We are more than halfway done with the 2025/26 Premier League season, and now it makes sense to take a look back at the summer transfer window at how the new faces in the league have gotten along with their teams.
Here are 10 transfers from the summer that have proven to be the biggest bargains of the season thus far, shaping title races, European battles, and relegation fights in the 2025/26 campaign.
Cristhian Mosquera to Arsenal, 15M
If you ask me, Cristhian Mosquera was definitely the best bargain of the summer 2025 transfer window, because Arsenal pounced on an excellent young center back who was playing at a high level in La Liga, snatching the proverbial cat out of the bag long before their competitors had even heard of Mosquera’s exploits in Spain.
And all Mosquera has done in an Arsenal uniform is prove the team unequivocally right. He has translated perfectly to the Premier League and is legitimately one of the best center backs in the league in his own right when he does play.
Distinguishing yourself on a loaded team like Arsenal is not easy, especially when the starting center back duo is already the world’s finest. But Mosquera has proven he belongs with his reading of the game, athleticism, and even passing capabilities.
Estevao Willian to Chelsea, 45M
Although 45 million euros is a pretty significant price, Estevao Willian might honestly be worth five times that amount in about three to five seasons, because he is the second biggest teenage sensation in world football after Ballon d’Or candidate Lamine Yamal.
How else can you describe an 18-year-old right winger and attacking midfielder who is skating past defenders at will and providing real moments of magic. If Chelsea were playing right now as they were at the beginning of the season, Estevao’s numbers would look even better – and he is especially dangerous alongside Cole Palmer.
Estevao is a rare talent in world football and someone who has a chance to write the next decade of history at Stamford Bridge. For the price of 45 million euros, that is absolutely money well spent.
Rayan Cherki to Manchester City, 36.5M
Lyon’s misfortune led to an absolute gem of a deal on the transfer market, and yet how ironic that the one team that does not need bargain bin transfers, Manchester City, was the one to land Rayan Cherki for fewer than 40 million euros.
Since returning to health, it has not taken long for the entire Premier League to witness why Cherki was viewed in France as the greatest prospect since Kylian Mbappe, with many around Lyon hyping him up as more talented technically.
From rabona crosses to skill moves rarely seen in the Premier League these days, Cherki has brought an individualistic flair and spice to the Manchester City attack that not even Pep Guaridola can deny enjoying in his heart of hearts.
Xavi Simons to Tottenham, 65M
Although 65 million euros is usually a little on the richer side to consider a player a true transfer bargain, Xavi Simons has been a gift from above to a Tottenham Hotspur side that is hemorrhaging injuries, losing continuously, and at serious threat of relegation.
New additions Mohammed Kudus and Simons have both been rare bright spots for Spurs this season, but, long term, Simons is the real gem, as he is a few years younger and a little more talented.
Tottenham, to compare, bought Simons, who is both better and younger than Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze, for less. Simons has the quality to run an entire midifeld on his own and is even showing that quality on a trainwreck of a Tottenham side coached by Thomas Frank.
Enzo Le Fee to Sunderland, 23M
Technically, Sunderland had already bought Enzo Le Fee the preceding winter and the Frenchman earned a permanent move to the Black Cats by helping them return to the Premier League at long last.
For the price of 23 million euros, Sunderland landed a player who is one of the more valuable midfielders in the Premier League from an all around perspective with seven goal contributions, 1.3 key passes per game, and more than three combined tackles and interceptions per match.
Le Fee was one of the best players in Ligue 1 at Lorient and criminally underrated, and while a couple of failed transfers caused his performances to fade, Sunderland have unearthed Le Fee’s talent again.
Granit Xhaka to Sunderland, 15M
No club had a better summer 2025 transfer window than Sunderland, and proving that point further was the steal of a signing from Bayer Leverkusen in Granit Xhaka, one of the finest leaders in world football.
The Swiss midfielder has been the Black Cats MVP this season, as he has taken his experience from going undefeated in Leverkusen to helping Sunderland already pencil in Premier League safety this season.
Xhaka has been one of the most impactful deep lying playmakers in the Premier League this season, giving Sunderland the caliber of player most newly promoted teams never get while providing valuable defensive coverage.
Anton Stach to Leeds, 20M
An underrated defensive midfielder from the Bundesliga, Anton Stach was a true star in the German top flight for both Mainz and Hoffenheim, and he is now one of the most important players for Leeds United immediately upon joining the Premier League side.
Stach has three goals and three assists this season despite being one of the best defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season with 2.1 tackles per game and allowing just 0.4 dribbles completed per game.
He is also averaging more than two key passes per game on a Leeds side that is not known for having the ammunition for most players to average that many chances created as a defensive midfielder, and that seals home his unique quality as one of the best in his role in the Premier League. Bargain.
Nordi Mukiele to Sunderland, 12M
Sunderland’s great transfer business extended beyond the midfield axis of Le Fee and Xhaka, as Nordi Mukiele has revived his best form from his days of being one of the best shutdown right backs in the Bundesliga over at RB Leipzig.
Mukiele has quietly been one of the best right backs in the Premier League this season, if not the clear frontrunner as the best defensive fullback. The Frenchman is averaging 2.4 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per game with just 0.5 dribbles completed allowed and 5.4 clearances per game.
Those are numbers many center backs around world football would envy. For a right back to be winning possession, reading the game, shoring up attacks, and winning one on ones at this rate is unheard of.
Omar Alderete to Sunderland, 11.6M
Likewise, Omar Alderete has been a real foundational piece to Sunderland boasting one of the best defenses in the Premier League, as the former Getafe standout has brought the same rugged excellence to the back line that he did in La Liga.
Succeeding as a center back in La Liga often transitions well to the Premier League, and Alderete has proven no exception with some of the most intelligent defending in the game, rarely needing to make a tackle while blanketing some of the best strikers in the English top flight.
Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal, 70M
As with Xavi Simons, Martin Zubimendi cleared the 60 million euro mark as a transfer to one of the top clubs in the Premier League, but when you look at the fact that the Gunners are in total control of the league title race, you really have to say that, overall, Zubi has been the most impactful summer signing of the season.
Declan Rice gets more Ballon d’Or love, but when you compare how well both Zubimendi and Rice have played, you have to wonder if these two are actually equals in terms of their importance to Arsenal.
Zubimendi is scoring goals, providing elite defensive coverage, and creating plays with crisp passing. As everyone expected, Zubimendi has been even better on a better team like Arsenal compared to what he was doing at Real Sociedad.
The price of 70 million euros only seemed steep to opportunistic Arsenal haters or those still not up with the times of how important a Rolls Royce defensive midfielder can be in asserting total control for a top team on a match – and on an entire season.
Joe Soriano is the editor of The Trivela Effect and a FanSided Hall of Famer who has covered world football since 2010. He’s led top digital communities like The Real Champs (Real Madrid) and has run sites covering Tottenham, Liverpool, Juventus, and Schalke. He also helped manage NFL Spin Zone and Daily DDT, covering the NFL and pro wrestling.