Premier League Done Deals: Recap of the Biggest Summer Spenders

With the European Championship and Copa America taking place at the very start of the transfer window, business was relatively quiet in June, but once the continental competitions ended, clubs wasted no time in securing the services of their top transfer targets. 

Topping the price chart this summer was  Dominic Solanke, who was signed by Tottenham Hotspur for an eye-watering £65m from Premier League rivals Bournemouth. Joao Felix, Manuel Ugarte and Leny Yoro cost over £50m each, and Giorgi Mamardashvili was the most expensive goalkeeper purchased during the transfer window, costing Liverpool in the region of £30m. 

The 2024-25 campaign promises to be the most exciting one yet, so be sure to check out our Premier League predictions to give you a little helping hand with your bets this season. 

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Chelsea Break the Bank Again to Bolster Squad 

Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took charge of Chelsea in May 2022, the Blues have splashed out over £1.3bn on new player acquisitions and their spending spree did not slow down this summer as the West Londoners forked out £219.6m, making them the biggest spenders in the transfer window. That figure excludes the £56m spent on Estevao Willian, who will only join the club next season.

Almost half of their net spend was on two players, Pedro Neto (£54m) and Joao Felix (£46.3m), while the club also bid farewell to several players considered surplus to requirements under new boss Enzo Marsca, such as Conor Gallagher to Atletico Madrid, Ian Maatsen to Aston Villa and Romelu Lukaku to Napoli. 

Chelsea’s transfer business did not end until the final moments of the transfer deadline, with the club sealing a last-minute loan deal for Jadon Sancho from Manchester United. While the Blues did not have to pay anything for the England international upfront, they did agree to an obligation to buy clause of £23m, which they will have to pay the Red Devils at the start of next season. 

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Sir Jim Ratcliffe Splashes Cash in First Transfer Window

In a close second place was Manchester United, who are now under the guidance of British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The INEOS chief took over full control of football operations earlier this year when he purchased a minor stake in Man United and vowed to return the club to its former glory after years of heartache. 

Ratcliffe wasted no time making a splash as the Red Devils outmanoeuvred the likes of Real Madrid and Liverpool to sign highly-rated teenage defender Leny Yoro from Ligue 1 side Lille for over £50m and followed up with the acquisition of Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna for around £34.4m. 

While Chelsea made a late move to secure Sancho from Man United on deadline day, Erik ten Hag’s side were also working to get their own major deal done before the cutoff and managed to do so with the signing of Manuel Ugarte from Paris Saint-Germain after weeks of negotiations with Les Parisiens, who were unwilling to negotiate their valuation of the Uruguayan midfielder. 

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Seagulls Soar to Third Place in Spending Charts

A surprising third-highest spend of the summer window came from the South Coast of England where Brighton & Hove Albion coughed up over £190m on reinforcements. The marquee signing was Georginio Rutter from Leeds United, who cost the Seagulls £40m to pry him away from the Whites.

Yankuba Minteh arrived at the Amex Stadium from St James’ Park in a deal worth £33m, while Brajan Gruda and Ferdi Kadioglu cost Fabian Hurzeler’s side £25m each. However, in terms of net spend, Brighton leads the pack, having only made two confirmed sales, that of Pascal Gross to Borussia Dortmund for £5.9m and Billy Gilmour to Napoli for £11m.

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Spurs Finally Identify Harry Kane Replacement?

Tottenham Hotspur pocketed a staggering £82m when they allowed England captain Harry Kane to depart London for Bavaria and spent a full season sizing up potential replacements. The Lilywhites will hope they have now found their new talisman in Dominic Solanke, who was this summer’s most expensive signing in the Premier League at £65m. 

Ange Postecoglou’s side also invested £40m to sign Archie Gray from Leeds United and a further £25m on Wilson Odobert. As far as headline sales go, Oliver Skipp went for £20m to newly promoted Leicester City and Emerson Royal headed to Serie A giants AC Milan for £12.8m, though the majority of Spurs’ departures were by way of loan agreements.

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Big Business at the London Stadium this Summer

Rounding out the top five spenders in the Premier League this summer was another London club, West Ham United, who shelled out £133m on new blood. The lion’s share of that was spent on Max Kilman, who cost the Hammers £30m from Wolverhampton Wanderers, £13m more than the £27m the Irons splashed out for striker Niclas Fullkrug from Borussia Dortmund. 

Julen Lopetegui clearly prioritised strengthening West Ham’s defence in the offseason and the club obliged, adding Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Man United to their roster for a reported £15m plus add-ons. Flynn Downes brought in the most cash for the Hammers, with Southampton investing £18 to get him to depart the London Stadium.

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