We have just witnessed one of the most chaotic summer transfer markets in the history of the Premier League, and with the deadline now passed, it is time to evaluate and grade how each team performed during this historic trading period.
The outcomes are highly varied; while numerous clubs broke the bank to reinforce their squads, several others appear to have emerged from the window with diminished rosters.
Here is our comprehensive grading for every single Premier League club, assessing their arrivals, departures, and overall transfer strategy.
Arsenal: B+
Truth be told, the Gunners did not require a massive squad overhaul this term. Securing Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa to bolster the middle of the pitch and the backline was brilliant recruitment, while landing Christos Tzolis appears to be highly cost-effective. Although acquiring an extra striker would have been ideal, it remains a highly successful window. The titleholders successfully trimmed their squad by parting with fringe figures—most prominently Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli—which clears the path for academy prospects like Max Dowman to get their chance.
Aston Villa: C-
Villa executed an unprecedented squad teardown and reconstruction this summer. Unai Emery and the club’s hierarchy have surely worked tirelessly and must now hope their gamble pays off. High-profile figures including Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Martinez, Ezri Konsa, Youri Tielemans, Lucas Digne, and Morgan Rogers departed, netting the club significant financial returns. While this drastically lowered the squad’s average age, such an approach carries inherent dangers. Incoming players like Ibrahim Mbaye, Nicolas Jackson, Taylor Harwood-Bellis, and Zion Suzuki possess undeniable talent, and Leon Goretzka brings vital veteran leadership, yet the sheer volume of departures feels excessive. Whether this transition succeeds remains to be seen, but Emery has a proven track record of elevating his players’ performance levels.
Bournemouth: C-
It was a somewhat perplexing trading period for the Cherries, who must navigate European competition in the Europa League this term despite failing to noticeably upgrade their roster. On the bright side, they successfully retained promising prospects Alex Scott, Junior Kroupi, and Rayan. Aside from that achievement, newly appointed boss Marco Rose could find himself working with an alarmingly shallow squad.
Brentford: C+
The Bees continue to demonstrate incredibly pragmatic operations. Mamadou Sangare appears poised to become an elite midfield presence, proving the club’s analytical scouting system is still top-tier. Additionally, Brentford managed to pare down their numbers while securing high-quality upgrades on the flanks, where Malick Diouf and Jaidon Anthony match their tactical setup flawlessly. Practical, intelligent moves all around.
Brighton: B-
The Seagulls underwent yet another major transition, though they may have allowed one too many seasoned veterans to move on this time. Saying goodbye to Danny Welbeck, Joel Veltman, Jan Paul van Hecke, and Carlos Baleba all at once is a massive gamble, but their recruitment department deserves the benefit of the doubt. They seem to have discovered more high-potential talent in Luka Vuskovic, who arrived for a hefty fee under high expectations, and Malick Yalcouye, who is primed to shine after spending previous seasons out on loan.
Chelsea: A-
While parting ways with Enzo Fernandez in the final hours was a setback, Xabi Alonso responded swiftly by targeting Lamine Camara as a replacement, which changes the outlook completely. Alonso wrapped up deals for Morgan Rogers and Maxence Lacroix early on before sealing a late move for Emiliano Martinez, leaving the Blues with a formidable depth chart. Camara’s potential arrival in the engine room would greatly alleviate the defensive burden on Moises Caicedo. Free from the distraction of continental fixtures, Chelsea look capable of mounting a serious dark-horse run at the league title.
Coventry City: D
Had they not suffered a weekend defeat to Hull City, their window might be rated as passable, but the mood around Frank Lampard’s squad is rapidly souring. Although they welcomed numerous newcomers, none of their signings feel like a marquee addition. While Taiwo Awoniyi and Sidiki Cherif should provide some goals in the attacking third, Coventry appear headed toward a difficult relegation battle.
Crystal Palace: D-
This proved to be a highly disappointing market for incoming boss Pierre Sage, particularly given the demands that Europa League football will place on his players. The departure of Daniel Muñoz represents a significant setback, though retaining Adam Wharton stands out as a rare positive. Up front, questions remain around Jean-Philippe Mateta, who is still with the club but appears deeply unsettled. Ultimately, this was a highly deficient window.
Everton: B
Securing Folarin Balogun’s signature in the end provides a massive lift. Bringing Jack Grealish back on a temporary basis represents another stellar piece of business, complemented by the dependable Hayden Hackney and the versatility of Ainsley Maitland-Niles. Nonetheless, parting with Iliman Ndiaye is a devastating loss, given he was their standout performer over the past two campaigns. On balance, David Moyes should be pleased with a roster that looks more capable now than it did in June. A respectable outcome.
Fulham: D
Alvaro Arbeloa tapped into his past connections with Real Madrid’s academy to bring in creative assets Gonzalo Garcia and Cesar Palacios, while young midfielder Shea Charles holds immense promise. Though a handful of late signings offered a minor boost, the general impression is that the Cottagers have regressed while their immediate competitors successfully improved. There are genuine reasons for concern at Craven Cottage.
Hull City: B+
All in all, this represents fantastic business for a club that unexpectedly found themselves in the top tier and has already secured back-to-back wins. Nobel Mendy and Konstantinos Tzolakis represent strong acquisitions in central defense and between the posts, while Mohamed-Ali Cho alongside Ilyas Ansah inject genuine class and utility into the forward line. The Tigers needed to heavily replenish their squad, and they executed that plan perfectly.
Ipswich Town: B+
This situation closely mirrors Hull’s success. As another newly promoted outfit, they navigated the market exceptionally well, aiming to emulate the blueprint Sunderland used so effectively last year. Despite facing an uphill task early on due to Gary O’Neil’s late managerial appointment, the Tractor Boys recovered sensationally. The combination of Julio Enciso, Abdul Fatawu, Daizen Maeda, and Emersonn forms an incredibly dynamic frontline, while bringing in Argentine international Exequiel Palacios to run the midfield is a spectacular piece of business.
Leeds: B
Daniel Farke enjoyed a highly productive window, successfully streamlining his squad while securing high-caliber additions like Harry Wilson, James Trafford, Nico Elvedi, and Tarik Muharemovic. With a strong foundation already in place, Leeds avoided unnecessary overhaul and focused on targeted, effective moves. The sole area of concern remains whether they have sufficient support and depth behind Dominic Calvert-Lewin in the striker role.
Liverpool: B-
It was a rather unconventional transfer period on Merseyside. Although negotiations dragged on for months before they ultimately splashed out a massive fee for Bradley Barcola, landing him is a major coup given his world-class ability. Nevertheless, incoming manager Andoni Iraola may harbor some anxiety regarding the depth of his midfield and defensive units. On the positive side, Barcola and Victor Munoz provide terrifying options going forward, while Jeremy Jacquet represents an exciting prospect at center-half, flanked by the seasoned coverage of Ronald Araujo.
Manchester City: B+
Faced with the departures of veteran leaders Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Nathan Ake, and John Stones, City spent aggressively to support incoming coach Enzo Maresca, completely restructuring their midfield. A staggering outlay of over $430 million brought in Elliot Anderson, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and a deadline-day blockbuster in Enzo Fernandez, while the additions of Iliman Ndiaye and Allan inject fresh inventiveness on the wings. Ultimately, this high-turnover window ushers in a fresh chapter with an incredibly deep squad, financed in part by lucrative sales of surplus players.
Manchester United: C+
Focusing heavily on central midfield, the club brought in Carlos Baleba, Youri Tielemans, and Andrey Santos. Whether this truly elevates their overall quality is open to debate, particularly since defensive reinforcements seemed equally critical. With Michael Carrick also preparing his squad for the physical and mental demands of Champions League football, the roster looks somewhat understaffed for the challenges ahead.
Newcastle United: B
This was a period of monumental transition for the Magpies, yet the initial outlook under Matthias Jaissle appear promising. Losing Bruno Guimaraes, Anthony Gordon, and Sandro Tonali was painful, but the club extracted premium transfer fees for them. They reinvested wisely across the pitch, leaving the squad in an arguably stronger position with proven talents like Lukas Hornicek, Amar Dedic, and Nico Gonzalez ready to contribute immediately, alongside a highly touted $70 million future prospect in Matias Fernandez-Pardo. Despite a rocky beginning, they managed to salvage a very successful window.
Nottingham Forest: C+
In a shocking departure from their usual chaotic style, Forest enjoyed a remarkably quiet window. In truth, they entered the summer with an bloated squad, and Oliver Glasner did an excellent job of pruning the numbers while raising the overall quality with Daniel Munoz, Ousmane Diomande, Xaver Schlager, and Liam Delap. While parting with Elliot Anderson was disappointing, the incoming funds were reinvested intelligently to leave the squad looking well-balanced.
Sunderland: C+
It appeared for a while that they would fall short of the numbers needed to handle the exhausting schedule of the Europa League, but a series of late agreements elevated their rating. Securing Kevin Danso offers a highly reliable presence in central defense. Furthermore, the wide pairing of Malick Fofana and Dodi Lukebakio represent exceptionally gifted players who will inject much-needed inventiveness and clinical play in the final third once completed.
Tottenham Hotspur: B
Spurs engaged in an incredibly active trading period, though it will take time for the squad to adapt to Roberto De Zerbi’s philosophy. On balance, they have upgraded their overall quality compared to early June. The acquisitions of Sandro Tonali, Jan Paul van Hecke, Savio, Omar Marmoush, Andy Robertson, and Marcos Senesi represent excellent business on paper. However, there was a hint of desperation in their late-window activity after failing to trim the squad as thoroughly as planned, and the exit fees secured for Cristian Romero and Djed Spence seemed surprisingly low. Regardless, a drastic restructuring was required, and the responsibility now rests with De Zerbi to mold this group into serious European contenders.
