Premier League Title Contenders: Who Did Best Business For 2025–26?

Arsenal signee Viktor Gyokeres (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

There’s still plenty of time before the summer transfer window slams shut, but the Premier League has already witnessed a substantial quantity of high-profile signings. Whilst the cash will continue to be splashed until the evening of deadline day, we’re starting to see next season’s squads take shape a little earlier than usual, particularly amongst those capable of challenging for the title. 

Whether this expedited recruitment of players is a reflection of changing market conditions or a mere coincidence is unclear. Still, it’s an inarguable fact that the league’s elite have wrapped up a lot of their business ahead of schedule. So, which of these sides has had the best summer transfer window?

To confidently answer this question, we must first ask several others while reviewing each club’s transfer activity. What areas of the squad need to be improved? Where were there vulnerabilities last season? Does the recruit’s playing style complement their new manager’s preferred formation/tactical philosophies? What is the club’s net expenditure, and, based on the responses to the questions above, how likely are they to see a positive return on investment? 

Of course, even those who have already parted with large sums of money may decide to dip back into the market at some stage. There are three rounds of fixtures before the September 1st window closure, which could expose some weaknesses that are yet to be addressed. However, given the pace of recruitment amongst this season’s inevitable Premier League title-chasers, we can start to draw pretty robust conclusions right now.  

Arsenal

Having just come up short in recent seasons, this summer’s transfer window represents a critical juncture in Mikel Arteta’s tenure. The Spanish tactician returned to the Emirates in December 2019, following a successful five-year stint as a player, but has only secured one FA Cup since assuming the managerial hot seat. If they are to have any realistic chance of landing a first Premier League title in more than two decades, the Gunners must make a series of shrewd acquisitions to improve their outputs in several areas of the pitch.  

Last season’s performance 

Premier League: Runners-up

UEFA Champions League: Semi-finals

FA Cup: Third Round

League Cup: Semi-finals

Transfers to press

Arrivals: Kepa Arrizabalaga (Chelsea, £5m), Martín Zubimendi (Real Sociedad, £51m), Christian Nørgaard (Brentford, £15m), Noni Madueke (Chelsea, £52m), Viktor Gyökeres (£63.5m), Cristhian Mosquera (Valencia, £13m)

Total spend: £199.5m

Departures: Jorginho (Flamengo, Free), Kieran Tierney (Celtic, Free), Nuno Tavares (Lazio, £4.3m), Marquinhos (Cruzeiro, £2.6m), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Released), Thomas Partey (Released)

Total income: £6.9m

Total net expenditure: £192.6m

Assessing their activity 

It doesn’t take a footballing expert to identify Arsenal’s biggest weakness. Without a recognised striker throughout much of the 2024/25 campaign, the Gunners were often toothless in attack. Given injuries to a less-than-prolific Gabriel Jesus and makeshift centre-forward Kai Havertz, Mikel Arteta was forced into frequently adopting a false number nine to ensure his team had some sort of constant presence in the final third. Whilst there are improvements to be made in other positions, the recruitment of an established goalscorer feels like the critical missing piece in the jigsaw. 

The arrival of Viktor Gyökeres should serve to resolve this burning issue and, as a consequence, propel the Gunners towards the summit of the Premier League. The Swedish marksman netted a staggering 54 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions last term, enabling him to lift the ‘Bola de Prata’ (the Primeira Liga’s top scorer award) in May. 

However, Arteta will need to ensure the former Coventry City star receives an appropriate level of service. Arsenal failed to produce enough quality chances last season, ranking sixth in the metrics overall. They did manage to convert 69 times versus an anticipated return (according to the xG formula) of 61.59 goals, but nevertheless were less creative than the likes of Newcastle United and ninth-placed Bournemouth. 

There was also a question mark surrounding Arsenal’s tenacity in midfield. Whilst blessed with the phenomenal running power of Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard’s extensive range of passing, the absence of a proficient ball-winner was clear for all to see. A combination of off-field distractions and his deployment as an auxiliary full-back reduced Thomas Partey’s input in this area, stripping the Gunners of their only conventional defensive midfielder. 

Although partially due to their dominance in possession, Arteta’s men ranked a lowly 17th for volume of duels won last season. Although champions Liverpool emerged triumphant in 86 fewer duels, this statistic could still suggest that they lacked bite in midfield. Moreover, the Merseysiders completed almost 50 more tackles than Arsenal, giving further credence to this theory.

The signature of Basque-born maestro Martín Zubimendi fills this gap in expertise, which became even more pronounced following Jorginho’s departure to Club World Cup participants Flamengo. The former Real Sociedad midfielder delivered an impressive set of numbers during the 2024/25 La Liga campaign, highlighting his productivity in the pivot position. Zubimendi recorded 37 tackles, 44 interceptions, and 6 blocks in his 36 Spanish top-flight appearances, whilst recovering possession on 140 occasions. He also completed 1,479 passes, finding his intended target with 84.4% of his attempted distributions. 

The exits of Celtic-bound Kieran Tierney, Portuguese international Nuno Tavares, and the released Takehiro Tomiyasu may leave them a little vulnerable in the full-back positions, but this could prove to be a golden transfer window for the North Londoners.

Manchester City   

Having endured a seriously underwhelming 2024/25 campaign, Manchester City had no choice but to flex their financial muscle in this summer’s transfer window. 

It does feel a little like there’s a changing of the guard at the Etihad, as the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker – two instrumental figures during the most successful period in the club’s history – head for the exit door. After signing a contract extension at the apex of the Citizens’ miserable run of form last term, Pep Guardiola has been quietly dismantling an ageing squad to make way for a fresh crop of potential superstars. The Catalan's ambitious rebuild appears to be progressing well, but will it be enough to restore City to the top of the Premier League tree? 

Last season’s performance 

Premier League: 3rd  

UEFA Champions League: Knockout Phase playoffs

FA Cup: Runners-up

League Cup: Fourth Round 

Transfers to press 

Arrivals: Tijjani Reijnders (AC Milan, £46.3m), Rayan Aït-Nouri (Wolves, £36.3m), Marcus Bettinelli (Chelsea, £2.1m), Rayan Cherki (Lyon, £34m), Sverre Nypan (Rosenborg, £12.5m), James Trafford (Burnley, £31m)

Total spend: £162.2m

Departures: Kevin De Bruyne (Napoli, free), Jacob Wright (£2.3m), Scott Carson (Released), Kyle Walker (Burnley, £5m), Divin Mubama (Stoke City, loan), Máximo Perrone (Como, loan)

Total income: £7.3m

Net expenditure: £154.9m 

Assessing their activity 

The defining moment of Manchester City’s tumultuous season came early on, as influential midfielder Rodri suffered a nasty anterior cruciate ligament injury during last September’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal. With one of their prized assets bound to the treatment table for the remainder of the campaign, City were unable to dominate possession in quite the same way. 

The Spanish international’s immense ball retention capabilities not only provide a platform for launching targeted attacks in the final third but also serve to prevent the opposition from applying sustained pressure on City’s backline. Therefore, his absence exposed vulnerabilities at both ends of the pitch.  Guardiola’s men suddenly lost their air of invincibility, emboldening teams at home and abroad to prey on a newfound weakness. 

The stats highlight the extent of this diminished control of possession. For the first time in almost a decade, the Citizens completed fewer than 20,000 passes during a Premier League campaign. Although their tally of 19,884 successful passes was still considerably ahead of Liverpool’s equivalent figure, we see more than a 10% dip in this metric versus the previous season. 

*Last time City completed less than 20,000 passes in a Premier League campaign.

After several experimental combinations in the middle of the park, Guardiola will be hoping Dutch maestro Tijjani Reijnders can provide some much-needed stability, whether deputising for Rodri in the pivot position or assuming a more advanced role. Sverre Nypan’s arrival may also help in this endeavour, although the highly-rated Norwegian teenager is undoubtedly a project signing.

Learning the lessons of last season, the eight-time Premier League champions are now equipped to adopt a more direct approach should they fail to produce the free-flowing football we’ve become so accustomed to in recent years. Remarkably, City only managed 93 crosses from open play during the entirety of the 2024/25 league campaign, one less than struggling neighbours Manchester United. Attempting to unlock the opposition’s defence via delicate through-balls, intricate dribbling sequences, and complex passing exchanges, City’s reluctance to quickly get the ball forward often starved Erling Haaland of quality service. It’s no coincidence that the Norwegian recorded his lowest single-season goals return since his blockbuster arrival in Manchester three years ago.

The capture of Rayan Aït-Nouri may prove to be a masterstroke in this regard. The Algerian’s cultured left foot provides a compelling attacking outlet, enabling City to launch accurate deliveries into the box from the full-back position. Wolves were heavily reliant on his ability to create goalscoring opportunities from the left-hand flank last term, with three of Aït-Nouri’s seven assists coming as a result of crosses into the box.  

It's the end of an era as long-serving reserve goalkeeper Scott Carson moves on to pastures new, while Rayan Cherki assumes creative responsibilities following the departure of club legend Kevin De Bruyne.   

Liverpool 

Many believed the resignation of Jürgen Klopp would pre-empt a period of instability at Anfield, but this certainly hasn’t been the case. If anything, Liverpool have become a more intimidating force under the stewardship of Arne Slot, having recaptured the Premier League title during the Dutchman’s maiden season on Merseyside.

Although there was little room for improvement during a near-flawless league campaign, the Reds will have been extremely disappointed with their early European elimination – even if it did come at the hands of the all-conquering Paris Saint-Germain. In order to fight effectively across both domestic and continental fronts, Liverpool has had to add further strength in depth during the summer. I think it’s safe to say they’ve achieved this objective…..

Last season’s performance 

Premier League: Champions  

UEFA Champions League: Round of 16

FA Cup: 4th Round 

League Cup: Runners-up

Transfers to press 

Arrivals: Milos Kerkez (Bournemouth, £40m), Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen, £116m), Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen, £29.5m), Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt, £79m), Ármin Pécsi (Puskás Akadémia, £1.5m), Freddie Woodman (Preston North End, free)

Total spend: £266m

N.B. As Giorgi Mamardashvili’s move was agreed last summer, his £29m transfer fee has not been factored into the above number. After signing from Valencia, Mamardashvili was immediately loaned out to the La Liga outfit for the 2024/25 season, before officially joining Liverpool last month.

Departures: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Real Madrid, £10m), Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford, £18m), Jarell Quansah (Bayer Leverkusen, £35m), Nat Phillips (West Brom, £3m), Vítězslav Jaroš (Ajax, loan), Owen Beck (Derby Country, loan), Luis Díaz (£65.5m, Bayern Munich)

Total income: £131.5m

Net expenditure: £134.5m

Raising the bar

In a clear juncture from their usual recruitment policy, Liverpool haven’t been afraid to aggressively pursue multiple high-profile targets. As a result, Arne Slot has been able to add handsomely to his embarrassment of riches, with the likes of Bayer Leverkusen duo Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, promising full-back Milos Kerkez, and, most recently, French forward Hugo Ekitike all arriving in exchange for lucrative transfer fees. 

This stark contrast in approach is evidenced in the table below, which highlights the club’s outgoings in recent seasons versus the investments made ahead of the 2025/26 campaign. 

*Transfer window ongoing.

 Assessing their activity

Although an array of fresh talent has landed at Anfield of late, the acquisition of Florian Wirtz has unsurprisingly dominated the headlines. Creative, versatile, and capable of changing a game with an inspired piece of individual brilliance, the gifted German is widely considered to be one of the finest attackers on the planet. 

However, his desire to tenaciously press opponents in the final third lends itself to Slot’s swashbuckling playing style, with the Dutchman demanding his team win the ball back as far up the pitch as possible. Only Bochum midfielder Ibrahima Sissoko won more duels than Wirtz during the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, with the former Leverkusen star recovering possession on a staggering 383 occasions from his advanced position.

Hugo Ekitike supplies even further firepower to the Reds' irresistible forward line, which no longer features Luis Díaz following his switch to Bayern Munich. Illustrating the extent of Liverpool’s recent spending frenzy, the Frenchman would have been the most expensive signing in the club’s history had he put pen to paper before the arrival of Florian Wirtz.  

It’s clear Slot wants something different from his full-backs this term, particularly on the right-hand side. The explosive dynamism of Jeremie Frimpong replaces Trent Alexander-Arnold’s extensive passing range, adding an energetic new dimension to Liverpool’s attacking proposition. While Alexander-Arnold looked to execute defence-splitting through-balls from deep, Frimpong prefers to drive towards the byline before fizzing dangerous crosses into the box. The fleet-footed Dutchman completed 1021 sprinting sequences throughout the 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign, which was the second most in the entire division.

Another significant departure from the Klopp era could materialise on the opposite flank, as Andy Robertson’s long reign at left-back is likely to be disrupted by the incoming Milos Kerkez. The reigning Premier League champions have parted with £40m to bring the former Bournemouth defender to Anfield, one can only assume Robertson will, at the very least, share a portion of his game time with the Hungarian youngster. 

The colossal change in Liverpool’s goalkeeping department seems to have somewhat slipped under the radar, as three arrivals and two departures are confirmed ahead of the new campaign. Ármin Pécsi, Freddie Woodman, and the aforementioned Giorgi Mamardashvili all join Slot’s squad, while academy graduate Caoimhin Kelleher heads to Brentford and Czech stopper Vítězslav Jaroš commences a season-long loan with Dutch giants Ajax. Consistency is provided by first-choice keeper Alisson, who is set to remain between the sticks as he enters his eighth season with Liverpool.

Chelsea 

Although there were several speed bumps to navigate along the way, Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca will have been delighted with his first season at the helm. After securing a Champions League berth on the final day of the domestic season, the Blues won the Europa Conference League before adding a second Club World Cup to the Stamford Bridge trophy cabinet. 

Many have criticised his radical spending plan, but few can challenge Todd Boehly’s commitment to re-establishing Chelsea as a major European superpower. With a slew of world-class players in their ranks, several major honours earned, and major stadium works in the pipeline, the West Londoners find themselves at the beginning of an exciting new chapter just over two decades on from Roman Abramovich’s revolution. 

Whilst he’ll have no arguments about the quality and quantity of players at his disposal, Maresca will be keen to influence this summer’s recruitment charge. Only teenage midfielder Mathis Amougou, who has since returned to his native homeland by joining Ligue 1 outfit Strasbourg, arrived in last season’s winter window, so the Italian coach is largely operating with an inherited squad.  

Last season’s performance 

Premier League: 4th 

UEFA Conference League: Winners

Club World Cup: Winners 

FA Cup: 4th Round 

League Cup: 4th Round

Transfers to press 

Arrivals: Jamie Gittens (Borussia Dortmund, £51m), João Pedro (Brighton & Hove Albion, £60m), Liam Delap (Ipswich, £30m), Estêvão (Palmeiras, £29.1m), Dário Essugo (Sporting Lisbon, £18.5m), Mamadou Sarr (Strasbourg, £12.1m)

Total spend: £201.2m

Departures: Đorđe Petrović (Bournemouth, £25m), Bashir Humphreys (Burnley, £12.1m), Marcus Bettinelli (Manchester City, £2.1m), Mathis Amougou (Strasbourg, £13m), Zak Sturge (Millwall, undisclosed), Noni Madueke (Arsenal, £52m), Mike Penders (Strasbourg, loan), João Félix (Al Nassr, £43.7m)

Total income: £152.9m (plus undisclosed fee for Zak Sturge)

Net expenditure: £48.3m (minus undisclosed fee for Zak Sturge)

Assessing their activity 

It may seem somewhat of a scatter gun approach, but there’s evidence to support Chelsea’s decision to recruit heavily in attacking areas. 

The Blues’ forward line simply wasn’t clinical enough in the opponent’s penalty box. Although only Manchester City and Liverpool recorded more shots, Chelsea netted fewer times than six other Premier League clubs. While the likes of Jadon Sancho, Cole Palmer, and Noni Madueke all navigated dry spells in front of goal, Nicolas Jackson’s inability to consistently find his way onto the scoresheet meant they were never realistically going to sustain their early title challenge. 

However, the Senegalese striker certainly shouldn’t shoulder all of the blame. Chelsea’s failure to command prolonged spells of possession in opposition territory impacted how many clear-cut chances they could create, and suggests there was an element of predictability in their build-up play. A considerable 16 of their 64 league goals came from set-pieces, which perhaps also points to a lack of attacking versatility. 

Time spent in each third – Chelsea, 2024/25 Premier League season

In a bid to resolve this issue, Maresca has drafted in pacey winger Jamie Gittens, former Ipswich Town striker Liam Delap, and skilful Brazilian duo João Pedro and Estêvão. As the stats below suggest, these new recruits are likely to give Chelsea further impetus in the final third. 

Jamie Gittens – Bundesliga 24/25

Appearances: 32

Goals: 8

Assists: 3

Crosses from open play: 35

Sprints: 648

João Pedro – Premier League 24/25

Appearances: 27

Goals: 10

Assists: 6

Shots: 33

Touches in opposition’s box: 133

Liam Delap – Premier League 24/25

Appearances: 37

Goals: 12

Assists: 2

Duels won: 157

Touches in opposition’s box: 106

Estêvão – 2025 stats (across all competitions)

Appearances: 37

Goals: 12

Assists: 5

Although there has been a concerted effort to enhance their attacking options, Chelsea’s current goalkeeping situation leaves a little to be desired. 

The inconsistent Robert Sánchez – who incidentally enjoyed a hugely impressive Club World Cup campaign – appears to have the backing of his boss, although Filip Jörgensen won’t have given up hope of reclaiming the number one jersey following a brief run of Premier League starts last spring. Should either of these players incur an injury, the Blues can only turn to inexperienced American stopper Gabriel Slonina thanks to a spate of recent exits. No less than four goalkeepers have left Stamford Bridge, with Đorđe Petrović, Marcus Bettinelli, and Kepa Arrizabalaga all switching to rival Premier League clubs on a permanent basis. 

Despite purchasing over £200 million worth of outfield talent, it appears the club has decided against bringing an established goalkeeper to re-address the imbalance. Will this prove to be a costly mistake?

The Dark Horses 

Whilst the bookmakers expect either Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, or Chelsea to be crowned Premier League champions next May, several teams have the capacity to cause an upset. We briefly analyse the prospects of this season’s dark horses….

Manchester United

It still seems ridiculous to omit Manchester United from a list of potential title challengers, but a decade of poor performance both on and off the pitch has cast a menacing shadow over Old Trafford. The 2024/25 campaign represented their worst-ever Premier League season, as they accrued a paltry 42 points to finish three places above the relegation zone. 

Although it seemed Ruben Amorim spent the first six months of his tenure putting out fires all over the pitch, United were far stronger defensively than they were going forward. The Red Devils netted just 44 goals last term, 22 fewer than mid-table Brentford. It would have been much worse without the contributions of captain Bruno Fernandes and livewire winger Amad Diallo, who combined to deliver 16 goals and 16 assists throughout the course of the Premier League season. To put those figures into perspective, fellow attackers Alejandro Garnacho, Marcus Rashford (in a Manchester United shirt), Rasmus Højlund, and Joshua Zirkzee registered 17 goals and four assists combined.

The arrival of Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha should result in a more even distribution of goals and assists, as two of the Premier League's most sought-after stars hope to catalyse the club’s long-awaited revival.     

Newcastle United 

It’s been a hugely frustrating window for Newcastle United so far; rumours of Alexander Isak’s impending exit to Liverpool fail to subside, while the reigning champions nabbed Hugo Ekitike from under their noses. Furthermore, as the club’s Saudi-bankrolled owners continue to walk the PSR tightrope, it doesn’t seem as if any big-name superstars will be descending on Tyneside in the coming weeks.

Nevertheless, the Magpies have managed to secure the services of Anthony Elanga for a £55m fee, while Spanish wonderkid Antonio Cordero joins from Málaga. There have also been a few notable departures, as Sean Longstaff leaves his boyhood club to start a new chapter at Leeds, Lloyd Kelly remains in Turin with Juventus, and Callum Wilson finds himself surplus to requirements.  

Tottenham Hotspur 

Although Spurs’ Europa League triumph deflected some attention from their woeful domestic form, Ange Postecoglou – the first manager to bring silverware to the club since Juande Ramos’ 2008 League Cup success – was unable to avoid Daniel Levy’s inevitable wrath. 

In fairness to the Australian, he was beset with an almost unfathomable list of injuries throughout the 2024/25 campaign, which resulted in some significant defensive headaches. Providing he has better luck than Postecoglou, Thomas Frank will be able to routinely call upon Micky van de Ven, Cristian Romero, and Radu Drăgușin, who were all sidelined for extended periods last term. However, Spurs have left nothing to chance, as a handful of additional centre-backs will be plying their trade in North London this season. Kevin Danso makes his loan switch from Lens permanent, Japanese international Kōta Takai provides further cover, while Croatian teenager Luka Vušković eventually arrives at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium two years after agreeing a deal in principle with the club.