Sky Sports' analysts have taken a close look at how each Premier League side performed during the summer transfer window, a period marked by record-breaking expenditures and a flurry of last‑minute deals. Their evaluations combine assessments of player departures, incoming talent, financial balance sheets and the strategic fit of each move within the clubs' broader plans. Gary Cotterill opened his review with Arsenal, awarding them an eight out of ten.
He noted that eight senior players – Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Christian Norgaard, Fabio Viera, loaned youngster Ethan Nwaneri, Jakob Kiwior and Reiss Nelson – have been deemed surplus to requirements. The Gunners have recouped more than £100m in cash and trimmed a significant wage bill, especially by off‑loading the high‑earning Jesus. Cotterill argued that a perfect score would have required a left‑wing replacement for the two attackers sold, perhaps a player of Vinícius Junior or Julián Álvarez’s calibre. While such a signing was a long shot, Arsenal’s ability to stay in the conversation earned them credit, even if fans are disappointed by the lack of a direct replacement.
The club has instead leaned on newcomers like Christos Tzolis, who impressed despite a shaky debut at Villa Park, and versatile options such as Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka to cover the left side. Manager Mikel Arteta also has the flexibility to reshuffle players like Max Dowman to the right flank, and there is speculation that Riccardo Calafiori could be pushed higher up the pitch. Overall, Cotterill praised Arsenal’s depth, noting that injuries aside they now possess quality alternatives across defence and midfield, and highlighted the successful acquisitions of Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa as key targets. Kirsty Edwards turned her attention to Aston Villa, reflecting on the shock of losing six regular starters shortly after clinching the Europa League.
She asked how Unai Emery could rebuild while adhering to the club’s strict financial regulations. The solution, she explained, involved injecting youthful potential – players like Ibrahim Mbaye and Johan Manzambi – alongside seasoned professionals such as Leon Goretzka and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka. Newcomer Nicolas Jackson made a promising debut, and goalkeeper Zion Suzuki also impressed.
Edwards stressed that while the summer signings look promising, the true test will be their performance in a Villa shirt. Mark McAdam praised Bournemouth for a markedly different approach compared with the 2025 window. This summer the focus was on retaining core talent – Rayan, Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott – rather than selling.
The club honoured manager Marco Rose’s request not to be stripped of his squad, even amid interest from larger teams. Competing in Europe forced Bournemouth to juggle UEFA financial rules, prompting them to add quality while cutting costs. Their arrivals included former Juventus No.1 goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, centre‑back Antonio Silva (a bargain after links to bigger clubs), full‑back Juanlu Sanchez and attacking option Alvaro Rodriguez.
Notably, Bournemouth acted early, avoiding a deadline‑day scramble, and their measured, pre‑emptive activity should be remembered as a summer success. Uma Gurav gave Brentford high marks, largely because of their strategic midfield signing of Mamadou Sangare for £39m, which she described as a potential signing of the season. She also highlighted the emergence of El Hadji Malick Diouf at left‑back and the contributions of forwards Jaidon Anthony and Callum Wilson, who provides strong competition for Igor Thiago. Despite losing Jordan Henderson, Brentford retained key attackers Thiago, Kevin Schade and Yehor Yarmoliuk, and secured new contracts for Michael Kayode and Vitaly Janelt.
The only deadline‑day movement was the loan of Jayden Meghoma to Portsmouth, aligning with the club’s policy of giving youngsters game time. Gurav stopped short of a perfect score, noting that there is always room for improvement. Elliot Cook rated Brighton’s window at 7.5/10. The Seagulls invested nearly £170m for nine first‑team players, adding depth especially in defence.
The headline signing was Luka Vuskovic for a club‑record £50m, while young defensive midfielder Chema Andres arrived from Stuttgart on deadline day, helping to fill the void left by Carlos Baleba’s move to Manchester United. Brighton also lost veteran striker Danny Welbeck, hoping loan signing Promise David can compensate.
Liverpool’s Yankuba Minteh chose to stay, a positive for Brighton. Cook expects that once injured players return and the new arrivals gel, manager Fabian Hurzeler will have the tools to compete in both the Premier League and the Conference League. James Savundra examined Chelsea’s overhaul, noting a clear shift toward signing Premier League‑ready talent to complement the club’s young core. Targets such as Jordan Henderson, Emiliano Martínez and Danny Welbeck signalled a departure from previous transfer philosophies.
The arrival of Geovany Quenda and the contract upgrade for João Pedro underscored Chelsea’s commitment to retaining its core while adding immediate impact players. After a disastrous previous season, Xabi Alonso’s appointment and a refreshed recruitment strategy have revitalised the fanbase, highlighted by a thrilling 4‑3 win over Brighton. However, the Enzo Fernández saga lingered as a contentious issue, with a deadline set for 5pm on 15 August that failed to secure the Argentine midfielder. Nonetheless, signings like Martínez, Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix bolstered the starting XI, while the club achieved high valuations for outgoing surplus players such as Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson and Alejandro Garnacho.
The real question remains whether Chelsea can translate their savvy trading into world‑class results on the pitch. Amber Sandhu discussed Coventry City’s ambitious summer, blending experienced Premier League players with promising youngsters. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth returned permanently, while centre‑back Aurele Amenda added athleticism. Midfield saw the arrival of Caleb Yirenkyi, Frank Onyeka and Gustavo Hamer, providing a mix of experience and creativity.
Up front, Taiwo Awoniyi offers a proven Premier League goal threat, complemented by pace‑rich options Loum Tchaouna and Sidiki Cherif. Sandhu acknowledged early scoring concerns but concluded that the squad is markedly stronger and deeper than the promotion‑winning side of the previous season, marking a bold yet measured approach.
Chris Reidy focused on Crystal Palace, lamenting the loss of Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz but praising the retention of Adam Wharton, Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr. Mateta, after a failed transfer to AC Milan, now provides stability, while Sarr’s performances will dictate the wisdom of Palace’s decision to keep him. The club’s sensible signings – Axel Disasi, Dwight McNeil, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu – add quality without being sensational. Emerging talents like Dario Osorio and Anan Khalaili could become future stars.
Reidy concluded that Palace’s depth has improved, positioning them well for another season that includes European competition. Vinny O'Connor critiqued Everton’s chaotic window, highlighting the premature sale of Beto to Fiorentina before securing Folarin Balogun, and the aborted swap for Joshua Zirkzee.
The club also sold Iliman Ndiaye for £65m, a figure that, while substantial, did not appease supporters. Additional missed deals for Kenny Tete and other targets added to the sense of disorder. Despite bringing in several new faces – Ainsley Maitland‑Niles, Jack Grealish, Hayden Hackney and others – O'Connor argued that the lack of a proven striker and right‑back leaves Everton ill‑equipped for a European challenge. James Cole evaluated Fulham, noting that manager Alvaro Arbeloa’s high‑pressing system will need time to settle.
The arrival of striker Gonzalo García from Real Madrid, who has already netted twice in three games, addresses a key need. Midfield depth has been bolstered by Real Madrid academy graduates Cesar Palacios and Manuel Angel, alongside Shea Charles and Hugo Larsson. Defensive concerns remain, particularly after exposing vulnerabilities in recent matches, but the signing of Austrian centre‑back David Affengruber could suit Arbeloa’s demanding defensive style. The lack of a dedicated winger, despite losing Harry Wilson and Samuel Chukwueze, raised eyebrows, yet the overall squad appears built to match the manager’s vision.
Tim Thornton highlighted Hull City’s aggressive recruitment, with eighteen new players, six arriving on deadline day, driven by owner Acun Ilicali’s ambition. The club focused on youthful talent capable of development, accepting the inherent risk for potential high reward.
While the starting XI has been upgraded, the core that secured promotion remains, preserving the team spirit essential for Premier League survival. James Green described Ipswich Town’s massive £200m outlay, surpassing the £110m spent two years earlier. The club added experience, physicality and Premier League know‑how through signings such as record‑breaking Julio Enciso, Abdul Fatawu, Emersonn, Exequiel Palacios, Sasa Lukic, Issa Diop, Florentino Luis and Daizen Maeda. Depth across the squad has improved dramatically, giving manager Gary O'Neil a broader pool to shape a competitive side.
Zinny Boswell praised Leeds United’s strategic deadline‑day acquisitions, noting that earlier signings – Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemovic and James Trafford – upgraded three key positions. Additional depth came from Nico Elvedi, Michael Zetterer and Melvin Bard, while winger Jean‑Matteo Bahoya offers a potential X‑factor. Boswell concluded that Leeds have assembled a squad capable of consolidating their Premier League status. Vinny O'Connor returned to discuss Liverpool, acknowledging that the club addressed wide‑area pace with Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, while retaining Cody Gakpo.
Defensive reinforcement came via Ronald Araujo, who can cover centre‑back and right‑back, complementing Jeremy Jacquet. However, O'Connor noted the absence of a natural right‑winger to replace Mohamed Salah and suggested that an additional quality full‑back and a holding midfielder would have strengthened the squad further. Nonetheless, the average age of signings remains around 22, and the club secured two 18‑year‑olds for future development.
Ben Ransom examined Manchester City, conceding that losing Rodri to Barcelona was a blow, yet the club responded with high‑profile deadline‑day signings, most notably Enzo Fernández, breaking the club’s transfer record for a second time. The new midfield, potentially featuring Fernández, Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi, could become one of Europe’s most formidable. Funds recouped from the sale of several players allowed City to add Iliman Ndiaye and Allan, completing a squad that Enzo Maresca believes is ready to challenge for the title. Danyal Khan gave Manchester United a relatively high rating, focusing on their successful midfield rebuild.
Spending around £155m, United secured Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba, providing balance alongside Kobbie Mainoo. While left‑back depth remains an issue, existing players such as Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot can cover the role.
The retention of key figures like Marcus Rashford limits the ability to strengthen elsewhere, but his continued form could effectively serve as a new signing. Keith Downie reviewed Newcastle United’s transformation, highlighting eight signings with Matias Fernandez‑Pardo arriving on deadline day.
Significant investments included £262m spent and £245m recouped from the sales of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon. The club added youthful talent while retaining a strong core, and early performances from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa suggest the new arrivals are already integrating well. Anton Toloui rated Wolfsburg’s window at 7.5/10 under new manager Oliver Glasner.
The club secured a physical striker in Liam Delap, a wing‑back in Daniel Muñoz, and added Ousmane Diomande and Xaver Schlager. The only shortfall was the failure to replace Elliot Anderson with a dynamic midfielder, though the club earned a good profit from Manchester City.
Keith Downie also covered Sunderland, noting a last‑minute deadline‑day acquisition of winger Malick Fofana after a protracted tug‑of‑war with Crystal Palace. Owner Kyril Louis‑Dreyfus’s intervention secured the deal, and Fofana is expected to start. The club also retained key players such as Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey and Noah Sadiki.
Michael Bridge gave Tottenham a mixed review, awarding a 10/10 for spending commitment but a lower overall score due to questionable individual signings. Under Roberto De Zerbi, Spurs made headline moves including Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke, while also targeting forwards like Savio and Omar Marmoush.
The club’s pursuit of Cody Gakpo fell short, and subsequent dealings for Iliman Ndiaye and Richarlison generated controversy. Nonetheless, De Zerbi’s ability to attract talent like Mykhailo Mudryk, despite the risk of limited recent play, suggests a willingness to back ambitious projects. Overall, Sky Sports’ panel provided a nuanced picture of each club’s transfer strategy, weighing financial prudence against squad improvement, and setting the stage for what promises to be an intriguing Premier League season.