Just when you thought Premier League teams couldn’t get any crazier, they went and smashed their previous transfer record, spending 3.49bn.
This was more than the top four leagues in Europe combined.
Below are my notable signings this summer for each team, and net spend totals from lowest to highest.
CHELSEA: NET SPEND – £67.3m
Chelsea brought in the fourth-most players (14) and were the second-highest spenders, but also had the highest income, over £340m, offloading 20 players. Morgan Rogers (£117) looks a good buy, even for the money. They added quality and experience with Emi Martinez (7.5m), Jordan Henderson (Free) and Danny Welbeck (£5m).
New manager Xabi Alonso also added defensive depth and stability with Maxence Lacroix (£52m), Marco Palestra (£35m) and Pep Chavarria (£16.3m). Other notable signings were midfielder Valentin Barco (£35m) and teenage striker Geovany Quenda (£40m).
ASTON VILLA: NET SPEND – £62.8m
Villa had the third-highest income of over £314m. They also offloaded the joint-most players (24), six of whom started the Europa League final. However, they did spend the fourth-highest amount, and the pressure will be on new signings such as Joao Gomez (£34m), Nicolas Jackson (£47.55m) and Taylor Harwood-Bellis (£25m).
They will need the experience of loan signings Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Alejandro Garnacho, as well as Matteo Ruggeri (£21.4m) and Leon Goretzka (free). Then hope for some flair and excitement from Ibrahim Mbaye (£47m) and Johan Munzambi (£51m).
CRYSTAL PALACE: NET SPEND – £47m
Crystal Palace spent the least on transfers this window, just £31m and have come accustomed to losing their best players. They offloaded the joint most players (24). New manager Pierre Sage will need his new players to step up, including the deadline-day signings of Quinten Timber (£18m), Ben Chilwell (free), and the loan signing Axel Disasi.
Evann Guessand is back on loan with an option to buy, with Dwight McNeil (£20m), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Free), Anan Khalaiili (£20m) and teenager Zavier Gozo (£10m).
BRIGHTON: NET SPEND – £25m
The seagulls had the fifth-highest income offloading the joint-most players (24) but lost a lot of experience. They brought in the third most players (14) and will need their new signing to hit the ground running. Pascal Struijk (£18m) will add some experience, as will full-back Costinha (£11m).
There could be pressure on teenage defender Luka Vusovic (£46m), who came in for a big fee. Other signings they brought in were Fami Azez (£15m), Zadok Yohanna (£21.8m), Jaouen Hadjam (£9.5m), Matias Orozco (£3.5m) and Rodrigo Rêgo (£3m).
NOTTINGHAM FOREST: NET SPEND – £18.7m
Despite making a profit, mainly due to one very high-profile sale. New manager Oliver Glasner has started his revamping of Forest with forward Liam Delap (£45m) to spearhead or bolster the attack. He brought in a player he knows very well from Crystal Palace, Daniel Muñoz (£22m).
Forest will also hope the key contributions from defender Ousmane Dionande (£34.3m), midfielders Gustavo Sa (£17.5m) and Xaver Schlager (free).
EVERTON: NET SPEND – £2.2m
As usual, David Moyes was busy in the transfer window. Everton offloaded the joint third-most players (20) and made a slight profit. Despite losing a few, Everton will be happy with the signings of Tyrique George (£18m), Hayden Hackney (£16.5m), and Jack Grealish on loan.
It will be interesting to see how he works with the potentially exciting Brennan Johnson (£21.7m) and Merlin Röhl (17.3m). They also brought in experienced Christian Norgaard (£7m) and Ainsley Maitland-Niles (£3m).
NEWCASTLE: NET SPEND £30.9m
New manager Matthias Jaissle was very busy in this window. They spent the fourth-highest on incomings, but also had the fourth-highest income on their outgoings. The likes of Amar Dedic (£30m), Lukas Hornicek (£25.7m) and Nico González (£52m) have already started the season well.
Already this season, they have featured youngsters Sean Steur (£23m) and Bazoumana Toure (£42). They bought another younger Aladji Bamba (£30m). But Newcastle will be excited to see new forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo (£51m).
SUNDERLAND: NET SPEND £31.7m
Sunderland surprised everybody last season and qualified for Europe, after they brought in a whole host of players last summer. However, Le Bris had a relatively low-key transfer window this summer. But, their last-minute, deadline day steal of young, exciting winger Malik Fofana (£30.8m) pleased the fans.
They also brought in the very experienced Thomas Meunier (free), as well as Kevin Danso (loan). Midfielder, Juan Riquelme Angulo (£5m), who has already made an impact. Also, youngsters Dayann Methalie (£24.07) and Jules Ahoka (£8.6m).
BOURNEMOUTH: NET SPEND £46.7m
Another new manager, Marco Rose, had a mixed transfer window, with several players leaving the club. He also made the second-least in outgoings this window. Their main new signings were centre-back António Silva (21.4m) and centre forward Álvaro Rodríguez (21.4m).
They brought in full-backs Jualnu Sanchez (£8m) and Álex Jiménez (£15.5m), and goalkeeper Michele Di Gregorio (loan). The emphasis was on youth, as only the goalkeeper was over 22.
LEEDS UNITED: NET SPEND £62.2m
Leeds impressed, signing goalkeeper James Trafford (£40), who has already started the season well, as has defender Tarik Muharemovic (£34.1). They will hope the experience and quality of Harry Wilson (free) will bring good things. Leeds also made the fifth-lowest on outgoings.
They have experienced centre-back Nico Elvedi (£6.5m) and goalkeeper Michael Zetterer (£2.5m) and hope to see a return on left-sided loan players Jean-Matteo Bohoya and Melvin Bard.
FULHAM: NET SPEND £71.5m
Fulham’s new manager, and former Real Madrid manager Álvaro Arbeloa, is no stranger to spending money. But working on a shorter budget must have been hard. He wasted no time raiding his old club, signing forward Gonzalo Garcia (£35m) and midfielder César Palacios (£8.5m).
He also brought in midfielder She Charles (£30m), defender David Affengruber (£10m), Bayern teenager Jonah Kusi-Asare (£5m), Young Real Madrid reserve player Manuel Angel (£3m) and defender Hugo Larsson on loan.
BRENTFORD: NET SPEND £99.5m
After a superb first season under Keith Andrews, Brentford are tying to keep a settled squad, and had the fourth-lowest amount for outgoings. For incomings, Mamadou Sangare (£39m) has already started the season well. They also got the experienced Callum Wilson on a free.
Full-back El Hadji Malick Diouf (£40m) will also add experience and quality, as will Jaidon Anthony for a steal at (£17m). Lastly, they also acquired defender Jannik Schuster (£16.5m).
HULL CITY: NET SPEND £103.7m
Hull City have splashed the cash and brought in the most players (18). They also made the third-least in outgoings. However, goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis (£20m) will be important and has started well. As has Hidemasa Morita (free). They will also need the experience of Jack Butland (£3m) and Matt Targett (free).
Other players they have brought in are Nobel Mendy (£20m) Lucas Herrington (£17.1m) Ilyas Ansah (£14.5m), Mohamed-Ali Cho (£13m), Tim Iroegbunam (£13m), Joe Gelhardt (£6.5m), Lucas Gourna-Douath (3.4m), Elliot Stroud (£3m), Ben Robinson (free), Christos Mouzakitis (undisclosed fee), Sorba Thomas (undisclosed fee),
MANCHESTER UNITED: NET SPEND £118m
No stranger to splashing the cash, it’s unusual to not see Man Utd dominant the window, especially being back in the Champions League. However, they identified a specific area for improvement and brought in three midfielders. Youri Tielemans (£35m) looks like good business. They also surprised with the purchase of Andrey Santos (£50m).
As the transfer window wound down, they finally completed the mammoth signing of Carlos Baleba (£70m). They also added backup goalkeeper Karl Darlow on a free.
MANCHESTER CITY: NET SPEND £125.4m
Man City once again excelled in the transfer window and spent the most, although they recouped plenty with outgoings. They wasted no time very early in the window, spending big on Elliot Anderson (£116m). Then the teenage sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi (£85.6m).
They signalled their intent with the combined deadline day purchases of Enzo Fernandez (£125m) and Iliman Ndiaye (£60m). To add to all that, they also brought in Brazilian winger Allan (£32m), another teenage sensation, Jeremy Monga (£12.5m) and backup goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli (£1.7m).
COVENTRY: NET SPEND £129.8m
The Championship winners spent big on several players. They also offloaded the fewest permanent players this window and made the least on outgoings. So, will need the experience of Taiwo Awoniyi (£9m), Ethan Pinnock (£6m), Frank Onyeka (undisclosed) and Gustavo Hamer (£6m).
They will also hope for quality from goalkeeper Carl Rushworth (£22.5m) and key contributions from the likes of midfielder Caleb Yirenkyi (£23m). Forwards Loum Tchaouna (£20m), Sidiki Cherif (£20.5m), and defender Aurele Amenda (£15.4m).
ARSENAL: NET SPEND £136.6m
The Premier League champions have strengthened in their quest for back-to-back titles. Bruno Guimaraes (£75m) looks a very good signing, as does Christos Tzolis (£34m), who has started the season well. The late signing of Ezri Konsa (£51m) looks another good one.
To add to them, they also brought in a good backup goalkeeper in Illan Meslier on a free and made the loan signing Piero Hincapie (£45m) permanent.
TOTTENHAM: NET SPEND £176m
Following two 17th place finishes, Spurs came out swinging with midfielders Sandro Tonali (£92.5m) and Mateus Fernandes (£85m). Then brought in Man City duo of Savio (£75m) and Omar Marmoush (loan). Tottenham were the third-highest spenders and the sixth-highest for incomings.
They also did good business defensively with the signings of Jan Paul van Hecke (£52m), Tosin Adarabioyo (£7m) and two good free signings in Marcos Senesi and Andy Robertson. With backup goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. If that wasn’t enough, they puzzled with the acquisition of outcast Mykhailo Mudryk on loan.
IPSWICH: NET SPEND £190.7m
Ipswich splashed the cash in their quest to stay in the league. They offloaded the second-most players (21) and brought in the second-most (16), including the exciting forward duo of Julio Enciso (£26m) and Emersonn (£24m). Also, Daizen Maeda (£10m), who could be a surprise package.
They have also added a combination of excitement, goals and experience in Abdul Fatawu (£20m), Zian Flemming (£20m) and Sasa Lukic (£9m). Further experience in Issa Diop (£8.5m), with further notable players such as Florentino Luis (£16m), Chuba Akpom (£7m) and Abdoul Ouattara (£17m).
LIVERPOOL: NET SPEND £219.4m
Liverpool were the sixth-highest spenders but had the highest net spend for this window. They come into the season with a new manager and under some pressure to perform. However, they will be happy with the blockbuster signing of Bradley Barcola (£123m) but need him to perform.
Defender Jeremy Jacquet (£55m) looks a good signing and has started the season well, as has exciting winger Victor Munoz (£34.5m). The loan signing of defender Ronald Araujo also looks a good one.
