As the transfer window finally draws to an end, we look at which clubs have won and lost as the new Premier League season is underway.
Arsenal
Best Signing: Gabriel (from Lille, £23.4m) – young centre-back with great potential and made an impressive debut vs Fulham.
Worst Signing: None – all signings have a specific fit in Arteta’s squad.
Will Miss: Emiliano Martinez (to Aston Villa, £17m) – good money for the Argentine, but provided solid cover and competition to Leno.
Should’ve Got Rid of: David Luiz. How he got a new contract is anyone’s guess.
Overall Review: A good window for Arteta’s side, particularly focusing on the backline with a view to a solid defence being key if the Gunners are to be a top four side again. Willian is also a great signing. 8/10
In: Pablo Mari (from Flamengo, £7.2m); Cedric (from So’ton, free); Willian (from Chelsea, free); Gabriel (from Lille, £23.4m); Rúnar Rúnarsson (from Dijon, £1.8m); Thomas Partey (from Atletico Madrid, £45m); Dani Ceballos (from Real Madrid, loan).
Out: Henrikh Mkhitaryan (to Roma, free); Emiliano Martinez (to Aston Villa, £17m); Konstantinos Mavropanos (to Stuttgart, loan); Matteo Guendouzi (to Hertha Berlin, loan); Lucas Torreira (to Atletico Madrid, loan).
Aston Villa
Best Signing: Ollie Watkins (from Brentford, £28m) – a brilliant striker who was destined for the Premier League after a great season with the Bees, and Villa need goals from somewhere this season.
Worst Signing: None – Villa have invested well in this window to plug specific gaps in their squad.
Will Miss: James Chester (to Stoke, free) – a solid centre-back who, despite being in his early 30s, was still capable of providing strength in depth for Villa.
Should’ve Got Rid of: A goalkeeper – their squad has five first team ‘keepers, unnecessarily costing the club wages.
Overall Review: Big spenders again, but it didn’t pay off last year – staying up by the skin of their teeth won’t cut it for Villa this year with these really good signings. Barkley is a real coup, as are Watkins and Traore. As long as they gel, this will have been a great window for Villa. 9/10
In: Ben Chrisene (from Exeter, £0.4m); Matty Cash (from Nott’m Forest, £14m); Ollie Watkins (from Brentford, £28m); Emiliano Martinez (from Arsenal, £17m); Betrand Traore (from Lyon, £17m); Ross Barkley (from Chelsea, loan).
Out: Borja Baston (to Leganes, free), James Chester (to Stoke, free); Rushian Hepburn-Murphy (to Pafos, free); Callum O’Hare (to Coventry City, free); Matija Sarkic (to Wolves, free); Jamie Searle (to Swansea, free); James Bree (to Luton, undisclosed); Scott Hogan (to Birmingham City, undisclosed); Jota (to Alaves, free); Indiana Vassilev (to Burton, loan); Mbwana Samatta (to Fenerbache, loan).
Brighton
Best Signing: Joel Veltman (from Ajax, £0.9m) – a very experienced defender with international experience, Veltman should help to stop the leaky defence at the Amex.
Worst Signing: Adam Lallana (from Liverpool, free) – Lallana’s signing may well have been exciting for Brighton but the injury-prone midfielder may end up being a bigger cost than any benefits he might have provided to the Seagulls.
Will Miss: Anthony Knockaert (to Fulham, £15m) – a regular first-teamer for Brighton with an eye for goal, if their new signings don’t do incredibly well to fill the void.
Should’ve Got Rid of: Steven Alzate – a youngster with good potential to be a top Championship player. Brighton could’ve made good money, and instead he’ll continue playing in the U23s.
Overall Review: Brighton haven’t done incredibly well in the market. They could’ve done with a midfielder like an injury-free Adam Lallana to come in. However, they have started the season well and may well go on to have a good campaign if they remain injury-free, especially with in-form Neal Maupay likely to be a key man in the team. 4/10
In: Andi Zeqiri (from Lausanne, undisclosed); Joel Veltman (from Ajax, £0.9m); Adam Lallana (from Liverpool, free); Jensen Weir (from Wigan, £0.5m).
Out: Archie Davies (to Crawley, free); Lewis Freestone (to Cheltenham, free); Kacper Lopata (to Sheffield Utd, free); George Cox (to Fortuna Sittard, £45k); Anthony Knockaert (to Fulham, £15m); Martin Montoya (to Real Betis, undisclosed); Aaron Mooy (to Shanghai SIPG, £4m); David Button (to WBA, £0.5m); Dale Stephens (to Burnley, undisclosed), Matt Clarke (to Derby County, loan); Glenn Murray (to Watford, loan); Shane Duffy (to Celtic, loan).
Burnley
Best Signing: Dale Stephens (from Brighton, undisclosed) – a midfielder who made over 200 appearances for the Seagulls, and will be a great addition to the Burnley squad going forward.
Worst Signing: Will Norris (from Wolves, undisclosed) – a benchwarming goalkeeper – Burnley have only made two major first team signings so Norris is the worst by default, given he won’t make many starts for the Clarets.
Will Miss: Jeff Hendrick (to Newcastle, free) – Hendrick is a hugely experienced midfielder who really helped Burnley to be successful last season but after four years, his departure leaves a hole filled by Stephens.
Should’ve Got Rid of: Phil Bardsley – another defender who is past his prime but could still do a job in the lower leagues and could’ve made Burnley a little bit of cash.
Overall review: Burnley always manage to do the bare minimum in a transfer window and this time is no different. Fans can expect more of the same this year. 2/10.
In: Will Norris (from Wolves, undisclosed); Dale Stephens (from Brighton, undisclosed), Anthony Mancini (from Angers, loan).
Out: Ben Gibson (to Norwich, loan); Joe Hart (to Tottenham Hotspur, free); Jeff Hendrick (to Newcastle Utd, free); Aaron Lennon (to Kayserispor, free); Aiden O’Neill (to Melbourne City, free).
Chelsea
Best Signing: Timo Werner (from RB Leipzig, £47.7m) – a proven goalscorer for club and country with a bright future ahead of him, and a bargain for the Blues when you think of some of their other signings over the years. Yet to show his worth, but it is early days.
Worst Signing: Edouard Mendy (from Rennes, £21m) – whilst Mendy is a good goalkeeper, he is only my choice for worst signing because the Blues failed to get rid of Kepa. With nearly £100m of goalkeeping talent, how will Lampard keep both players happy whilst giving Arrizabalaga the confidence boost he so desperately needs?
Will Miss: Willian (to Arsenal, free) – I still feel Willian could do a good job for the Blues, at least from the bench. His Arsenal debut summed it up as the Gunners’ new asset grabbed several assists.
Should’ve Got Rid of: Kepa Arrizabalaga – I think this is a unanimous decision; the Blues needed to at least send Kepa on loan to build his confidence up to the £70m+ keeper the Blues bought.
Overall review: An exceptional window for the Blues, with the addition of Mendy plugging issues across all fields. If these players can prove themselves, Chelsea can expect to be a lot closer to Liverpool and Manchester City this season and can expect to fight for silverware. I still think a world-class centre back was needed – Thiago Silva is no spring chicken, but someone of his quality. 9/10.
In: Hakim Ziyech (from Ajax, £36m); Timo Werner (from RB Leipzig, £47.7m); Xavier Mbuyamba (from Barcelona, free); Ben Chilwell (from Leicester, £45.18m); Thiago Silva (from PSG, free); Kai Havertz (from Bayer Leverkusen, £72m); Edouard Mendy (from Rennes, £21.6m).
Out: Alvaro Morata (to Atletico Madrid, £50.4m); Nathan (to Atletico Miniero, £2.7m); Jacob Maddox (to Vitoria de Guimares, undisclosed); Willian (to Arsenal, free); Mario Pasalic (to Atalanta, £13.5m); Pedro (to Roma, free); Lucas Piazon (to Rio Ave, loan); Danilo Pantic (to Cukaricki, loan); Jamie Cumming (to Stevenage, loan); Trevoh Chalobah (to Lorient, loan); Ike Ugbo (to Brugge, loan); Izzy Brown (to Sheff. Weds, loan); Armando Broja (to Vitesse, loan); Jamal Blackman (to Rotherham Utd., loan); Marc Guehi (to Swansea City, loan); Teddy Sharman-Lowe (to Burton, loan); Ethan Ampadu (to Sheff. Utd, loan); Kenedy (to Granada, loan); Michy Batshuayi (to Crystal Palace, loan); Conor Gallagher (to West Brom, loan); Lewis Baker (to Trabzonspor, loan); Davide Zappacosta (to Genoa, loan); Ross Barkley (to Aston Villa, loan); Matt Miazga (to Anderlecht, loan); Tiemoue Bakayoko (to Napoli, loan); Ruben Loftus-Cheek (to Fulham, loan); Marco van Ginkel (to PSV, loan).
Look out for coming articles which continue our review of the window!
