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Although the transfer window has been open since June 14th, there has been relatively little activity, at least compared to previous years.
This is mainly because the window opening coincided with the start of the Euros and the Copa América, and players who might otherwise have been targets did not want the distraction of being involved in a potential move while they were away with their countries.
There were also specific reasons why some Premier League clubs were reluctant to pursue deals before 30th June.
As far as compliance with the league’s profitability and sustainability rules was concerned, that was the end of the financial year. With a number of clubs in danger of breaching them, clubs were more concerned about entering into internecine deals involving academy players than focusing on their main transfer targets.
However, although the start of pre-season tours has further delayed some transactions, with many sporting directors and those involved in transfers with their clubs overseas, some deals have been conducted, and the pace may be about to hot up.
The top five signings in the Premier League so far have been the following:
Manchester United had made signing a central defender one of their main summer priorities, but signing a teenager from French football must be considered a gamble, especially if the price tag eventually paid for Lemy Yoro could exceed ₤60 million.
France captained Yoro at every age group up to the under-23 level. He made his debut for Lille as a 16-year-old and made 60 senior appearances for them in all competitions.
He was named in the Ligue 1 team of the season last year.
His form and raw potential were enough to attract interest from Real Madrid, but United won the race for his signature. A conversation with former Old Trafford favourite Rio Ferdinand apparently convinced him to sign for the club.
United fans may have to be patient with the teenager because expecting him to adapt immediately to the demands of the Premier League could be a big ask.
Financial concerns partly explain the decision to sell Aston Villa’s holding midfielder Douglas Luiz to Juventus earlier in the window. However, Juventus have spent virtually all the money they received for the Brazilian on a replacement, buying Amadou Onana from Everton for a reported fee of ₤50 million.
(Favourable accounting treatment allows them to book the profit on the Luiz sale in the current financial year whilst spreading the cost of the Onana deal over the length of his contract).
The Belgian international, who played for his country in the Euros, was apparently convinced of Villa's merits by his international team-mate Youri Tielemans. One of the attractions of the West Midlands club for him is that they are back in the Champions League after a gap of more than 30 years.
Onana arrived at Everton from French club Lille in 2022 in a ₤33 million deal and went on to make 72 appearances for them in all competitions, scoring four goals.
Despite that, manager Sean Dyche did not always trust him and left him out of the team for some of their key matches, which came to define their season. They successfully battled against relegation one more time.
Ironically, Luiz and Onana had previously been linked with moves to Arsenal.
West Ham will have a new manager this season in Julen Lopetegui, and the former Real Madrid, Spain, and Wolves boss has wasted no time putting his stamp on his new team.
He has already bought Luis Guilherme from Palmeiras, acquired Wes Fotheringham on a free transfer, and is in talks to sign winger Reiss Nelson from Arsenal.
So far, though, the biggest money has been spent reinforcing central defence, with Max Kilman, a player he knows well from his time at Molineux, signing for a reported fee of ₤40 million.
Kilman’s route to the top was unusual in that he had grown up playing futsal while pursuing a non-league football career.
Although born in Chelsea, he has Ukrainian parents, and their country’s Football Association tried to switch his international allegiance, but FIFA rejected that because he had already played for England at the under-18 futsal level.
He went on to make 150 appearances for Wolves in all competitions.
His sale boosts the finances of a non-league club that inserted a 10% sell-on clause in his contract when he originally joined the West Midlands club.
The Hammers will hope he can add some solidity to a backline that tended to leak goals last season.
In addition to Yoro, Manchester United have paid Bologna ₤36.5 million for striker Jonathan Zirkzee, with the balance more in favour of investing in potential than proven talent.
The 23-year-old was born in the Netherlands and was part of the Feyenoord academy system before leaving to join Bayern Munich.
He made a handful of senior appearances for them before enjoying loan spells with Parma in Italy and Anderlecht in Belgium.
It was his form in Anderlecht, where he finished as the club’s top scorer in the 2021-2022 season, that persuaded Bologna to buy him (Bayern Munich, though, had inserted a sell-on clause in his contract, meaning that they were entitled to 40% of any subsequent transfer).
Last season, his 11 goals and five assists helped the Italian club secure Champions League football for the first time.
Having been capped by the Netherlands at every age group up to under 21 level, he was not initially part of their squad for the Euros. However, following a series of injuries, manager Ronald Koeman called him up, and he made his international debut in their quarter-final win over Turkey.
Several other Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, had been tracking him. Still, United convinced him to join them, and he can expect to compete with Rasmus Hojlund for the central striker’s role at Old Trafford next season.
Despite winning the Premier League again last season, Manchester City has sought to strengthen its squad even further by signing Brazilian winger Savinho from French club Troyes.
Savinho spent last season on loan in Spain with Girona. Girona was the surprise package of La Liga, securing Champions League football for the first time (just like Bologna). He played a major part in their success, scoring 11 goals and providing ten assists, which earned him his maiden call-up to the Brazil national team.
Savinho debuted in their friendly against England and scored his first goal for his country in their Copa América victory over Paraguay.
He began his career at Atlético Minaro before moving to Europe and France in 2022, although he was immediately sent on loan to Dutch side PSV Eindhoven for the 2022 – 23 season.
He can play on either flank, although he is expected to initially be deployed on the right wing.
His arrival at the Etihad raises further questions about Jack Grealish's future in City.
The England international often found himself behind Jeremy Doku in the starting line-up last season, and young Norwegian Oscar Bobb was also given game time instead of him. Grealish was subsequently omitted from the England squad for the Euros and may need to move elsewhere to kick-start his career again.
