Ranking Viktor Gyökeres and the Top 15 Summer Transfers in the Premier League So Far
After a fairly quiet June, July saw the 2025 summer transfer window kick into overdrive for Premier League clubs.
Some enormous deals were completed, and we even saw a handful of high-profile switches within the division.
Incredibly, we still have another month of this to come. There's even a distinct possibility the British transfer record could be smashed again—looking at you, Alexander Isak.
But what of the signings that have already been rubber-stamped? Which move can be considered the best deal of the summer so far?
Ahead, we've ranked 15 of the biggest transfers of the 2025 window. When determining the "biggest" deal, the size of the fee, name recognition and the profile of the buying and selling clubs were taken into account.
For the ranking order, factors such as value for money, need of the buying club and star power were considered.
Fees taken from Transfermarkt unless otherwise stated; only club-confirmed moves considered for ranking purposes.
15. Milos Kerkez to Liverpool, $54 Million
1 of 15
It's all change on either side of Liverpool's back four.
Milos Kerkez is set to be the Reds' new starting left-back, taking over a spot Andy Robertson has served with aplomb over the last eight years.
The Scot, 31, is starting to show signs of slowing down after bombing up and down the left flank non-stop for close to a decade, and the Hungary international was quickly earmarked as a worthy successor.
Kerkez, 21, was one of the standouts in his position in the Premier League for Bournemouth last season, playing in all 38 games, scoring twice and providing six assists.
His defensive tenacity and ceaseless energy were also notable attributes, and he should fit in seamlessly at Anfield. The fee might be a bit on the excessive side, but his potential and his impressive ability right now should make everyone forget that in no time.
14. Noni Madueke to Arsenal, $70.4 Million
2 of 15
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta just loves going to Chelsea for a shopping trip.
The Spaniard has plucked six players from the Stamford Bridge shelves since his arrival in December 2019, sending nearly $175 million to the club's London rivals.
Over a third of that outlay was on Noni Madueke, a player who impressed only in flashes in three years with the Blues—albeit while trying to hit peak form under the guidance of four different managers.
The winger had his best season yet under Enzo Maresca last year, scoring 11 goals and grabbing five assists in 41 games for the Blues across all competitions.
That was enough to convince the Gunners to swoop. It's a curious move, though, with Bukayo Saka and Ethan Nwaneri already competing for Madueke's preferred right-wing spot.
The 23-year-old does have some attacking versatility, but that doesn't really justify Arsenal's significant outlay on a player who isn't exactly essential to their needs.
13. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to Chelsea, $76 Million
3 of 15
For a while, it looked like Chelsea might have learned that quality and not quantity was the secret to a successful transfer window.
Then they decided to drop over €100 million on two attacking players in the space of a few days.
We'll come to one of those signings in a bit, but first, let's focus on Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
The 20-year-old is coming off a breakout season with Borussia Dortmund, in which he scored 12 goals and notched five assists in 48 games across all contests.
Not bad, especially considering he's only just left his teens.
Credit to the Blues, he does at least suit one of the few positions the club hasn't really got great depth in. With the future of Mykhailo Mudryk uncertain after a doping ban, the position is Bynoe-Gittens' to lose.
Chelsea dropped a good chunk of change on the former Manchester City youth player, but he's got bags of potential, and he's more than capable of paying the club back on the pitch.
12. Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United, $74 Million
4 of 15
A fairly subdued window so far from Newcastle United does at least have one big splurge, with Anthony Elanga arriving from Nottingham Forest for just over $70 million.
The Sweden international was a major figure in the Tricky Trees' incredible push for European football last season, scoring six goals and setting up 11 in 38 games for the east Midlands side.
The potential we saw from the 23-year-old while at Manchester United seemed to be almost fully realized in the 2024-25 campaign, with the winger becoming a huge threat on the counter-attack and linking up brilliantly with his fellow forwards.
The Magpies were obviously impressed, and Elanga couldn't turn down the opportunity to play in the UEFA Champions League.
Jacob Murphy had an unexpectedly phenomenal season for the club from the right wing last time out, but at 30 years old, Newcastle might be looking to freshen up the front line with a younger model.
Elanga is a smart signing for a club in need of attacking depth, but Newcastle have to back that up with investments at goalkeeper, center-back and striker—with the latter potentially soon to become a critical need.
11. Matheus Cunha to Manchester United, $83.7 Million
5 of 15
Manchester United acted fast to secure the signature of Matheus Cunha, whose departure from Wolverhampton Wanderers was expected after the 2024-25 campaign.
The Brazil international was a key factor in Wolves' remarkable improvement under Vitor Pereira, with the Portuguese coach guiding the Molineux side from the relegation zone into a comfortable 16th spot after joining in December.
Cunha scored 15 goals and added six assists in 33 games in the Premier League last season while operating from several roles in the attacking third.
Piggybacking off a season in which he scored 12 and provided seven assists in 32 league games, the Red Devils were convinced the 26-year-old could provide some answers for their multiple woes.
It's a good signing, but perhaps not excellent, and it doesn't really address the needs of a club with many other areas of greater priority: goalkeeper, center back, center midfield and striker.
United might also be looking at other deals made since and thinking they perhaps paid too much for the South American, with or without the release clause.
10. João Pedro to Chelsea, $82 Million
6 of 15
João Pedro has flattered to deceive in his Premier League career so far.
In four seasons in the top flight, across stints with Watford and Brighton & Hove Albion, he's only hit double figures in goals once. That came last season for the Seagulls, but five of his 10 strikes came from the penalty spot.
There have been signs of immense talent, but he's never really put that into action consistently. However, at 23 years old, and with a better supporting cast, he could add the numbers to his game in a hurry.
While it's perhaps not wise to read too much into what is essentially preseason, Pedro has fit into Chelsea's system pretty much immediately. He scored three goals in three FIFA Club World Cup appearances for the Blues on the march to the title—with little time on the training ground, it's important to note.
After signing Liam Delap, there will be a youthful striker competition at Stamford Bridge next season. With Chelsea lacking goals from that position, having two capable scorers should quickly fix that issue.
The Brazilian can play in the wide spots or in the No. 10 role, too, providing versatility for the slightly inflated price tag.
9. Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool, $107 Million
7 of 15
In a selection that will likely come back to haunt me, and one that will earn me the wrath of Liverpool fans, Hugo Ekitike lands in ninth in this ranking.
There are a few reasons for the possible underestimation.
First, that's a whole lot of money for a player who has had only one great campaign in the Bundesliga.
Second, that's a whole lot of money for a player who hasn't yet been capped as a senior France international.
Third, that's a whole lot of money for a player who might struggle with the physicality of the Premier League.
Still, Liverpool have not yet found someone to make the central attacking spot their own since the departure of Roberto Firmino, and the 23-year-old has plenty of qualities—many of which don't stand out in stat boxes—that would suggest he's perfect for the style of play Arne Slot is trying to promote.
But it's a whole lot of money, and that ultimately stops Ekitike from hitting the high spots here.
8. Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool, $39.3 Million
8 of 15
Compared to Ekitike, Jeremie Frimpong can be considered a bargain.
The Netherlands international has been bossing Bayer Leverkusen's right-hand side for the better part of the last four years, scoring 23 goals and adding 28 assists in the Bundesliga since the 2021-22 season.
He's also proved himself on Europe's biggest stage, providing seven assists across two Champions League campaigns.
Whether Frimpong will be utilized exclusively as a right-back for Liverpool is, for now, a mystery. If he is, though, the shadow of Trent Alexander-Arnold will loom over him somewhat.
But the 24-year-old is a different type of player to the Reds' academy product, with the club swapping elegance and ball-playing mastery for incredible work rate, attacking confidence and hustling defense.
Frimpong should fit right in at Anfield, and a tight friendship with Florian Wirtz (more on him later) should help the pair settle in quickly—and bring a regular stream of goals.
7. Rayan Cherki to Manchester City, $41.7 Million
9 of 15
This might be the bargain of the transfer window so far.
Manchester City ruthlessly took advantage of Lyon's financial and administrative woes and plucked Rayan Cherki from France for the low, low price of $41.7 million.
The 21-year-old France international has been making a name for himself in Ligue 1 thanks to his dazzling footwork and penchant for the spectacular.
He's not exactly polished, but his fearlessness and impressive trickery can make defenders look foolish, and he's coming off his biggest season yet, scoring eight and providing 11 assists in the French top flight.
City boss Pep Guardiola is known for his love of a tricky winger, but he has struggled to find one who brings consistent end-product while suiting his tactical needs.
There's no question Cherki can provide the ability, but whether he suits the Catalan's philosophy is another matter entirely.
However, he's top talent with bags of potential still to realize, and for just over $40 million, signing him was a no-brainer.
6. Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, $82 Million
10 of 15
Bryan Mbeumo was due a big move after a huge campaign at Brentford, in which his combined 27 goals and assists were the third-highest total in the Premier League last season—and two more than Erling Haaland.
But the 25-year-old has been a consistent source of goals in the division since the Bees stepped up to the big league in 2021. And alongside a higher caliber of players, he could yet take his game to the next level.
Granted, Manchester United finished below Brentford in the league last season, but there is no doubt this is a step up for the Cameroon international, despite the Red Devils' recent difficulties.
The fee looks like more value for money when put up against the Cunha signing, and the newly arrived pair do at least give the club a threatening one-two punch on the wings that suits the system manager Ruben Amorim is desperate to implement.
United still have plenty of time to address the other positions of importance, and for a team that seriously lacked goals last season, they have brought in the talent capable of providing them. Mbeumo is the headline act, though.
5. Mohammed Kudus to Tottenham Hotspur, $74.2 Million
11 of 15
After a stellar first season in the Premier League, in which he scored eight and set up nine goals, Mohammed Kudus took a step back in the 2024-25 campaign.
He had just five goals and three assists for West Ham United, but there are mitigating factors behind that apparent regression.
The Hammers were woeful under Julen Lopetegui, and they didn't get much better under Graham Potter. The Englishman's preference for wing-backs rather than all-out wingers didn't suit the Ghana international, either, meaning he was plugged in at other positions that didn't suit his skill set.
A move to Tottenham Hotspur might elicit a few laughs following the north London club's disastrous 17th-place finish last season, but the basis for a strong squad is there, a new manager is in place and Champions League football is on the slate for next season.
Kudus is in exactly the right place to remind everyone of his ability, and Thomas Frank is the perfect manager to get the best out of him—just look at what the Dane achieved with another right-winger in Mbeumo.
For just short of $75 million, this could prove to be a relative bargain when compared to some of the other transfers this summer.
4. Tijjani Reijnders to Manchester City, $62 Million
12 of 15
Manchester City's outlay for Tijjani Reijnders is more than double what AC Milan paid for him in 2023.
But with the Citizens losing Kevin De Bruyne and witnessing just what happens when the midfield is deprived of quality, the acquisition of the Dutchman makes a whole lot of sense and will be considered a snip.
The 26-year-old grabbed 15 goals and five assists in 54 games for the Rossoneri in all contests in 2024-25 while playing in a variety of midfield berths, and that production and tactical intelligence will be just what Pep Guardiola needs after slipping out of title contention because of a stuttering engine room.
It will be interesting to see exactly how Reijnders is deployed in the 54-year-old's system, but his adaptability will be a huge asset for the coach as he tries to regain some of the Citizens' lost aura.
While £62 million seems like a lot when taken at face value, the cost-benefit analysis of this transfer paints City as wise investors.
3. Martin Zubimendi to Arsenal, $76.6 Million
13 of 15
Arsenal have finally landed Martin Zubimendi after a transfer saga that had no right being as long as it was.
The Spaniard will provide the midfield metronome that the Gunners have needed, allowing Declan Rice to play a little further forward and giving the team an extra element of control from central areas.
It's a perfect move, and Arteta will soon see the benefit of his patience as his side tries to provide a more effective title challenge in the 2025-26 campaign.
The 26-year-old was a target for Liverpool and Manchester City, so bringing him to north London is an undoubted coup for Arsenal. For a player of his quality, the price tag doesn't seem all too severe in the modern game, either.
Credit to the recruiting team at the Emirates Stadium, and it's not even the best signing the club has made this summer.
2. Florian Wirtz to Liverpool, $145.5 Million
14 of 15
The most expensive player in Premier League history lands at No. 2 on this list.
Florian Wirtz is a phenomenal talent, and the price Liverpool paid is a reflection of that.
The Germany international has been an essential part of Bayer Leverkusen's starting XI for the last five seasons, even though a cruciate ligament injury deprived him of much of the 2022-23 campaign.
He scored 57 goals and provided 65 assists for Die Werkself in that time, helping lead the club to Bundesliga glory in 2023-24. His achievements are all the more impressive when you consider he's just 22 years old.
Many will say Wirtz should take top spot, but his climb has been halted because of that massive fee and because it's difficult to see quite where he fits in the Liverpool setup.
All will become clear in a matter of weeks, and his arrival in England is hugely exciting.
The Premier League champions are going to look very different as they begin their title defense, and Wirtz, rather than Mohamed Salah, might be the player this new iteration is built around.
1. Viktor Gyökeres to Arsenal, $76.5 Million
15 of 15
Squad need: check. Reasonable price tag: check. Current ability: check. High level of excitement: check.
This transfer fills all the boxes of a truly incredible signing.
Viktor Gyökeres is swapping the Portuguese capital for the English one. And while the weather might be a significant downgrade, the standard of football will be a serious upgrade.
Arsenal has joined the "lethal Scandinavian striker" club in a bid to seal a long-overdue Premier League title. The Sweden international just completed a season in which he averaged more than one goal per game in the Primeira Liga, and he added eight assists for good measure.
There are reasons to doubt whether Gyökeres will be a hit, not least because of the success of the last Portuguese league top scorer who made the switch to England—sorry, Darwin Núñez.
But Gyökeres has the benefit of already having played in the country before, cutting his teeth with Coventry City in the Championship—a league that's entirely more physical than the English top flight.
The Swede, of course, is built like a Viking and just as keen at plundering. He should hit the ground running at the Emirates Stadium. For a striker who has notable goalscoring prowess in both the domestic ranks and the European stage, the $76.5 million fee is an absolute bargain.
At 27, he's in his prime right now. And since he was a bit of a late bloomer, Gyökeres could keep those levels up well into his early 30s if he steers clear of the injury bug.
It's a huge signing for Arsenal, and one that fits a position the club hasn't adequately filled since Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang left in 2022.
.jpg?w=480 "Giants Harbaugh's Program Begins Football")
