Premier League clubs dominated the transfer market this summer, shelling out over £2.3 billion to strengthen their squads for the season. They spent more than La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, and Ligue 1 combined.
However, while some teams bolstered their arsenal, plugging the squad holes and bringing in the needed profiles, others weakened their sides or failed to improve on what they had.
Read on as we assess the winners and losers of the summer transfer window in the Premier League.
Biggest Winners
West Ham United
Julen Lopetegui and directors Mark Noble and Tim Steidten overhauled a struggling West Ham United team during the summer transfer window.
The Hammers signed Max Kilman, Jean-Clair Todibo, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka to strengthen a defence that shipped 74 goals in 38 games last term.
All three stars could be playing football for one of the top six sides in the top flight, and the fact that the Irons managed to snap them up is a coup.
They also added Carlos Soler from Paris Saint-Germain, with Guido Rodriguez joining as a free agent. The latter will provide much-needed cover for Edson Alvarez, while the former should help with midfield control.
In attack, West Ham made another significant coup with the addition of Crysencio Summerville from Leeds United, while youngster Luis Guilherme joined from Brazil.
West Ham also signed Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund, although there are doubts about whether he is the right fit for the team with younger, fitter, and better options available in the market.
It was a terrific window for West Ham, and they will look to start delivering results on the pitch.
They will be desperate to return to European football after their ninth-place finish last term and those keen to watch the new players in action can secure West Ham tickets on Seatsnet.com.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion attacked the transfer window as they looked to recover from a poor season under Roberto De Zerbi.
The Seagulls hired 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler and gave him a war chest as they look to push for European football again.
They picked up Amario Cozier-Duberry on a free transfer following his departure from Arsenal and 18-year-old Ivory Coast talent Malick Yalcouye.
They also signed Feyenoord defensive midfielder Mats Wieffer and Newcastle United starlet Yankuba Minteh, who spent last season on loan at the Eredivisie outfit.
Brighton also acquired promising wingers like Brajan Gruda and Ibrahim Osman before adding Ferdi Kadioglu and Celtic talisman Matt O’Riley.
However, their headline signing was Georginio Rutter from Leeds United. The 22-year-old French forward lit up the Championship last term and will look to carry that terrific form into the Premier League.
This rejuvenated Brighton have started the season with a 100% record, beating Everton and Manchester United while holding Arsenal to a draw in the Premier League. They also thrashed Crawley Town 4-0 in the second round of the League Cup.
Aston Villa
Aston Villa booked a place in the UEFA Champions League for the first time in over four decades and reinforced their squad for a return to Europe.
The Villains bolstered Unai Emery’s squad with the addition of Belgian powerhouse midfielder Amadou Onana, who has already started delivering the goods with some fine performances.
Villa signed Ross Barkley from Luton Town for a bargain fee and took Lewis Dobbin from Everton. They also brought in Ian Maatsen from Chelsea and re-signed Jadon Philogene.
Douglas Luiz left for Juventus, but Villa received talented pair Enzo Barrenechea and Samuel Iling-Junior plus cash in return for his services.
The Villains have started the season well, claiming scalps against Leicester City and West Ham, but they lost to Premier League contenders Arsenal at home.
Biggest Losers
Liverpool
Liverpool came into the summer transfer window needing refreshment in midfield, defence, and attack but barely managed to strengthen any of those areas of the pitch.
With Ibrahima Konate and Joel Matip battling with injuries last term, signing a new centre-half was a must this summer. But after missing out on top target Leny Yoro, they never pressed on for another player.
It was more of the same in the centre, where the team cried out for another holding midfielder, but Liverpool failed to secure their top target, Martin Zubimendi and never moved for another option.
Liverpool ended up signing goalkeeper Giorgio Mamardashvili, who joins the squad next season and injury-prone Federico Chiesa in attack.
Luckily, their drab operation in the transfer market hasn’t affected their season, with new manager Arne Slot leading the Merseysiders to three wins against Ipswich Town, Brentford, and Manchester United.
Chelsea
Chelsea entered the transfer window needing an experienced striker, a top-class left-back, and a reliable goalkeeper. They didn’t secure any of those despite doling out over £200 million in transfer fees.
Somehow, the Blues bungled a deal for Napoli marksman Victor Osimhen in the final hours of the transfer window.
They needed a goalkeeper and brought Filip Jorgensen from Villarreal.
However, his performance in the second leg of their clash with Servette showed he might not even be up to the level of what the West Londoners already have on their books.
Renato Veiga looks like a decent left-back, but the Blues needed a player to usurp Marc Cucurella’s place, not competition.
Chelsea have continued to shell out so much money in the transfer market, yet somehow managed to weaken their squad with their poor profiling and unambitious targets.
Manchester United
United took the puzzling decision to keep Erik ten Hag on as the manager despite their eighth-place finish last term.
They even handed the Dutchman a pair of assistants from his homeland and a handful of his targets.
Ten Hag continued to rebuild his old Ajax squad in England, signing defenders Matthijs De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui to bolster the backline.
The pair join Antony, Andre Onana, and Lisandro Martinez as former players he has carried from Amsterdam to Manchester.
United also added youngster Leny Yoro and promising Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee. They topped it off by signing Manuel Ugarte.
While their window was serviceable, it is hard to shake the feeling that they missed a trick or two in the market.
De Ligt is not a bad defender, and Yoro, even if overpriced, looks quite the talent. However, United should have gotten cheap competition for Onana in goal.
They also needed to bring in a left-back with Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia perpetually lying on the treatment table, but they didn’t sign one.
In midfield, while Ugarte brings the athleticism the team lacks, United failed to sign a controller profile. The Reds miss a central midfielder that can run the show.
In attack, they could have refreshed their flanks with Marcus Rashford looking bereft of confidence and Antony playing awfully, but they continue with these stale options.
United needed to tick some boxes to get a competitive squad ready to challenge neighbours Manchester City for the title but may have to settle for another mediocre campaign.
Losses to Liverpool and Brighton followed an opening-day win over Fulham.
It is already looking like a gloomy season for the 19-time Premier League champions, with Ten Hag feistily fighting journalists at press conferences.
United are one of the biggest losers in the transfer market this summer and are in for a long ride this season.
