Sky Sports' team of analysts have taken a deep dive into the summer transfer activity of each Premier League side, assigning scores and offering detailed commentary on how each club fared amid record‑breaking spending, last‑minute deals and a flurry of departures. The following overview captures the essence of each reporter’s assessment while expanding on the context, strategic implications and potential impact on the upcoming season. **Arsenal – 8/10 (Gary Cotterill)** Arsenal’s window saw eight senior players leave 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 exits were deemed surplus to requirements, and the club saved well over £100 million in wages, particularly by off‑loading Jesus’s hefty contract. While the Gunners failed to secure a high‑profile left‑winger – a role left vacant after the sales of Jesus and Trossard – Cotterill noted that the arrival of Christos Tzolis, despite a shaky debut at Villa Park, has been promising, and fans have already taken a liking to him.
Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka also provide cover on the left flank, offering Arteta flexibility to reshuffle the front line. The lack of a new striker was offset by the retention of key targets Bruno Guimarães and Ezri Konsa, both of whom arrived earlier in the window.
Overall, Cotterill praised the depth Arsenal now enjoys across defence and midfield, suggesting the squad can rotate without a significant dip in quality. **Aston Villa – Optimistic Outlook (Kirsty Edwards)** Villa’s summer was a rebuilding exercise after a surprise Europa League triumph. Unai Emery faced the challenge of replacing six core starters – Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martínez, Lucas Digne and Ezri Konsa – while adhering to strict Financial Fair Play rules.
The solution was a blend of youthful promise and seasoned experience: Ibrahim Mbaye, Johan Manzambi, Leon Goretzka and Aaron Wan‑Bissaka joined the roster, while Nicolas Jackson impressed on debut. Goalkeeper Zion Suzuki also made a solid first appearance. Edwards highlighted the club’s balanced books and the need for these newcomers to prove themselves in a Villa shirt before the summer optimism can be fully realised.
**Bournemouth – A Model of Stability (Mark McAdam)** Unlike the 2025 exodus, Bournemouth’s 2024‑25 window focused on retention. Rayan Cherki, Eli Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott all stayed, signalling Marco Rose’s commitment to building around a core group. The Cherries also added Juventus’s former No 1 goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio, centre‑back Antonio Silva (a bargain acquisition), full‑back Juanlu Sánchez and attacker Álvaro Rodríguez.
Their early and decisive activity meant they avoided the frantic last‑minute rush that often plagues clubs on Deadline Day. McAdam believes Rose will be judged on how this solid foundation translates into performances on the pitch. **Brentford – Near‑Perfect Business (Uma Gurav)** Brentford’s primary objective was to secure a reliable midfield anchor, a task they accomplished with the £39 million signing of Mamadou Sangaré, whom Gurav dubs a potential signing‑of‑the‑season. The Bees also bolstered the left‑back position with El Hadji Malick Diouf, added depth at striker with Jaidon Anthony, and retained key attackers Thiago, Kevin Schade and Yehor Yarmoliuk.
The only notable out‑goings were Jordan Henderson’s departure and a loan of Jayden Meghoma to Portsmouth. While Gurav stops short of a perfect 10, she notes that Brentford’s ability to keep core talent while adding quality makes their window one of the most effective.
**Brighton – Ambitious Yet Unsettled (Elliot Cook)** Brighton’s activity was unusually high, with nine first‑team signings costing close to £170 million. The marquee deal was Luka Vuskovic for a club‑record £50 million, while the late‑deadline arrival of defensive midfielder Chema Andrés from Stuttgart aimed to fill the void left by Carlos Baleba’s move to Manchester United.
The Seagulls also lost veteran striker Danny Welbeck, hoping loan signing Promise David can compensate. Cook points out that the retention of Yankuba Minteh and the integration of new faces will be crucial as Brighton tackles both the Premier League and the Conference League.
**Chelsea – A Strategic Shift (James Savundra)** Chelsea’s window marked a clear change in philosophy under Xabi Alonso, focusing on Premier League‑ready talent to complement the club’s youthful core. High‑profile pursuits such as Jordan Henderson, Emiliano Martínez and Danny Welbeck signalled ambition, while signings like Geovany Quenda and the contract upgrade for João Pedro underscored a desire to retain key assets. Savundra acknowledges the controversy surrounding the Enzo Fernández saga but notes that the club still secured impactful arrivals in Martínez, Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix. The overall sentiment is that Chelsea have once again become adept traders, with the upcoming season set to test whether this translates into on‑field success.
**Coventry – Bold for a Promoted Side (Amber Sandhu)** Coventry’s summer was characterized by a mix of experienced Premier League players and promising youngsters. Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth returned permanently, centre‑back Aurele Amenda added athleticism, and midfield signings Caleb Yirenkyi, Frank Onyeka and Gustavo Hamer bolstered creativity. Up front, Taiwo Awoniyi provides a proven goal‑scoring threat, supported by the pace of Loum Tchaouna and Sidiki Cherif. Sandhu notes that while the attack still needs to find consistency, the squad’s depth far exceeds that of the promotion‑winning side, representing a confident statement of intent.
**Crystal Palace – Managing Losses (Chris Reidy)** Palace suffered the departures of Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz, two of their best performers. However, retaining Adam Wharton, Jean‑Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr was viewed as a significant win. Reidy highlights that Mateta, after a failed transfer to AC Milan, will need to lead the line, while Sarr’s form will dictate the success of the club’s strategy. New arrivals such as Axel Disasi, Dwight McNeil, Ben Chilwell and Takehiro Tomiyasu provide solid Premier League experience, and promising talents like Dario Osorio and Anan Khalaili could develop into future stars.
**Everton – Turbulent End‑Game (Vinny O'Connor)** Everton’s window was marked by chaos, with the club losing several key players and scrambling to replace them. The sale of Iliman Ndiaye for £65 million, after an aborted £60 million move to Tottenham, and the failure to secure a replacement striker left the front line thin.
While the club added several newcomers—including Ainsley Maitland‑Niles, Jack Grealish and Hayden Hackney—the lack of a proven centre‑forward and a reliable right‑back raises concerns about their competitiveness. O'Connor stresses that managerial constraints and a lack of strategic planning have left Everton in a precarious position. **Fulham – Building Around a New Philosophy (James Cole)** Under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa, Fulham adopted a high‑pressing, high‑tempo style. Their marquee signing was striker Gonzalo García from Real Madrid, who has already opened his account with two goals in three games.
The midfield was reinforced with Real Madrid academy graduates César Palacios and Manuel Ángel, plus Shea Charles and Hugo Larsson, providing a blend of energy and technical skill. Defensively, the club faced challenges as their back line was asked to play higher, prompting the Deadline Day acquisition of Austria international David Affengruber, whose profile fits Arbeloa’s system.
Despite losing wingers Harry Wilson and Samuel Chukwueze, Fulham’s summer signings align closely with the manager’s tactical vision. **Hull City – Massive Overhaul (Tim Thornton)** Hull embarked on an ambitious recruitment drive, bringing in 18 new players, six of them on Deadline Day, under the guidance of owner Acun Ilicali. The focus was on injecting pace, athleticism and quality, while retaining the core that secured promotion. Thornton notes the club’s strategy of targeting young talent with high upside, acknowledging the inherent risk but also the potential for substantial reward if these players develop as hoped.
**Ipswich Town – Record Investment (James Green)** Ipswich’s summer spending skyrocketed to around £200 million, a significant increase from the £110 million spent two years prior. The club signed record‑breaking forward Julio Enciso, alongside experienced Premier League players such as Abdul Fatawu, Emerson N, Exequiel Palacios, Sasa Lukic, Issa Diop and Florentino Luis.
The addition of Daizen Maeda adds proven pace and goal‑scoring pedigree. Green emphasizes the depth now available across the squad, suggesting that manager Gary O'Neil has the tools to compete and potentially secure the club’s top‑flight status. **Leeds United – Early Summer Success (Zinny Boswell)** Leeds focused on strengthening three key positions early in the window, signing Harry Wilson, Tarik Muharemović and goalkeeper James Trafford. The club also addressed depth concerns by adding Nico Elvedi, Michael Zetterer and Melvin Bard, while the wild‑card signing of winger Jean‑Matteo Bahoya could provide an X‑factor if he lives up to his potential.
Boswell believes the squad is now well‑equipped to consolidate its Premier League status. **Liverpool – Balanced Yet Incomplete (Vinny O'Connor)** Liverpool addressed several priorities, adding pace on the wings with Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, while retaining Cody Gakpo and securing young prospects Rio Ngumoha and two 18‑year‑olds, Lucca Brughmans and Djylian N'Guessan. Defensively, Ronald Araujo offers versatility across centre‑back and right‑back, complementing Jeremy Jacquet. However, the club still lacks a natural right‑winger to replace Mohamed Salah, and a dedicated holding midfielder could have further strengthened the squad.
Overall, O'Connor rates the window positively but notes room for improvement. **Manchester City – High‑Profile Midfield Investment (Ben Ransom)** City’s most notable acquisition was Enzo Fernández, a record‑breaking signing on Deadline Day that completes a £300 million midfield core alongside Elliot Anderson and Ayyoub Bouaddi. The club also recouped funds from the sales of Savio, Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, Tijjani Reijnders, Nathan Ake and James Trafford, allowing them to add Iliman Ndiaye and Allan to the attack. Ransom believes the squad is now in better shape than at the start of the previous season and is poised for a title challenge.
**Manchester United – Strong Midfield Reshape (Danyal Khan)** United’s summer priority was midfield reinforcement, achieved with the signings of Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans and Carlos Baleba, spending roughly £155 million. While the club missed out on a dedicated left‑back, existing players Mazraoui and Dalot can cover the position.
Khan notes that the retention of key figures such as Marcus Rashford, who remains a potent attacking option, adds stability despite limited activity elsewhere. **Newcastle United – Youthful Investment (Keith Downie)** Newcastle spent £262 million while generating £245 million from the sales of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Anthony Gordon. The arrivals of Matías Fernández‑Pardo, Lukas Horníček, Amar Dedić and Nico Gonzalez form the backbone of the first team, with additional young prospects offering future upside.
Downie highlights the club’s turnaround from a potentially disastrous window to a more promising outlook, aided by early‑season performances from Anthony Elanga and Yoane Wissa. **Brighton & Hove Albion – Solid First Window (Anton Toloui)** New manager Oliver Glasner secured a physical striker in Liam Delap and a starting‑calibre wing‑back in Daniel Muñoz, while also bringing in Ousmane Diomande and re‑uniting with Xaver Schlager.
The main shortfall was the lack of a youthful, dynamic replacement for Elliot Anderson in midfield, though the club recouped a substantial fee from Manchester City. **Sunderland – Deadline‑Day Drama (Keith Downie)** Sunderland’s final‑hour acquisition of winger Malick Fofana, after a tense tussle with Crystal Palace, demonstrated the club’s willingness to invest heavily to secure targets. The team also retained key players such as Granit Xhaka, Brian Brobbey and Noah Sadiki, while adding Dayann Methalie to the squad. **Tottenham Hotspur – High Spending, Mixed Returns (Michael Bridge)** Tottenham fulfilled its promise to spend heavily, with notable signings including Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Under Roberto De Zerbi, the club addressed defensive and midfield needs, while the forward line saw the arrival of Savio Ribeiro and Omar Marmoush. Bridge points out that despite the ambitious spending, some purchases may have been overpriced, and the overall impact remains to be seen as the season unfolds.
In summary, the Sky Sports panel provided a nuanced picture of each club’s transfer strategy, balancing financial realities with sporting ambition. While some clubs like Arsenal and Brentford earned high marks for depth and smart acquisitions, others such as Everton and Liverpool displayed a mix of successes and lingering gaps that will shape their campaigns in the months ahead.