2019 SUMMER TRANSFER WINDOW
It was a typical eventful and busy summer transfer window, with some surprise acquisitions, and as it has been in recent years, huge sums paid out for players. With the predictable flurry of transfer business done on deadline day, it took this summers spending to 1.41 billion, which just falls short of the record set in 2017 of 1.43 billion.
Below is my team by team review of the deals done.
ARSENAL
Nicolas Pepe (Lille) £72m
Gabriel Martinelli (Ituano) £6m
William Saliba (Saint-Etienne) £27m
Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) Loan
David Luiz (Chelsea) £8million
Kieran Tierney (Celtic) £25m
For a club that allegedly had only a £45m budget, Emery certainly did well. Arsenal broke their summer transfer window spending record, which had something to do with breaking their transfer record with Pepe. He will expect to go straight into the team to form a formidable front line. David Luiz came out of the blue (literally) and his experience and ability on the ball will be invaluable and a much needed addition to the backline.
Although there has always been question about Scottish football. Tierney looks as though he could be a very decent signing with room for improvement. I am really interested to see what loan signing Ceballos can bring to the Gunners, as he looks a class footballer. Saliba looks decent but will not be seen until next season. Martinelli is a young Brazilian forward.
AFC BOURNEMOUTH
Arnaut Danjuma (Club Bruges) £13.7m?
Lloyd Kelly (Bristol City) £13m
Jack Stacey (Luton Town) £4m
Philip Billing (Huddersfield) £15m
Harry Wilson (Liverpool) Loan
Eddie Howe’s transfer business this summer could go either way. Billing comes in for decent money and will hope to hit the ground running, due to his Premier League experience and ability. Danjuma is a pacy Nigerian born winger who has been capped for Netherlands. Kelly is a young defender coming in for a decent money at his age and will hope to develop under Howe.
Stacy is a versatile midfielder who will hope to step up from the lower leagues. I am really interested to see loan signing Wilson at Bournemouth. I think it could be a good move for both parties. Bournemouth play good football which Wilson will enjoy and Bournemouth could benefit for his set piece taking.
ASTON VILLA
Tom Heaton (Burnley) £8m
Marvelous Nakamba (Club Bruges) £11m
Jota (Birmingham) £4m
Anwar El Ghazi (Lille) £8m
Wesley (Club Brugge) £22m
Kortney Hause (Wolves) £3m
Matt Targett (Southampton) £17m
Tyrone Mings (Bournemouth) £20m
Ezri Konsa (Brentford) £12m
Bjorn Engels (Reims) £7.2m
Trezeguet (Kasimpasa) £9m
Douglas Luiz (Manchester City) £16.8m
Dean Smith has brought in a whole host of players in hope Villa can stay in the league past one season. They have high hopes for skilful midfielder Douglas Luiz, after two seasons at Man City without getting an opportunity. As well as Brazilian forward Wesley, who could link with Club Brugge team mate Nakamba in midfield. Mings performed well last season on loan so his move was made permanent. As did El Ghazi. Targett could be a decent acquisition at both ends of the pitch. Engels could also be a key signing at the back.
Egyptian midfielder Trezeguet could be an exciting addition, as could the skills of Jota in midfield. For me, the real key signing could be goalkeeper Heaton. I’m surprised Burley let him go, but his experience and ability will be important for Villa’s chances. Konsa and Hause are defenders from lower divisions hoping to make an impact.
BRIGHTON
Adam Webster (Bristol City) £20m
Matt Clarke (Portsmouth) Undisclosed
Leandro Trossard (Genk) £18m
Taylor Richards (Man City) £2.5m
Lewis Freestone (Unattached) Free
Neal Maupay (Brentford) £20m
Romaric Yapi (Paris St-Germain) Undisclosed
Aaron Mooy (Huddersfield) Loan
I feel Brighton are in for a tough season and Graham Potter will need some of his new signings to hit the ground running. Namely loan signing Mooy, who has obvious talent and will need to come into the team as leader to help his new teams chances and not experience two religions in two season. French striker Maupay did wonders in the Championship. However, for a fee around £20m, he will be hoping to adapt to life in the Premier League quickly to provide goals.
Webster is another hoping to adapt to life in the top flight. He is a solid defender, but it will also be touch and go to see if he can adapt to top flight football. Yapi is a young French full back hoping for first team action. Trossard is a Belgian winger hoping to make an impact. Richards, Clarke and Freeston are all young defenders hoping for an opportunity.
BURNLEY
Bailey Peacock-Farrell (Leeds United) £2.5m
Erik Pieters (Stoke City) £1m
Joel Senior (Curzon Ashton) Undisclosed
Jay Rodriguez (West Bromwich Albion) £5m
Ryan Cooney (Bury) Undisclosed
Adam Phillips (Norwich) Free
Danny Drinkwater (Chelsea) Loan
Sean Dyche has done his usual short, sharp shrewd business this summer, in what could be an indifferent season. Rodriguez is an interesting signing, I am sure he is happy to be back in the Premier League and I believe will provide some good attacking options. Drinkwater will also hope he can come in, provide experience and make an immediate impact, following an indifferent Chelsea career.
Pieters will bring further experience at the back Peacock-Farrell is a young goalkeeper. Senior is a Jamaican international forward hoping to get an opportunity. Cooney is a young defender and Philips is a young midfielder who has been capped for England u16s & 17’s.
CHELSEA
Mateo Kovacic (Real Madrid) £40m
Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund) Loan
After their much publicised transfer embargo. Chelsea only managed to, fortunately for Frank Lampard bring in Kovacic permanently after a successful loan spell last season.
Also, the highly touted American forward Pulisic, where it will be interesting to see how he adapts to life in the Premier League and if he can make an impact.
CRYSTAL PALACE
Stephen Henderson (Nottingham Forest) Free
Jordan Ayew (Swansea City) £2.5m
Gary Cahill (Unattached) Free
Victor Camarasa (Real Betis) Loan
James McCarthy (Everton) £3m
Palace manager Hodgson has made some intelligent signings where experience seems key. Cahill with bring an abundance of experience at the highest level to bolster the defence. Ayew will also bring experience, as well as attacking options.
That experience theme continues with McCarthy who will provide some solidity in midfield. I saw flashes of Camarasa’s ability last season for Cardiff to suggest he can make an impact. Henderson is an experience goalkeeper who has been at almost 20 clubs.
EVERTON
Jonas Lossl (Huddersfield Town) Free
Andre Gomes (Barcelona) £22m
Fabian Delph (Manchester City) £8.5m
Jean-Philippe Gbamin (Mainz) £25m
Moise Kean (Juventus) £25m
Djibril Sidibe (Monaco) Loan
Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) £34m
Marco Silva has continued Everton’s recent tradition of shelling out large sums of money during the transfer window in hope of getting closer to the top six in the league. They will be happy to get Gomes permanantly, he proved last season what a quality footballer he is. Young Moise Kean could be a huge signing for just £25m he has all the attributes to make a real impact in England and is an exciting prospect. Delph will bring experience and versatility to the team.
Iwobi’s deadline day signing supervised everyone. He comes in for a relatively big fee but the fresh start at a new club might just be what he needs to take his game to the next level. Gbamin is a strong defensive midfielder who is a direct replacement for Gueye. Sidibe is an experienced French full back and Lossl will be Premier League experience in goal.
LEICESTER CITY
James Justin (Luton Town) £6m
Ayoze Perez (Newcastle United) £30m
Vontae Daley-Campbell (Arsenal) Undisclosed
George Hirst (OH Leuvens) Undisclosed
Ali Reghba (Bohemians) Undisclosed
Youri Tielemans (Monaco) £40m
Mitchell Clark (Aston Villa) Free
Dennis Praet (Sampdoria) Undisclosed
In Brendan Rodgers’ first full season in charge, his summer transfer window is about stamping his personality on the team. Although his first job was to secure the permanent signing of youngster Tielemens who had a superb last season.
Perez will be an interesting signing who may fit neatly into the side with his energy and all acting style, as well as goals. Praet is an attacking midfielder with almost 100 games in Serie A. Hirst is a young striker, as is Reghba. Daley-Campbell is young athletic full back. Justin and Clarke are both young defenders.
LIVERPOOL
Sepp van den Berg (PEC Zwolle) £1.3m
Harvey Elliott (Fulham) Undisclosed
Adrian (Unattached) Free
The European Champions who missed out on the league via one point feel they have all they need to go one better as they made no major signings. However, they did bring in Adrain who is a very capable back up to Alisson with loads of experience. Van den Berg is a teenager with experience of playing in the Dutch league. Elliot is the youngest player ever to play in the Premier League and Klopp will hope both will develop well for the future.
MANCHESTER CITY
Angelino (PSV Eindhoven) £5.3m
Rodri (Atletico Madrid) £62.8m
Joao Cancelo (Juventus) £60m
Scott Carson (Derby) Loan
Just when you thought City had tempered their astronomical signings, they do what they do best. First, Rodri impressed in the disciplined and rigid Simeone set at Atletico and will bring a lot to the City midfield. Guardiola splashed out £60 for full back Cancelo who will be an exciting prospect in Pep’s system. Angelino is a Spanish full back hoping to make an impact and Carson will provide goalkeeper cover with bags of experience.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Harry Maguire (Leicester) £80m
Daniel James (Swansea) £15m
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Crystal Palace) £50m
Man Utd once again broke the bank to bring in what they need. After a long pursuit, Maguire made the switch for a world record fee for a defender and the pressure will be on to perform but there is no doubt he has quality and will improve the team.
That’s combined with young Wan-Bissaka who had rave reviews for his performances for Palace last season but he will know the level has up a gear now, Solskjaer will hope he can rise to it. James is a young, nippy Welsh winger who will hope to get an opportunity to shine.
NEWCASTLE UNITED
Jetro Willems (Eintracht Frankfurt) Loan
Allan Saint-Maximin (Nice) £20m
Joelinton (Hoffenheim) £40m
Kyle Scott (Unattached) Free
Jake Turner (Bolton Wanderers) Undisclosed
Emil Krafth (Amiens) £5m
Andy Carroll (West Ham) Free
Jacob Murphy (Sheff Wed) Loan
Newcastle’s new boss Steve Bruce wasted no time in bringing some new faces. Obviously, Andy Carroll coming back to his old stomping ground could be huge. But this is providing he can stay relatively fit. Joeliton looks a real exciting acquisition and will hope or expect to hit the ground running. He has undoubted talent and has feared well in preseason. I believe he could be a really good signing and something of a cult hero on Tyneside.
Williams is a relatively young but experience full back who has been capped for Netherlands. Saint-Maximin is a young, exciting winger and will easily be one of the fastest players in the Premier League. Murphy is still relatively young but is now on no less than his 9th club on loan and will hope to make an impact. Kraft is a full back who has played in Italy & Spain and been capped for Sweden. Scott is a young midfielder and Turner is a goalkeeper.
NORWICH CITY
Patrick Roberts (Man City) Loan
Josip Drmic (Borussia Monchengladbach) Free
Archie Mair (Aberdeen) Undisclosed
Rob Nizet (Anderlecht) Undisclosed
Rocky Bushiri (K.V. Oostende) Undisclosed
Aidan Fitzpatrick (Partick Thistle) £350,000
Ralf Fahrmann (Schalke) Undisclosed
Charlie Gilmour (Arsenal) Free
Sam Byram (West Ham United) £700,000
Daniel Adshead (Rochdale) £300,000
Reece McAlear (Motherwell) Undisclosed
Ibrahim Amadou (Sevilla) Loan
It seems to now be a tradition for newly promoted teams to make an abundance of signings. Norwich manager Daniel Farke is no different. Drmic could be a useful signing upfront. He has experience and is a Switzerland international. Fahrmann is an extremely experienced German goalkeeper. French-Cameroon centre back Amadou could bring some much needed defensive solidity.
Byram is a full back with some experience in the Premier League and will hope to use that for his new team and kick start his career. Nizet and Bushiri are young teenage defenders. Roberts is a young winger capped at every England youth level. Gilmour is a young DM. McAlear is a Scottish teenager midfielder. Fitzpatrick is also a young winger. Adshead is a young teenager midfielder. Mair is a young goalkeeper.
SHEFFIELD UNITED
Oli McBurnie (Swansea) £17.5m
Luke Freeman (QPR) £5m
Phil Jagielka (Everton) Free
Callum Robinson (Preston) £7m
Ravel Morrison (Ostersund) Free
Lys Mousset (Bournemouth) £10m
Dean Henderson (Manchester United) Loan
Ben Osborn (Nottingham Forest) Undisclosed
Muhamed Besic (Everton) Loan
Michael Verrips (KV Mechelen) Free
Many are expecting Sheffield United to have a tough season. However, I was impressed by Manager Chris Wilder’s summer window. The late singing of McBurnie could be key for a team who will need goals. That said, Jagielka’s vast experience at the back will also be invaluable. Mousset also has experience in the Premier League and will hope to make more of an impact with United then he did with Bournemouth. That also goes for Besic from Everton who has ability and could revive his career in Sheffield.
A very interesting signing is Morrison. Once touted as one of the best young prospects in the country. For one reason or another, he fell by the way side. This would be the perfect opportunity to revive his career. Freeman is an experiencing winger from the lower divisions. Robinson is a forward hoping to make an impact in the Premier League. Osborn is a versatile midfielder with vast championship experience. Henderson is a young goalkeeper.
SOUTHAMPTON
Moussa Djenepo (Standard Liege) £14m
Che Adams (Birmingham City) £15m
Danny Ings (Liverpool) £20m
Tommy Scott (Yeovil Town) Undisclosed
Ralph Hasenhuttl impressed in his half a season at Southampton and he has impressed once again in the summer window where he shows a clear intent for the season.
Ings did enough on loan to show he could be an asset and they had no qualms in spending £20m on him. Adams has been brought in after impressing in the Championship and he could form a very capable front line. Dinepo is a young winger with bags of pace. Scott is a young goalkeeper.
TOTTENHAM
Kion Etete (Notts County) Undisclosed
Jack Clarke (Leeds) £10m
Tanguy Ndombele (Lyon) £55m
Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis) Loan
Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham) £25m
After making no signings last season. The Spurs faithful must have been itching to see who their team would be brining in this window. However, I was surprised they didnt do more business than they did. That said, they wasted no time in forking out big money for Ndombele who is a strong and solid DM. They also brought in highly touted Sessegnon, who has all the potential and ability to be a star at Spurs. Lo Celso is a neat and tidy midfielder who was at PSG for three season before going to Betis. Etete is a young striker and Clarke is a young winger.
WATFORD
Bayli Spencer-Adams (Arsenal) Free
Craig Dawson (West Brom) £5.5m
Sam Dalby (Leeds United) Free
Ismaila Sarr (Rennes) £27m
Danny Welbeck (Arsenal) Free
Tom Dele-Bashiru (Man City) compensation
Mason Barrett (West Ham) Undisclosed
Callum Whelan (Manchester United) Free
Watford had a relatively decent season and are going into a the new season with the same manager for the first time in six seasons. Javi Gracia has intelligently brought in Dawson to provide some experience at the back.
Welbeck could be a shrewd signing with his experience provided he stays fit is is used well. Sarr is a young Senegalese international with decent first team experience for his age and has the abilities to make an impact in the league. Whelan and Dele-Bashiru are both young, skilful midfielders. Spender-Adams and Barrett are both young defenders. Salby is a young striker.
WEST HAM UNITED
Roberto (Espanyol) Free
David Martin (Millwall) Free
Pablo Fornals (Villarreal) £25m
Sebastian Haller (Eintracht Frankfurt) £45m
Goncalo Cardoso (Boavista) Undisclosed
Albian Ajeti (Basel) £8m
I consider this to be an indifferent window for West Ham and not sure what to make of Manuel Pellegrini’s signings. Haller has come in for big money from Germany. He will no doubt go straight into the team but for the price tag, will need to hit the ground running.
Ajeti is a young Swiss striker who has been capped for his country. Fornals is a Spanish attacking midfielder with decent experience from La Liga. Rodrigo and Martin and two vastly experienced goalkeepers and Cardoso is a young centre back.
WOLVERHAMPTON
Raul Jimenez (Benfica) £34m
Hong Wan (Yeovil Town) Undisclosed
Raphael Nya (PSG) Undisclosed
Leander Dendoncker (Anderlecht) £12m
Tsun Dai (Oxford United) Undisclosed
Jesus Vallejo (Real Madrid) Loan
Patrick Cutrone (AC Milan) £16m
Flavio Cristovao Free Agent
Pedro Neto (Braga) Undisclosed
Bruno Jordao (Braga) Undisclosed
Renat Dadashov (Estoril) Undisclosed
Meritan Shabani (Bayern Munich) Undisclosed
Wolves had a superb season last year after promotion and it seems they are not resting on their laurels with another impressive window. Right off the bat. Striker Cutrone could be a shrewd acquisition, he certainly knows where the goal is and young enough to improve. He will be added to Jimenez whose superb season was a big factor in their success and the reason why they splashed out £34m to keep him at Molineux. Dendoncker also did enough last season for manager Nuno Espirito Santo to make his stay permanent.
Vallejo is a defender who will be looking to get some vital playing time in the Premier League. Interested to see what part young defender Nya could play, if any. That also goes for the young exciting winger Neto. Shabani is a young attacking midfielder. Jordao is a young Portuguese midfielder. Cristovao is a young centre back or DM. Dadashov is a young striker. Dai is a young midfielder from Hong Kong and Wan is a young midfielder.
