Premier League clubs have spent over £1 billion in the 2022 football transfer market. From Erling Haaland to Kalidou Koulibaly, English clubs have splashed the cash in the summer window on some of the best players across Europe, and today, we grade the ten biggest Premier League transfers.
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Fee: £54 million
Wages: £350,000 per week
In terms of the on-pitch contributions, the Haaland signing is a home run. The Norwegian is the best young player in world football alongside Kylian Mbappe, scoring 86 goals in 89 games for Borussia Dortmund. Although Haaland will be an undeniable success in the Premier League, the economics of the transfer – a reported sum of £200 million – means it doesn’t get the top grade.
Grade: A
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Fee: £32 million
Oleksandr Zinchenko is a tremendous signing for the Gunners, lifting the ceiling and the floor of the squad following his move from Manchester City. The Ukraine captain isn’t great defensively but is an elite passer that provides cover for Kieran Tierney and Granit Xhaka; while also bringing Premier League experience.
Grade: B
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Fee: £67 million
Although the transfer fee is steep, Darwin Nunez adds a different complexion to the Liverpool frontline, offering unmatched physicality and athleticism at the number nine position. The Uruguayan may not be great in possession like Firmino but can link play to a decent degree to go along with his extraordinary physical profile and movement in the box.
Grade: A-
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Fee: £62 million
Marc Cucurella is a brilliant, industrious player, capable of overlapping and holding the width and defending in a back three. However, for the money involved, it wasn’t the best value signing this season, particularly with Kalidou Koulibaly and Levi Colwill able to play at LCB and Marcos Alonso and Ben Chilwell at LWB.
Grade: B-
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Fee: £47 million
Wages: £300,000 per week
The signing of the summer. Raheem Sterling is in his prime at age 27, has won four Premier League titles, and has scored over 100 goals in the Premier League. At a fee of somewhere near £50 million, that is a bargain in today’s market that also weakens a direct rival for the Premier League.
Grade: A+
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Fee: £45 million
Wages: £265,000 per week
Gabriel Jesus is exactly the type of striker that Arsenal have been crying out for last season. The Brazilian offers the link-up play and technical qualities of Alexandre Lacazette as well as the movement in the box and athleticism of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. At 25, Jesus is entering the best years of his career and is the first elite player to join Arsenal in his prime since Alexis Sanchez in 2014.
Grade: A
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Fee: £51 million
Wages: £120,000 per week
If Martinez plays at left-back for Manchester United, the grade would be an A, even at that fee. However, at centre-back, the Argentinian’s effectiveness in the Premier League is limited. Martinez brings plenty of desirable qualities to the United backline – aggression, ability on the ball, distribution – but his lack of physical tools and frame limits his ceiling as a defender in the Premier League.
Grade: B-
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Reported Fee: £19 million
Although Adrien Rabiot hasn’t officially signed for United, all the signs point towards the Frenchman linking up with Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford this summer. While Rabiot arrives in a problem position for United that needs reinforcements, the former Juventus star isn’t an elite number six, doesn’t defend at a high level, and has a storied history of falling out with players and managers over the years. Perfect for Manchester United, I guess.
Grade: C+
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Fee: £26 million
Yves Bissouma doesn’t add much in possession or solve Tottenham’s creativity issues, but the Mali international is the perfect central midfielder for an Antonio Conte team. Bissouma has been one of the best disruptors in the Premier League over the past few seasons, and his athleticism, ball carrying and Premier League experience give Tottenham a valuable profile in the middle of the park that raises the floor of the team.
Grade: B+
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Fee: Free Transfer
Tottenham’s addition of Ivan Perisic on a free transfer is a low-risk, high-reward move with plenty of upside for the North London clubs. Although there are concerns over his durability for a long season, Perisic has been one of the best wing-backs in Europe over the past two seasons, offering tremendous ball-striking and athleticism to go along with his experience at the highest level.
Grade: A
Shivaan Shah