Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
A journalist has completed the unenviable task of ranking all 155 Premier League transfers of the 2026/27 season from worst to best, with England's top clubs yet again far surpassing the once-insurmountable £1 billion mark.
In fact, the 20 clubs were so disgustingly gluttonous that they went big and ended up spending around £3.46 billion ($4.7bn) between them, with Chelsea, Tottenham, and Liverpool among those topping the net spend charts.
To prove it's not just the top clubs breaking the bank, though, Brentford and Leeds United both have signings that rank among the best in our books, while Ipswich Town, Hull City, and Coventry City each brought in more than 10 players to help them stay above the dreaded relegation zone.
Below is how The Athletic have rated each transfer - not ordered purely by ability, but also by "cost-effectiveness, how important each new arrival will be to the team that has signed them, and whether they fill a dire and necessary need in a certain position."
155-114
Aston Villa's Alejandro Garnacho via REUTERS/Willy Kurniawan
In this section, there is no shortage of signings that will find it difficult to get much game time this season. For example, 155th in this list is Emmanuel Emegha, who technically joined last year and went back on loan to Strasbourg, before playing just 10 league matches last term - hardly anybody will even remember this deal happening, but his seven-year contract is a hallmark of some terribly misguided Todd Boehly deal.
Alejandro Garnacho to Aston Villa on loan also makes zero sense, as though the latter hadn't learnt from mistakes like Harvey Elliott or Jadon Sancho in the past. Illan Meslier to Arsenal, Karl Darlow to Manchester United, and Dan Bentley to Coventry City are just some cases of goalkeepers being signed by clubs in case their first, second, and even maybe third choice options get injured (that never happens!).
The curious case of Honest Anahor saw the young Italian defender sign for two Premier League clubs on the same day with Crystal Palace on loan and Chelsea permanently. Elsewhere, Jordan Henderson joining the latter just for the sake of upping the squad age and bringing changing room experience to the side feels performative, while Tottenham's double swoop for Tosin and Mykhailo Mudryk screams 'panic buy.'
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Journalist ranks all 155 Premier League transfers for 2026/27 season (155-114)
Rank
155.
154.
153.
152.
151.
150.
149.
148.
147.
146.
145.
144.
143.
142.
141.
140.
139.
138.
137.
136.
135.
134.
133.
132.
131.
130.
129.
128.
127.
126.
125.
124.
123.
122.
121.
120.
119.
118.
117.
116.
115.
114.
113-76
Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs
Speaking of panic buys, Liverpool spending all summer trying to replace Mohamed Salah, ignoring other glaring issues in their team, has meant their squad looks worryingly thin in midfield and defence - Ronald Araujo can't surely help relieve them off that worrying fact, especially since he has injury issues like those he's meant to help out.
He still ranks higher than Everton's weak attempt to replace Iliman Ndiaye with their gamble on Tyrique George, Tottenham's stab-in-the-dark Savinho acquisition, and Man United's move for Andrey Santos.
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Surprising inclusions in this section include Sandro Tonali's £100 million move to Tottenham, which many thought would completely transform his new side's engine room. Meanwhile, Morgan Rogers already has two assists in as many appearances, making Chelsea appear to have the most frightening frontline in the league, but he ranks 80th, one place above United's deal with Carlos Baleba.
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Journalist ranks all 155 Premier League transfers for 2026/27 season (113-76)
Rank
113.
112.
111.
110.
109.
108.
107.
106.
105.
104.
103.
102.
101.
100.
99.
98.
97.
96.
95.
94.
93.
92.
91.
90.
89.
88.
87.
86.
85.
84.
83.
82.
81.
80.
79.
78.
77.
76.
75-39
Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been beavering away in Ligue 1 with Lyon for three years but, after almost joining Everton from Arsenal in 2021, returns to the Premier League to fill a sizeable gap at right-back for the Merseyside club. Many may have forgotten of his existence, but he ranks just behind Victor Munoz in this list - the latter looking remarkably similar to the late Diogo Jota during his early knockings at Liverpool.
The Reds have been linked with all different shapes and sizes of right-winger to replace Salah, including Ibrahim Mbaye - who ended up sealing a £47.1m deadline day move to Aston Villa in the end. Arsenal looked to address their forward line by adding Christos Tzolis for around £9 million less, while Tottenham secured Omar Marmoush on a loan after failing to strike a deal for Cody Gakpo.
Continuing with the winger theme, Jack Grealish has returned to Everton, where he rediscovered his confidence on loan last season before a foot injury knocked the wind out of his sails - that deal was allowed to take place as City added Iliman Ndiaye to their books the other way, though he will face stiff competition for places from the likes of Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki. .
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Journalist ranks all 155 Premier League transfers for 2026/27 season (75-39)
Rank
75.
74.
73.
72.
71.
70.
69.
68.
67.
66.
65.
64.
63.
62.
61.
60.
59.
58.
57.
56.
55.
54.
53.
52.
51.
50.
49.
48.
47.
46.
45.
44.
43.
42.
41.
40.
39.
38-1
Via Reuters
Julio Enciso for just £26 million may prove to be the biggest steal of the summer for Ipswich Town, considering he proved with Paraguay at the World Cup that he can perform in any team. A few places higher than him is Nico Gonzalez's switch from Man City to Newcastle, which feels a little more risky, while Luka Vuskovic's move from Tottenham to Brighton might be another masterstroke from the Seagull's now-renowed recruitment team, though £46 million is more than their usual limit.
In 28th, it's hard to say whether Ezri Konsa to Arsenal is the signing everyone thinks he is. He will provide tremendous cover for William Sliba while he's injured. But once he's back, the former Villa star may struggle for minutes in a team already also boasting Ben White and Christian Mosquera - Harry Wilson's free transfer to Leeds United and Jeremy Jacquet's £60 million move to Liverpool feel like more necessary signings.
Michael Carrick and Karim Benzema
Michael Carrick and Karim Benzema
Youri Tielemans only just misses out on a place in the top 10 as he's placed 13th, behind Hayden Hackney's switch to Everton and Joao Gomes' transfer from Wolves to Aston Villa. Enzo Fernandez's £125 million move to Manchester City equals the British transfer fee record, while Gonzalo Garcia to Fulham, and Antonio Silva to Bounremouth - both for much lower fees - could prove long-term bargains.
In sixth, World Cup breakthrough star Johan Manzambi will play a far bigger role at Villa than Garnacho will, while Bradley Barcola to Liverpool is one of the most-talked-about deals. Elliot Anderson just misses out on the podium to Mamdou Sangare, Bruno Guimaraes, and Emiliano Martinez. .