-
Sam Tighe
Multiple Authors
Premier League clubs shattered the record with £3 billion ($4 billion) spent during the 2025 summer transfer window, culminating in Liverpool’s remarkable £125 million ($169 million) acquisition of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak. With the FIFA World Cup happening mid-window in 2026, will the landscape change?
The transfer window opens on June 15 for the Premier League and July 1 for most other top European leagues.
Below are grades for all significant confirmed transfers in men’s football, organized chronologically then by transfer fee.
All fees mentioned are reported unless confirmed with an asterisk.
June 30
Barcelona: B
Chicago Fire FC: B+
Chicago Fire has secured legendary striker Lewandowski, who, despite being in his late thirties, netted 14 goals from 17 La Liga starts last season. He will team up with MLS’s top scorer Hugo Cuypers (13 goals this season) to form a formidable attack.
Lewandowski’s departure from Barcelona was inevitable, having thrived since his arrival in 2022 while also contributing significantly to a wage bill that has strained the club financially for a while.
June 18
Brighton & Hove Albion: B+
Tottenham: B
Van Hecke has become one of the Premier League’s standout center-backs. The Dutch international is renowned for his passing and dribbling skills and has also evolved into a more formidable defender.
At just 25, he’s poised for a new challenge. Rejoining manager Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham appears to be an excellent opportunity. Brighton was aware of his impending departure due to his expiring contract and secured a fee exceeding £50 million.
Muñoz is a dynamic winger known for his speed and willingness to take on defenders. His style fits well with Andoni Iraola’s vision, but Liverpool is taking a risk with the 23-year-old as he works to adapt to a higher level of competition.
This marks a record sale for Osasuna, but the financial windfall isn’t as substantial as it seems since they only own 50% of the player’s rights, with Real Madrid holding the other half. Consequently, only half of the €40 million fee will go to the club.
June 15
Bournemouth: D
Tottenham: A
Senesi was among the top defenders in the Premier League last season. A tenacious player with great passing ability, he was one of the most sought-after free agents this summer, and Spurs successfully acquired his signature.
His signing brings up questions for Tottenham regarding the future of captain Cristian Romero. Will he leave the club? Additionally, how will Spurs manage a potentially defensive pairing of two left-footed players (Senesi and Micky van de Ven) or utilize a back three? Regardless, this move is a significant success for the club.
Liverpool: B
Tottenham: B
After nearly signing Robertson in January, Tottenham has finally completed the transfer. The 32-year-old defender’s stint at Liverpool reached a natural conclusion as he faced increased competition from newcomer Milos Kerkez.
Roberto De Zerbi values the Scotland international’s passing skills, and his leadership is much needed in the Spurs lineup, although a premium was reportedly paid in wages for a player who might not immediately be a starter.
June 29
Rasmus Højlund
€44m (£38m; $51m)
Manchester United: B+
Napoli: B+
Højlund’s loan to Napoli became permanent after the club secured Champions League qualification. The Danish forward contributed significantly with 16 goals throughout the season, successfully bouncing back from his disappointing time at Manchester United.
This deal benefits both teams; the €44 million transfer (alongside a €6 million loan fee from the previous season) is a savvy acquisition for Napoli, while Manchester United will be glad to recoup a portion of their investment in a player who was initially signed for €75 million but didn’t meet expectations.
June 1
Newcastle: A-
Barcelona: B
With the departure of prolific goal scorer Robert Lewandowski on a free transfer and uncertainty surrounding Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, Barcelona needed impactful reinforcements for their attack this summer. Gordon, who can play both as a winger and a striker, brings pace—having clocked in as the fastest player in the Premier League last season at over 36 km/h per Gradient Sports—aligning well with Hansi Flick’s tactical approach.
This transfer falls within the expected price range for a player of Gordon’s caliber, and Newcastle could potentially gain an additional €10 million through performance-related add-ons, increasing their profit from the deal.
Chelsea: C-
Real Madrid: A-
Chelsea’s transfer strategy was likely not intended to result in losing Cucurella, who has proven to be one of their few successful signings. The club is parting with him for a fee that could rise to €60 million, which seems modest for such a player.
Madrid benefits from this acquisition as Cucurella returns to Spain as a national team player and trophy holder, providing solid depth to their left-back position. José Mourinho will undoubtedly appreciate his fighting spirit on the field.
Bayer Leverkusen: C
Arsenal: A
Hincapié’s loan to Arsenal was officially made permanent after certain criteria were met. He has performed admirably since his acquisition last summer, adeptly sharing left-back duties with Riccardo Calafiori while also providing cover at center back.
Including the initial loan fee of €6 million, this transfer costs Arsenal just under €50 million altogether, making it an excellent deal for such an established and young player.
Strasbourg: B
Chelsea: B
Chelsea initially secured Emegha in the summer of 2025 but decided to let him continue developing at fellow club Strasbourg for another year. Unfortunately, his development was stunted by injuries that plagued him throughout last season.
At 6’5″, he possesses remarkable speed and movement, but he has struggled to find consistent goal-scoring form, having underperformed his expected goals in 2024-25. Emegha has significant potential at just 23, but may not be quite ready to start for Chelsea yet.
Manchester City: D
Real Madrid: A
Silva, one of football’s most tactically astute and adaptable players, was heavily linked with Spain’s top three clubs. His addition to Los Blancos will offer significant benefits in various aspects.
After an outstanding nine-year tenure at City, the club was not compelled to recuperate any specific fee, but his departure is nonetheless painful. The Portuguese midfielder has been pivotal both on and off the pitch and symbolizes the success of the Pep Guardiola era.
Liverpool: D
Real Madrid: B-
Konaté’s athleticism is exceptional, and when he is on form, he is virtually impenetrable at the back. However, inconsistency has been a longstanding issue, and reports from Spain indicate he received a hefty signing bonus of €20 million, significantly increasing his weekly wage with this transfer.
From the perspective of Madrid, this isn’t exactly a free transfer, but for Liverpool, it certainly feels like one. They receive nothing in return for a competent player but have mitigated their loss by bringing in new €70 million signing Jérémy Jacquet (agreed in January).
Atletico Madrid: B
Orlando City: A
Griezmann’s emotional farewell to Atlético was poignant; opting for a fresh challenge on a different continent rather than moving to another European club seems fitting. He has been a significant contributor to the club over the years, making a fee unnecessary for his departure.
Orlando currently struggles in their campaign and will benefit greatly from Griezmann’s skill and leadership as they seek to turn their fortunes around.