Player images courtesy of Action Images via Reuters
There's always a focus on the Premier League's 'big six' whenever the transfer window opens, as all six clubs look to strengthen their squads. Breaking their transfer records comes as no surprise as they try to ensure they are ready to battle for major honours.
Tottenham Hotspur, in particular, were under pressure to splash the cash this summer after finishing 17th last season. A relegation battle wasn't on the cards, and Roberto De Zerbi's transfer chiefs have spent a fortune ensuring they are competing for Europe this time around.
Manchester City have got their checkbook out at the start of the post-Pep Guardiola era and Chelsea are finally turning to experience. Last season's title winners Arsenal and the dethroned Liverpool are still chasing a new attacker while Manchester United's transfer business has gone quiet.
With that said, here is how each member of the Big Six ranks when it comes to wheeling and dealing in this summer's transfer window.
Ranking Factors
Money Spent - Overspending or refusing to pay up
Players Signed - Will their new arrivals make an impact
Squad preparation - Timing of transfers and if new signings are a good fit
6 Manchester United
Youri Tielemans Man Utd
Youri Tielemans Man Utd
Many would have placed Manchester United at the top of this list after Youri Tielemans' shock transfer. The Aston Villa midfielder's acquisition came out of nowhere when the club triggered a £35 million release clause.
Tielemans followed Andrey Santos to Old Trafford following a £50m arrival from Chelsea and they could prove to be excellent additions to Michael Carrick's midfield. But with just days until the Premier League starts, only two new signings are laughable and a slap in the face to Carrick, who sealed Champions League qualification.
United's decision to wait until late in the window to explore a deal for Newcastle United's Lewis Hall seems misjudged. It became clear that the Magpies were going to lose several star players, so plotting a move after Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Anthony Gordon had departed is extremely ill-sighted.
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Manchester United's 2026-27 summer transfer business
Arrivals
Departures
Money Spent
Money Earned
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick speaks to Bruno Fernandes
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick speaks to Bruno Fernandes
5
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Sam Navarro
Maybe the Anfield chiefs were waiting for Jeff Bezos' minority share deal to be completed before tackling a squad rebuild, but it has been a quiet summer for Liverpool. That shouldn't have been the case with Andoni Iraola arriving as Arne Slot's replacement and clear issues that arose during last season.
The Reds have signed Spanish winger Victor Munoz from Getafe and Ronald Araujo from Barcelona on loan. Other than that, there has been no marquee signing to address Mohamed Salah's exit.
Bradley Barcola remains a top target, and if they can sign the French winger, that could prove to be a game-changer. While the Merseysiders did break their transfer record twice last summer, a new central midfielder and left-back should have been sorted out.
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Liverpool's 2026-27 summer transfer business
Arrivals
Departures
Money Spent
Money Earned
Andoni Iraola gives a thumbs-up during time in charge at Bournemouth
Andoni Iraola gives a thumbs-up during time in charge at Bournemouth
4
REUTERS/Chris Radburn
It's hard to judge Manchester City's transfer business given that their only first-team addition has been Elliott Anderson. That will change now that Barcelona have agreed on a deal to sign Rodri, which is a massive setback for Enzo Maresca.
Replacing Rodri is an impossible task and City are eyeing LOSC Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Moroccan certainly impressed at the World Cup, but he has a long way to go in becoming an elite midfield anchor.
Anderson is undoubtedly one of the most talented midfielders in England but at £116m he is under pressure to reach Declan Rice's level and put Maresca's team on his back. It's mid-table for now as Jeremy Monga is an exciting long-term signing, but there are some glaring issues in the squad.
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Manchester City's 2026-27 summer transfer business
Arrivals
Departures
Money Spent
Money Earned
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during a press conference on November 24, 2025
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola during a press conference on November 24, 2025
3 Chelsea
Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge
When nearly every Premier League fan advised BlueCo to target more experience, they didn't mean to sign two players over the age of 35. That's not a slight on Jordan Henderson and Danny Welbeck, but rather a question of why Chelsea's recruitment staff can never quite figure out how to build a squad ready to compete.
That said, signing Morgan Rogers is an ambitious move that might get Cole Palmer back to his best. At £117m, he has to deliver and bring the form that helped Villa win the Europa League to Stamford Bridge.
Signing Maxence Lacroix is a wise call, and at 26 fits into the age range that the experience factor has been all about. Youth has remained a focus, though, as Marco Palestra, 21, and Valentin Barco, 22, have arrived to give Xabi Alonso options at full-back, while Pep Chavarria has replaced Marc Cuccurella.
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Chelsea's 2026-27 transfer business
Arrivals
Departures
Money Spent
Money Earned
Enzo Fernandez
Enzo Fernandez
2 Tottenham
Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
While you can question the profile of players that Tottenham have decided on, you can't fault how they've gone about a rebuild. The argument that it takes years to refresh a squad is nonsense and the Lilywhites have proven you can overhaul a team in one window.
Six players have been signed thus far for £237 million, including the club-record arrival of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle for £100m. That's a lot of money but it's where the market is at, and the Italian has proven himself as one of the best midfielders in the top-flight.
Mateus Fernandes is another huge statement signing at £85m but he's one of the biggest midfield prospects around. The Andy Robertson signing is a shrewd one, bringing a Premier League winner to North London for free.
The Lilywhites aren't done there as their plot moves for Savinho and Cody Gakpo. There's much to like about Gakpo but paying the reported £85m for Savinho would be a massive overpay.
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Tottenham Hotspur's 2026-27 summer transfer business
Arrivals
Departures
Money Spent
Money Earned
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi smiles during press conference
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi smiles during press conference
1 Arsenal
Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Mikel Arteta missed out on Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers but Arsenal haven't needed to make many changes to a squad that won the title. The additions made have been well-thought-out, swooping for Bruno Guimaraes who cost much less than the likes of Tonali and Anderson.
Selling Leandro Trossard raised eyebrows but the Gunners may have found themselves a gem in Christos Tzolis. If Arteta and Andrea Berta can land a world class attacker, they will have enjoyed yet another fantastic transfer window.
The latest name on the North Londoners' radar is Victor Osimhen, and they have held talks with Galatasaray for the Nigerian. Should they sign the prolific goalscorer, they might just be going one step further in next season's Champions League.
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Arsenal's 2026-27 summer transfer business
Arrivals
Departures
Money Spent
Money Earned
Alejandro Garnacho and Morgan Rogers
Alejandro Garnacho and Morgan Rogers
All fees via Transfermarkt - correct as of 17.08/2026