The summer transfer window was shut down a week ago and we assess the best Premier League additions. This article will only focus on the top players Premier League sides have signed from other leagues around the globe.
Ilkay Gundogan (Barcelona-Man City)
Manchester City resigned Ilkay Gundogan on a free transfer from Barcelona. The German midfielder is a great part of Manchester City that went on to gain so much success under Pep Guardiola. He left City for Barcelona in 2023 after the end of his contract but has resigned for the Citizens just after a year in Spain.
Throughout his remarkable first stint at City, the German won five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four League Cups, two Community Shields, and one Champions League, making 304 appearances and scoring 60 goals. His return is a tremendous boost to Pep’s midfield and a great addition to the Premier League.
Mikel Merino (Real Sociedad-Arsenal)
Arsenal boosted their midfield with the addition of Spain international Mikel Merino. Merino was a vital member of Real Sociedad’s midfield since joining them back in 2018. He made 242 appearances for the La Liga club, scoring 28 goals and assisting 30.
He helped them win the Copa del Rey in 2020 and helped qualify for the Champions League last season, after winning more duels for possession than any other player in Europe’s top leagues, with 326 recoveries.
The 28-year-old is an experienced international with 28 appearances for Spain. He has won several accolades with the national youth teams and has won a Nations League and a European Championship with the senior team.
Joao Felix (Atletico-Chelsea)
Chelsea resigned Joao Felix on a permanent transfer this around from Atletico Madrid. Joao previously spent time on loan at Stamford Bridge, joining in the winter window and finishing the 2022/23 season in Chelsea blue, scoring four times in 20 appearances.
Felix began his career with Benfica in his homeland, before switching to Spain in the summer of 2019. He has won the league title in both Portugal and Spain, as well as earning 41 international caps since making his national team bow in 2019.
Federico Chiesa (Juventus – Liverpool)
T
he exciting Federico Chiesa completed his long-term switch from Juventus to Liverpool this summer. The 26-year-old forward started his career in Fiorentina’s youth set-up, working his way through the ranks towards a senior debut.
The senior debut only came when he was 18 against Juventus. He went on to play 153 times for Fiorentina scoring 34 goals, before switching sides to Juventus in summer 2020 on an initial two-year loan deal. He made the deal permanent in 2022.
Chiesa’s final season at Juve would be his best there in terms of the number of league appearances (33). He netted 10 goals from his 37 outings in all competitions and collected a second Coppa Italia winner’s medal.
Internationally, the forward was part of Italy’s winning Euro 2020 side, turning out in all seven games, scoring twice, and earning himself a place in UEFA’s official Team of the Tournament line-up.
Matthijs de Ligt (Bayern – Man United)
Manchester United bolstered their defense with the addition of Matthijs de Light from Bayern Munich. The 25-year-old Netherlands international has won league titles in three countries, with Ajax, Juventus and Bayern Munich.
He has made 324 club appearances and 45 international caps, winning the Kopa Trophy and the Golden Boy award. Matthijs is an excellent defender and a proven winner, who will add quality, experience, and leadership to Uniteds backline.
Noussair Mazraoui (Bayern – Man United)
Noussair Mazraoui is another eye-catching defender who signed at Manchester United from Bayern Munich this summer. The Morocco international signed a long-term contract of until June 2028, with the option to extend for a year.
Mazroui is a proven winner with four league titles in two different countries. He won three Eredivisie titles with Ajax and one Bundesliga with Bayern Munich. He is also an experienced international, having made 28 appearances for his country and was a key part of the team that reached the semi-final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Manuel Ugarte (PSG – Man United)
Manuel Ugarte is another incredible addition to Manchester United and the Premier League. The talented midfielder arrived at Old Traffod from PSG on a permanent deal of until June 2029, with the option to extend for a further year.
The 22-year-old Uruguay international has won a league title and a cup with PSG. He has also won 22 caps with his national team and played every game at the Copa America. He has a great impact on the pitch especially in ball recovery. Since the start of the 2022/23 season, Ugarte has averaged the second-highest number of tackles per 90 minutes in Europe’s major leagues. It is undoubted what he will bring to United and the Premier League.
Evanilson (Porto – Bournemouth)
Bournemouth replaced their prolific striker with another prolific striker from Porto this summer. Evanilson arrived at Bournemouth on the club’s transfer fee record and there is no doubt as to what he brings to Vitality Stadium.
Evanilson began his career in Brazil, his native nation, with Fluminense before moving to STK Samorin and Tombense. He then joined Porto in 2020 where he made 154 appearances in all competitions, scoring 60 goals and assisting 21 more. Last season the Brazillian scored 25 goals in all competitions, including four in the Champions League.
Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna – Arsenal)
Despite having the meanest defense last season, Arsenal still bolstered their backline with the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna. The 22-year-old defender was an integral part of Bologna’s previous season and the Italian national team at Euro 2024.
Riccardo started his career in the youth academy at Roma, where he spent 12 years developing from the youth set-up into the first-team. During his time there, he gained valuable experience on loan at fellow Italian side Genoa during the 2021/22 season.
He made a switch to Basel in Swiss in 2022, making 26 appearances that season. His high-quality performances resulted in a return to his homeland, with the imposing defender transferring to Bologna in August 2023.
Savinho (Troyes – Man City)
Savinho was the first of the only transfer in Manchester City completed this summer. Savinho caught the eyes of many teams last season at Girona, where he was on loan from Troyes. He had an outstanding campaign in Spain, helping Girona qualify for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
He scored 11 goals and contributed 10 assists as the Catalonia club finished third behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. He got his first call-up to the international squad in March 2024, making his debut at Wembley against England. The winger is smooth on the eye with his dribbling skills and speed, a sensational addition to City and the Premier League.
Honorable mentions
The following names deserve a place in the above list due to the immense talent and experience they bring to the Premier League, but we could not fit them all on a top 10 list. They include Joshua Zerkzee, Lenny Yoro, Pedro Lima, Jorgen Strand Larsen, Calors Soler, Morato, David Carmo, Nikola Milenkovic and Igor Thiago.
