The Arsenal star who is ‘seemingly perfect’, Man City’s ‘calculated risk’… and the man Spurs massively overpaid for: Our verdict on the Premier League’s 10 most expensive signings of the summer

The transfer window finally shut this week with Premier League clubs having spent a record £3.49bn across the summer. 

As the third weekend of the season begins, Daily Mail Sport takes a look at the 10 most expensive moves of the summer, asking who got the most bang for their buck…

10) Iliman Ndiaye – Everton to Manchester City, £65m – A

The first of four Manchester City signings on this list, Ndiaye’s rise to the top has been remarkable. Only three years ago he was playing for Sheffield United and now he will join Maresca’s new-look City side.

On balance, this looks to be City’s best signing. Proven in the Premier League, £65million for a 26-year-old who can perform almost anywhere across the front line is excellent business. 

His footwork, vision and experience should allow him to pair perfectly with Erling Haaland up top and supply him with ample service but Ndiaye himself always remains a constant goal threat, especially when given creative freedom.

Like all the others on this list there is potential for failure, but the chances are this one won’t backfire.

City’s faith in Ndiaye was highlighted by the winger being thrown straight into their starting line-up against Coventry, displacing Phil Foden in Maresca’s team. 

9) Bruno Guimaraes – Newcastle to Arsenal, £75m – A*

The only seemingly perfect signing on the list.

Strengthening when champions is never easy. On the one hand a club can spend too little – like Chelsea in the summer of 2015. On the other, like Liverpool last summer, it is so easy to spend a lot and then see the new men fail to hit the ground running.

Arsenal look to have avoided that, with their marquee signing being extremely impressive. Considering the price of the midfielders still to come on this list, this is an excellent deal. £75million for a world-class 28-year-old midfielder at the peak of his powers who will slot in perfectly next to Declan Rice almost seems too good to be true.

Considering the price of the midfielders still to come on this list, this is an excellent deal

8) Ayyoub Bouaddi – Lille to Manchester City, £81m – C

The second Manchester City man on the list in their £321million midfield is Moroccan talent, Ayyoub Bouaddi. 

Now many fans would be forgiven for not knowing about Bouaddi until the World Cup, but as is always the case the tournament has brought a new star into focus.

Bouaddi’s performances in the summer made him a target for lots of big clubs around Europe and City have done well to win the race. 

The 18-year-old is an extremely talented young midfielder who plays with a maturity well beyond his years, typically being deployed as a deep-lying playmaker but with the ability to move up into the No 8 role, a dream combination for a system like Maresca’s. 

He seems like the perfect young talent to team up with Enzo Fernandez and Elliot Anderson in City’s new midfield. There will, however, be numerous questions over this acquisition – the first one being the price, which for a relatively unproven young midfielder seems extortionate.

Critics will also wonder if he can adapt to the physicality and pace of the Premier League coming directly from Ligue 1.

The teenager looks like being slowly introduced into the City side, having come off the bench in the closing stages of their last two matches. 

Critics will also wonder if Bouaddi can adapt to the physicality and pace of the Premier League 

7) Savio – Manchester City to Tottenham, £85m – D

The first signing on this list for the window’s second biggest spenders is potentially their weakest.

From all the available evidence this is an underwhelming signing for Spurs. Savio, or Savinho as he was known before his move, from three years ago would still have been worth no more than £60million, and yet two seasons later, and after scoring just two league goals, City have managed to sell the winger, 22, for double what they paid for him.

This may seem harsh, and it is true that the Brazilian could rediscover his form and have a great impact at Spurs. De Zerbi is fan of touchline wingers with an ability to cut inside, as we saw with Mitoma and Minteh at Brighton. However, it is hard to argue that Savio is worth the money.

Savio sparkled off the bench on his debut against Championship side Charlton in the Carabao Cup last month, while De Zerbi acknowledged he was only fit enough for the first hour of their goalless draw with Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

The Brazilian could rediscover his form and have a great impact at Spurs, but he was expensive

6) Mateus Fernandes – West Ham to Tottenham for £85m – B

The next name on the list is a slightly better one for Tottenham than the previous. Multiple big clubs were in for this young Portuguese talent and so Spurs have done well to secure his services.

Fernandes presents much more upside to Tottenham than Savio and his new midfield partner Sandro Tonali (more on him shortly). The Portugal international is four years younger and up there with him in terms of quality.

Furthermore, compared to what young midfielders such as Elliot Anderson are going for this looks like a smart move. They have still paid over the odds for the 22-year-old but not by a ridiculous amount – and in beating the likes of Manchester United to the signing displayed the club’s ambition for the new season.

They haven’t started well but have plenty of time to turn it around and Fernandes could prove key to that. 

Spurs haven’t started well but have time to turn it around and Fernandes could prove key 

5) Sandro Tonali – Newcastle to Tottenham for £100m – D+

Sandro Tonali is an excellent player but is he worth £100m? No chance. This is a player who despite his talent, has never really had a sustained period of form and was a major part of an extremely disappointing Newcastle side last year.

It is clear why De Zerbi would want Tonali, 26, at Tottenham for his first full season at the club as the midfielder is made for a system built on fast build-up and dynamic defensive midfielders. 

But they’ve massively overpaid and piled more pressure on a risky buy, who – while it is early days – did not exactly look up to the task in Spurs’ opening games.

Tonali was spared a high-profile error against Nottingham Forest on Saturday, with Neco Williams goal ruled out for handball after the Italian had fluffed a clearance. 

Spurs have massively overpaid for Sandro Tonali and piled more pressure on a risky buy

4) Elliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest to Manchester City for £116m – B

This transfer feels like a calculated risk made by the biggest spenders in the division this summer.

Elliot Anderson was one of the standout performers in the Premier League last season, which was particularly impressive considering that he was fighting relegation with Forest for most of it. So naturally this transitioning City team identified Anderson as a key piece in rebuilding the midfield. His role will be even more crucial now they have lost Rodri to Barcelona. 

And on paper, this seems like the perfect recruit. Anderson’s quality is irrefutable and tactically he seems a perfect fit to play in the double pivot in Enzo Maresca’s favoured system.

The one drawback? It is a lot of money for a 23-year-old who is ultimately a risk at a very important time in City’s trajectory. City simply must get this new midfield up and running quickly. If Maresca does find a way to make this midfield tick perfectly then Anderson could become part of a new dynasty at the Etihad. If he fails, it is hard to see them having the control of matches needed to challenge for the title.

Elliot Anderson was one of the standout performers in the Premier League last season

3) Morgan Rogers – Aston Villa to Chelsea for £117m – A

Next is big spenders Chelsea’s latest superstar and new record signing, Morgan Rogers.

The Stamford Bridge faithful are elated with this move. Chelsea have been screaming out for a world-class talent to join Cole Palmer in their attack after many failed attempts to develop such a player themselves. 

Chelsea have overpaid for their new No 17 but not by an absurd amount. As was made clear last summer, elite talent does not come cheap. And that is exactly new boss Xabi Alonso has got, a truly world-class young player with over two years’ experience in the top flight. 

The price tag may well weigh on the 24-year-old’s mind, but he has already proved that he may very well be worth it, hitting the ground running with two marvellous performances in Chelsea’s first two games. 

Nevertheless, no signing is ever guaranteed to be a success, especially one as expensive as this and Rogers will have to keep up this form if he is to fully justify the price. 

Elite talent does not come cheap, and that is exactly new boss Xabi Alonso has in Rogers

2)  Bradley Barcola – PSG to Liverpool for £123m – A 

An excellent addition to the Premier League, Bradley Barcola promises to bring a blend of flair and effectiveness to a Liverpool side that have been desperate for such a player.

Ever since the departure of Sadio Mane back in 2022 the Reds have just not been able to replace him, but it looks as if they may finally have their man. Barcola is one Europe’s best forwards and was excellent for PSG on their way to back-to-back Champions League titles.

Questions will be asked over the price Liverpool have paid considering the struggles of their big money signings last season – however Barcola, if he can adapt, will be worth every penny.

Andoni Iraola looks to be the perfect coach for the 24-year-old as the Spaniard deploys his wingers in more central areas, gives them freedom to take on players and cut in. 

If Iraola can find the perfect blend across his new £400million front line of Barcola, Isak and Wirtz then Liverpool could become a real threat as the season develops.

Barcola made his Premier League debut by coming off the bench against Ipswich on Friday

1) Enzo Fernandez – Chelsea to Manchester City for £125m – B 

Heading up the list is the talented yet controversial Argentine.

A saga that dominated this summer’s window finally ended on deadline day and both teams involved will be glad it is over. Fernandez endured a tough summer but has come out of it as the latest addition to City’s rebuild. 

Considering the amount City have paid, this move is a risk but a calculated one. They have taken a top talent of a fierce rival after his best league season.

We all know the 25-year-old’s temperament and petulance can cause problems for him and his side – as we saw in the World Cup final when he was sent off for a mindless tackle in extra time. He is also to expect a hostile reception from all Premier League fans due to his behaviour during and after Argentina’s defeat of England in the summer.

Chelsea would be lying if they said they wanted Fernandez to walk but they can find some solace in offloading an unhappy player for such a large amount – though they could come to regret this loss as they have failed to replace him. The two clubs are also set to compete closely this season so a gulf in quality in the midfield could give City the upper hand. 

There is no guarantee of Fernandez succeeding in Manchester but if he can replicate the form he had shown under new City boss Enzo Maresca at Chelsea, then this could prove to be the ideal City signing. 

Fernandez was a last-minute call-up for his City debut on Saturday, with the midfielder drafted into the starting line-up due to an injury sustained by Nico O’Reilly.

The midfielder appeared to seamlessly fit into the City team, which fans will hope bodes well for the future.  

The 25-year-old’s temperament and petulance can cause problems for him and his side