Ranking All 20 Premier…

A year after a vibrant 2025 summer transfer window for the Premier League, we’ve evaluated the incoming signings of all 20 teams based on two main criteria: the players’ performance in their first season and their potential for future improvement.

The rating system is straightforward: ESPN’s Sam Tighe and Bill Connelly assigned scores, giving up to 10 points for the impact of last season’s signings (2025-26) and up to 5 points for anticipated future impact. This resulted in a total score of 30 points, ranking the teams from 1 to 20.

This scoring approach was chosen because, while many clubs operate on a season-to-season basis focused on immediate successes, it’s unjust to judge a signing solely based on their debut year—especially considering teams that invested significantly in younger players to serve as long-term assets.

Note: This assessment is limited to incoming signings and does not include outgoing transfers. Additions made during the January window are also included in the rankings.

Current score: 5/20 | Future score: 4/10 | TOTAL: 13/30

Wolves lost their standout attacker Matheus Cunha to Manchester United last summer and struggled to replace him. The outcome was underwhelming.

Out of the three attacking signings, Jhon Arias was sent back to South America merely six months after arriving, Fer López returned to Spain on loan in January, and Tolu Arokadare managed just three league goals throughout the season. Additionally, despite a €12.5 million fee, Jackson Tchatchoua ultimately appeared more suitable as a sprinter than a Premier League player.

They faced relegation without much resistance, largely attributed to their poor signings. — Tighe

Current score: 3/20 | Future score: 7/10 | TOTAL: 10/30

Positive: Fourteen new players accounted for 63% of Burnley’s playtime, 68% of their goals, 65% of assists, 61% of progressive carries, 61% of successful ground duels, 60% of ball recoveries, and 56% of defensive interventions. Without contributions from players like 36-year-old Kyle Walker and 22-year-old Lesley Ugochukwu, Burnley would have been in a far worse position.

Negative: Nevertheless, they still struggled overall. While they have decent prospects for the future, it resulted in yet another brief Premier League tenure for the Clarets. — Connelly