Updated: 22 May 2026 08:02 BST | 8 min read
Premier League signings of the season
© IMAGO
Cameron Smith
Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer
Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020
Clubs in the Premier League were extremely active in the transfer market last summer, with a number of huge deals being completed by almost every team.
Liverpool broke the English top flight transfer record twice - on Florian Wirtz and then Alexander Isak - while a host of bargain deals were also agreed by clubs throughout the division.
With the 2025-26 campaign drawing to a close, FootballTransfers runs through our 10 Premier League signings of the season.
Joao Pedro to Chelsea (€63.7m)
Joao Pedro hit the ground running following his arrival at Chelsea, netting three goals in three games at the Club World Cup, and he has continued that form during his debut Premier League season for the Blues.
While the west London giants have endured a hugely underwhelming campaign, Pedro has been one of very few shining lights and he can hold his head up high following his first year at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazil international is one of only four players with at least 20 goal contributions in the Premier League this season, alongside Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes and Igor Thiago, and his tally of 15 English top flight goals is five more than the next Chelsea player.
Barcelona have earmarked him as a summer target as a result of his immense form for Chelsea, but he is expected to stay put in west London.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall to Everton (€28.7m)
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall followed Enzo Maresca from Leicester City to Chelsea in 2024, but he was largely restricted to game time in the Europa Conference League during his only season at Stamford Bridge and he was placed on the club’s transfer list last summer.
Several Premier League clubs were interested in acquiring the Englishman and it was Everton who won the race for his signature after agreeing to pay a fee worth €28.7m with Chelsea.
Dewsbury-Hall became an instant starter upon his arrival at David Moyes’ side and he has been one of the club’s most impressive performers during his first season at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The 27-year-old has 12 goal contributions in 30 Premier League appearances in 2025-26 and he is a key reason why Everton still have a chance of finishing in the top-half this season.
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Everton
© IMAGO - Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Everton
Adrien Truffert to Bournemouth (€13.5m)
Bournemouth were expected to experience a serious decline this season after selling Dean Huijsen, Milos Kerkez, Ilya Zabarnyi and Dango Ouattara last summer, and then Antoine Semenyo in January.
However, they could remarkably still qualify for the Champions League after a stellar campaign under Andoni Iraola, and the Cherries hierarchy deserve immense credit for their excellent work in the market.
Truffert was signed from Stade Rennais to replace Kerkez at left-back and he has been one of the standout players in that position across the entire Premier League this term, with one goal and four assists.
Kerkez was superb for Bournemouth last year, but they haven’t missed him one bit and Truffert, while not yet a household name, deserves huge praise for his stellar form during his debut campaign at the Vitality Stadium.
Senne Lammens to Man Utd (€21m)
Manchester United have struggled with the goalkeeper position for years, with the final few seasons of David de Gea’s career at Old Trafford a notable concern and Andre Onana enduring two horrid campaigns at first-choice.
The signing of the relatively unknown Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp was therefore a risk, especially considering he had never played in one of Europe’s top five leagues before his €21m arrival in Manchester.
However, the Belgian shot-stopper has been a reliable pair of hands at Old Trafford this campaign and at just 23 years old, the Red Devils appear to have found their number one for the foreseeable future.
Lammens has kept seven clean sheets in the Premier League this season and while he hasn’t ripped up any trees with a string of eye-catching saves, he has been the consistent performer that Man Utd were sorely missing.
Senne Lammens, Man Utd
© IMAGO - Senne Lammens, Man Utd
Caoimhin Kelleher to Brentford (€14.8m)
Caoimhin Kelleher was arguably the best back-up goalkeeper in world football during his time at Liverpool and thanks to Alisson’s repeated injury issues, he played fairly frequently during his final few seasons at Anfield.
However, it was clear that he was ready for more consistent football and Brentford swooped to finalise a deal for a bargain price of under €15m.
Since his move to Keith Andrews’ side, Kelleher hasn’t disappointed and he has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season, with Brentford emerging as surprise contenders for Europe, despite being widely tipped for relegation.
He has been a more than adequate replacement for Mark Flekken, who left to join Bayer Leverkusen last summer, and Liverpool will perhaps be ruing their decision to sell the Irishman.
Rayan Cherki to Man City (€36.5m)
Lyon’s financial woes meant they were forced to sell Rayan Cherki for a bargain fee of just €36.5m last summer and Manchester City were the major beneficiaries.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed to sign a new attacking midfielder following the departure of Kevin De Bruyne and they opted to bring Cherki to the Etihad Stadium after he notched 34 goal contributions in 48 games for Lyon in 2024-25.
The Frenchman got off to a slow start in Manchester, with Guardiola often naming him on the substitutes bench as he adjusted to a new style of play, but he has come into his own in 2026.
Only Bruno Fernandes has more than his 12 Premier League assists this term and with four English top flight goals to his name too, and a joyful attitude on the pitch, Cherki has undoubtedly been one of the signings of the season.
Rayan Cherki, Man City
© IMAGO - Rayan Cherki, Man City
Granit Xhaka to Sunderland (€15m)
Much-maligned during the early years of his Arsenal career, Granit Xhaka enjoyed a fantastic final season at the Emirates Stadium, before shining across a two-year stint at Bayer Leverkusen.
So, the fact that newly-promoted Sunderland were able to sign him for just €15m was seen as a major coup.
Regis Le Bris’ side completed a string of successive deals last summer, including Robin Roefs and Omar Alderete, who both could’ve been included in this list, but Xhaka was undoubtedly the pick of the bunch.
The Switzerland legend was named Sunderland club captain in August and he has led the club to survival with consummate ease, notching six assists in 33 league games, and providing immense leadership and quality in the middle of the park.
Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal (€70m)
Arsenal spent big during the 2025 summer transfer window and the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze and loanee Piero Hincapie have all performed well during different parts of their debut seasons.
However, Martin Zubimendi has arguably been their most impressive new arrival, with the Spain star slotting in seamlessly alongside Declan Rice in midfield.
While the England international has received most of the plaudits this term, Zubimendi has quietly been an excellent signing for the Gunners, ticking things over in the middle of the park and even scoring five goals in 37 Premier League games.
He has been taken out of Mikel Arteta’s preferred starting XI in recent weeks, but Zubimendi has been an immense signing for Arsenal and at 27 years old, he is still ready to contribute for many seasons to come.
Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal
© IMAGO - Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal
Noah Sadiki to Sunderland (€17m)
Noah Sadiki is the second Sunderland player in this top 10 and he is a worthy inclusion following a fine debut campaign alongside the aforementioned Xhaka in midfield.
A €17m pick-up from Union Saint-Gilloise, Sadiki has been one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this term and his partnership with Xhaka in the middle of the park is a key reason behind Sunderland’s impressive campaign.
The DR Congo international gave up Champions League football when he left USG for the Stadium of Light and the Black Cats will be extremely grateful for his decision to join.
Chelsea and Man Utd are among the teams keeping close tabs on his situation, and a move to a top Premier League club would be just reward for an excellent first season in England.
Antoine Semenyo to Man City (€72m)
Antoine Semenyo is the final player on this list and he is the only January signing to have been included, with his new Manchester City team-mate Marc Guehi narrowly missing out.
The Ghana forward enjoyed a sensational first-half of the season with Bournemouth and he has continued that form since arriving at the Etihad Stadium, notably scoring the winner in the FA Cup final versus Chelsea.
In the Premier League, Semenyo has scored six goals and provided one assist in 16 games for City, and he has slotted in seamlessly to form a devastating attacking quartet with Erling Haaland, Jeremy Doku and the aforementioned Cherki.
Man City paid a January premium price of €72m to secure his signature, but Semenyo has been worth the money and he will be a pivotal player for the club during his first full season next year.
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Cameron Smith
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Cameron Smith is a Digital Content Producer for FootballTransfers, having joined the team upon its inception in November 2020.
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