The transfer window podium: Which Premier League clubs claim gold, silver and bronze
Florian Wirtz in action for Liverpool. Pic: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
There was ever only going to be one winner for this accolade. The breakdown in Marc Guehi’s move to Anfield may have been a blow for Liverpool, but the Reds have built on their Premier League title triumph, and then some.
Jeremie Frimpong and Milos Kerkez are impressive captures at right and left-back, respectively, while Giorgi Mamardashvili provides top-level competition for Alisson between the sticks.
Giovanni Leoni is one for the future, the Italian teenager making the move to England from Serie A side Parma.
Further forward, Liverpool have bolstered a frontline that scored more goals (86) than any other team in the Premier League last season, with Florian Wirtz one of three big money additions in the final third.
The former Bayer Leverkusen man has made a stuttering start to life in the Premier League but that is to be expected as he maintains his transition from the Bundesliga to England’s top tier.
The German would nominally be the marquee addition, yet when you join a side that added both Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak to the attack, all the while shipping out Darwin Nunez, then Wirtz’s arrival has been overshadowed somewhat.
Ekitike has already endeared himself to fans having scored twice and provided one assist in his opening three league outings, and it’s scary to think that, at 23 years of age, he’ll only improve.
Furthermore, the Reds now have both of last season’s top scorers on the books in Mohamed Salah (29) and Isak (23) and while the latter is yet to register any first team minutes in the Premier League this season, the Swede will surely thrive in such an attacking Liverpool side.
The failure to land Guehi shouldn’t take the gloss off what has been a window for the ages for Arne Slot’s side.
Liverpool aren’t the only title contender to have strengthened considerably over the summer.
In sporting director Andrea Barta’s first window in north London, the former Atletico transfer supremo has already trumped Edu’s best for Arsenal, notably in bringing in an out-and-out striker in the form of Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyokeres has looked a little off the pace in his opening outings in an Arsenal shirt but he’s a player who smashed in 39 league goals for Sporting last season. The Swede will soon find his rhythm in the capital, especially with the calibre of personnel in support.
Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze have both been added to the ranks to provodee elite-level cover and competition in the wide spots, the former an able deputy for Bukayo Saka while the latter returned to the Emirates from under the nose of rivals Tottenham.
In midfield, Martin Zubimendi is an upgrade on Thomas Partey as the midfield anchor, and the departure of Jorginho has been covered by the arrival of the experienced Christian Norgaard from Brentford.
The Dane ranks highly for possession won in the midfield third (112) since the start of the 2024/25 Premier League season, and when they need to shut down games, he’s an experienced head for Mikel Arteta.
Furthermore, Cristhian Mosquera is a fine pick up from Valencia, and didn’t look out of place when thrown in at the deep end against Liverpool after William Saliba’s early withdrawal at Anfield on Sunday.
Combined with the deadline day capture of Piero Hincapie, the Ecuador international able to cover at both left-back and centre-back, and Arsenal have quality cover across the backline.
Kepa, too, is a fine signing as compatriot David Raya’s deputy, and a steal at £5m to boot.
The pressure, though, is now on Mikel Arteta to deliver.
Having watched on as Leicester, Ipswich, and Southampton hopelessly dropped back into the Championship at the first time of asking last season, Sunderland, along with Leeds and Burnley, will have been wondering how best they could avoid a similar fate.
The Black Cats’ sale of Jobe Bellingham will have hit the club hard but they’ve reinvested well this summer.
Sunderland have added top-level experience in key areas of the pitch. Too often, the defence is overlooked by newly-promoted sides, but Nordi Mukiele, Omar Alderte, Arthur Masuaku, and Reinildo all have experience in Ligue 1, La Liga and the Premier League to boost their survival hopes.
This will be key as they look to shield new goalkeeper Robin Roefs, who hasn’t looked out of place following his arrival from NEC Nijmegen, the 22-year-old following up a solid U21 Euros campaign with a rapid adjustment to the rigours of Premier League football.
However, the standout signings come in the middle of the park. Enzo Le Fee’s loan move was made permanent following Sunderland’s play-off success earlier in the year, the Frenchman a player head coach Regis Le Bris knows well from their time together at Lorient.
Habib Diarra is the big money addition from Strasbourg, Noah Sadiki makes the move to the Stadium of Light with a big reputation, while the eye-catching addition is undoubtedly Granit Xhaka, who has been immediately installed as captain.
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