Premier League summer transfer grades so far

Jonathan Victoria • 15 Aug 2024 Features

Some good, some bad and one very Chelsea move so far…

It’s been a busy summer, not just with the Euros and the Olympics but also in the transfer window.

We’ve seen Kylian Mbappe finally going to Real Madrid, Michael Olise off to Bayern in a move that may devastate Crystal Palace, plus lots more.

There have been some fairly sizeable moves in the Premier League too, and more are sure to come with the new season starting up and the window still open for another two weeks.

But for now, let’s take a look at the 10 most expensive signings so far and I’ll give my grade and thoughts on them.

Dominic Solanke, £65m | B+

Bournemouth to Tottenham Hotspur

After a good showing last season with 19 goals scored, Solanke earned a move this summer, and Spurs needed a striker. It’s as simple as that. 

I like this move but the only thing that brings it down from an A is the price tag, which is obviously down to English tax.

Despite that, Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou had said that he was keen to get Solanke in, so to get his man is great for the side. Hopefully, he’ll be able to provide like he did last year so Spurs can get in the mix with the top four, which has the potential to be a rather tasty fight this year.

Leny Yoro, £58.9m | B

Lille to Manchester United

I honestly can’t say much about this one because, probably like most fans around the league, I have no idea who this kid is.

From my research (literally just searched him up on FBREF), he came through the Lille academy and made his senior debut at 15 years old back in the 2021/22 season. Since then, he made 46 appearances for Lille, with 38 starts. 

Last season was his breakout year, making 30 starts. He scored two goals which is nice for a defender, but he didn’t seem to add much to the defence as his stats weren’t exactly standout.

I’ll give it to him that he was 16 going on 17 during the year so I can’t and I don’t expect him to be the total package at all. I reckon this move is more likely one for the future rather than Erik Te Hag wanting to throw him into the starting lineup as soon as he can.

Not like he could anyway, as in typical fashion, United’s biggest summer signing so far is already ruled out for three months thanks to a foot injury he picked up in a friendly against Arsenal which required surgery. So we’ll have to wait and see how he fares.

Pedro Neto, £54m | D

Wolves to Chelsea

This is such a Chelsea move.

They just keep spending and buying players that I don’t think they even need. Surely he wasn’t on their target list, I don’t think another winger is going to fix any of their issues - especially one who is just as injury-prone as Reece James.

I just don’t get this move. It reeks of flop and moving him on for half the price in two years. 

Oh, and if you think a D is rather harsh, please bear in mind that I gave Mason Mount’s £60m move to United last season a C. I’m not playing around anymore.

Amadou Onana, £50m | B

Everton to Aston Villa

I like this move for both the player and the team. Villa sold Douglas Luiz to Juventus this window so were in some need of a replacement defensive mid, and Onana is a great choice given he’s only 22 years old, was a standout for Everton last season and looked good for Belgium during the Euros this summer.

The £50m price tag is obviously a bit steep, but he did only arrive to the Toffees in 2022 for £33.5m and is still young, so really that price may come to look like a bargain if he can perform well in this Villa side who is expected to build upon their remarkably strong 2023/24 campaign.

Matthijs de Ligt, £42.7m | A

Bayern Munich to Manchester United

I like this deal a lot. You can make the jokes about Ten Hag bringing in yet another Ajax player from his successful tenure a few years back, and while yes some haven’t worked - you know who I’m looking at - I’m confident this one will.

It honestly baffles me as to why Bayern let him go, as it did when Juventus let him go before. He is the total package for a defender; strong, decent pace, good defensive awareness, capable tackler, aerial threat and a good leader — everything United needs.

Why he didn’t feature for the Netherlands at all during the Euros is beyond me, but that’s now in the past and if De Ligt can keep himself fit (should be mentioned that he did suffer from minor recurring knee injuries for the first part of last season), he can become one of the league’s most formidable defenders.

Ricciardo Calafiori, £42m | B 

Bologna to Arsenal

From one defender to another but more similar to the Yoro move, I don’t get this one from Mikel Arteta.

Apparently, the Spaniard fell in love with Calafiori when he first noticed him last year, admiring his “exceptional skill and maturity beyond his age.”

I’m not going to question this one too much. What Arteta has done for Arsenal over the last few years deserves respect so he’s probably on to a winner with this one. 

But I’m not going to give it anything higher than a B rating because the Gunners have arguably the best defensive duo in the league in Gabriel and William Saliba, and I don’t see Calafiori getting in anytime soon.

Max Kilman, £40m | B+

Wolves to West Ham

West Ham have been recruiting hard this summer, with a number of solid signings that should give new manager Julen Lopetegui something strong to work with.

The most expensive move for them so far has been Max Kilman, bringing the English defender over from Wolves for an understandably fairly hefty fee, considering he was their captain.

Kilman had previously worked under Lopetegui during his short stint with Wolves, which was a factor in his decision to join the Hammers. He will no doubt slot into a starting role in the defence and should be able to play a big part in what I reckon will be a strong campaign for West Ham.

Ian Maatsen, £37.5m | A

Chelsea to Aston Villa

After many, many loan moves, Maatsen is finally getting an opportunity with a new permanent home, and it's a move that fits all perfectly.

Maatsen is a versatile player who can play anywhere on the left side but predominantly as a left-back, he suits the role that Unai Emery wants from the position.

He is quick and dynamic, able to occupy higher up the field while still offering the defensive capabilities needed. But with the quality Villa have in their defence, I won’t be too surprised to see him allowed to roam further up the left more often.

I like this move a lot, so much so that I’m going to call it my dark horse signing of the summer.

Joshua Zirkzee, £36.5m | B-

Bologna to Manchester United

Another Dutchman in for United but this time not one Ten Hag has worked with before. I’m not as sure about this one though.

Ten Hag has gone young again for a striker when I think they really need someone more established and prolific. Zirkzee isn’t a goal scorer - he netted only 13 times in 53 appearances for Bologna, with just 11 last year.

But he also chipped in with seven assists and has described himself not as a standard number nine nor a number 10, but somewhere in between.

My only thinking is Ten Hag will want Hojlund to stay as the main striker with Zirkzee playing a supporting role - although I’m not sure how Ten Hag will manage to fit that in with the other players, so for the uncertainty of it, I give the move a B-

Elliot Anderson, £35m | A-

Newcastle United to Nottingham Forest

A great acquisition for Forest but a shame for Anderson, who leaves his boyhood club despite not wanting to.

The move had to be done for Newcastle due to PSR fears, and Forest has gained a great young player, albeit one who comes with some injury concerns.

He missed 25 games last season due to a back injury he sustained in October, missed out on the Scotland squad for the Euros due to injury and already looks unlikely to start the new season due to an injury he suffered during a pre-season friendly against Millwall. 

Should he stay fit though, Anderson will be a brilliant addition to the Forest midfield and can play a major role in what may be a fight for survival once again this year.

Notable mentions

Emile Smith Rowe, £34m | A – Two seasons ago Smith Rowe looked set to become Arsenal’s next big thing, being handed the number 10 shirt. Injuries hampered him and eventually led to Arteta favouring others over him, but this statement signing from Fulham could be exactly what he needs to prove himself. I’m expecting big things.

Savio, £33.6m | C – Manchester City’s only signing so far and I don’t know who he even is.  He seemed pretty good in that surprising Girona side last year though, so I’m sure Pep Guardiola has a role for him.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, £30m | C+ – If it weren’t for Chelsea now being managed by former Leicester manager Maresca, I would be saying RIP to Dewsbury-Hall’s career. While I’m not sure he will see as many minutes as he would have if he stayed with the Foxes, he will no doubt be given some opportunities.