jack Grealish, Hayden Hackney, Christian Norgaard, Merlin Rohl, Tyrique George and Brennan Johnson—but the lack of a proven striker and right‑back left the squad ill‑equipped for a European challenge.
**Fulham – Ambitious Yet Unbalanced** James Cole praised Fulham's strategic signings, particularly striker Gonzalo García, who arrived from Real Madrid and scored twice in his first three games. The midfield was bolstered by Real Madrid academy graduates Cesar Palacios and Manuel Angel, as well as Shea Charles and Hugo Larsson.
However, the defence remains a concern, with the high‑pressing system exposing vulnerabilities. The deadline‑day addition of David Affengruber may help, but the absence of a dedicated winger leaves a gap in the attacking setup.
**Hull City – Massive Overhaul** Tim Thornton noted Hull's aggressive recruitment, adding eighteen new players—including six on deadline day—under the guidance of owner Acun Ilicali. The club focused on young, high‑potential talent to build depth and future resale value, while retaining the core that achieved promotion. This blend of experience and youth aims to secure Hull's survival in the Premier League.
**Ipswich Town – Record Investment** James Green reported that Ipswich spent roughly £200 million this window, surpassing the £110 million spent two years earlier. Record signing Julio Enciso, alongside seasoned players like Abdul Fatawu, Emersonn, Exequiel Palacios, Sasa Lukic, Issa Diop and Daizen Maeda, adds quality and depth across the squad. The club now possesses a well‑rounded roster capable of competing at the top level, pending the ability of manager Gary O'Neil to meld the group quickly. **Leeds United – Deadline‑Day Success** Zinny Boswell highlighted Leeds' decisive deadline‑day acquisitions—Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic and James Trafford—alongside earlier signings Nico Elvedi, Michael Zetterer and Melvin Bard to address squad depth.
The wildcard signing Jean‑Matteo Bahoya offers pace and an X‑factor that could prove decisive if he adapts well. **Liverpool – Balanced but Incomplete** Vinny O'Connor gave Liverpool a mixed review, acknowledging the addition of pace on the flanks with Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, and defensive reinforcement through Ronald Araujo.
However, the club still lacks a natural right‑winger to replace Mohamed Salah and could benefit from an extra quality full‑back and a holding midfielder. **Manchester City – Record‑Breaking Spending** Ben Ransom explained that despite losing Rodri to Barcelona, City made a late‑season splash by signing Enzo Fernández for a club‑record fee, creating a potential £300 million midfield partnership with Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi. The funds generated from outgoing players allowed the club to add Iliman Ndiaye and Allan, reinforcing their attacking options.
**Manchester United – Strong Midfield Focus** Danyal Khan awarded United a high score for addressing their midfield needs with Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba. While left‑back depth remains a concern, existing players Mazraoui and Dalot can cover the role.
The retention of key figures like Marcus Rashford adds stability. **Newcastle United – Youthful Investment** Keith Downie described Newcastle's transformation, with £262 million spent on eight signings, including the deadline‑day addition of Matias Fernandez‑Pardo. The club balanced the sale of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon with incoming talent, aiming for a youthful, dynamic squad. **Brighton & Hove Albion – First Window for Oliver Glasner** Anton Toloui gave Brighton a 7.5/10 rating, noting the arrival of a physical No.
9 in Liam Delap, wing‑back Daniel Muñoz, and defensive midfielder Ousmane Diomande. The club missed an opportunity to replace Elliot Anderson with a younger, creative midfielder, but secured a good return from Manchester City.
**Sunderland – Deadline‑Day Drama** Keith Downie recounted Sunderland's frantic final‑day pursuit of winger Malick Fofana, culminating in a high‑profile tug‑of‑war with Crystal Palace. Owner Kyril Louis‑Dreyfus intervened financially to secure the deal, while the club also retained key players like Granit Xhaka and Brian Brobbey.
**Tottenham Hotspur – High Spending, Mixed Returns** Michael Bridge rated Spurs a seven, acknowledging the club's commitment to spending (10/10) but questioning the value of several signings. Notable arrivals include Mateus Fernandes, Jan Paul van Hecke and the attempted acquisition of Cody Gakpo, which ultimately fell to Manchester City. The club also secured Iliman Ndiaye and Richarlison, though the latter publicly criticized the club after his move. Overall, Sky Sports' analysts provided a comprehensive snapshot of each Premier League club's transfer strategies, highlighting where clubs succeeded in strengthening their squads and where they fell short.
The varied approaches—from Arsenal's depth‑focused rebuild to Manchester United's midfield overhaul—set the stage for an intriguing season ahead, with each team's window performance likely to influence their fortunes on the pitch.