Ten Premier League Signings You should be Excited About for the 2025/26 Season

With the summer 2025 transfer window officially closed, Premier League clubs have shattered spending records with over £3 billion invested in new talent. While headline-grabbing moves like Alexander Isak’s British record £125 million transfer to Liverpool captured global attention, some of the most intriguing signings flew under the radar. These overlooked gems could prove to be the season’s biggest revelations, offering exceptional value and transformative potential for their new clubs.

The Record-Breaking Transfer Window Context

The 2025 summer transfer window will be remembered as the most expensive in Premier League history. Reigning champions Liverpool led the charge with their deadline-day acquisition of Alexander Isak for a British record £125 million, following their earlier £100 million investment in Florian Wirtz. However, beyond these marquee signings lies a treasure trove of carefully scouted talent that promises to reshape the competitive landscape of English football.

1. Nick Woltemade – Stuttgart to Newcastle (£75m)

Nick Woltemade represents Newcastle’s most ambitious statement of intent, and while his £75 million price tag places him among the window’s bigger deals, his unique profile makes him utterly fascinating. The German striker is a contradiction wrapped in 6-foot-6 frame – possessing immense technical ability, agility, and vision that defies conventional expectations for a player of his stature.

In his breakthrough season at Stuttgart, Woltemade established himself as one of Europe’s most complete center-forwards. Among players from the top five leagues with 900+ minutes, only six averaged at least 2.0 shots (2.7), 0.3 non-penalty expected goals (0.44), 7.0 touches in the opposition box (9.8), and 1.0 open-play chances created (1.9) per 90 minutes. Woltemade achieved all these benchmarks, showcasing his dual threat as both creator and finisher.

His creative output stands particularly impressive – no nominal center-forward in the Bundesliga matched his 1.9 open-play chances created per 90 minutes during 2024-25. His 0.25 expected assists per 90 minutes rivaled the division’s elite playmakers, matching even Florian Wirtz’s output.

2. El Hadji Malick Diouf – Slavia Prague to West Ham (£20m)

West Ham’s £20 million investment in El Hadji Malick Diouf raised eyebrows initially, but the 20-year-old Senegalese left-back has quickly vindicated the club’s vision. His impact began in pre-season and continued seamlessly into competitive action, demonstrating the quality that made him one of Prague’s standout performers.

Diouf’s crossing ability immediately stands out – his 107 open-play crosses ranked second among all Czech First League players last season. This delivery quality has translated brilliantly to English football, with his excellent cross creating Callum Wilson’s goal in West Ham’s impressive 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest.

Beyond his technical skills, Diouf’s mentality impresses coaches and teammates alike. His off-ball movement statistics rank him second among full-backs and wing-backs for off-ball runs (68) and off-ball runs into the final third (28) this season, constantly providing attacking outlets for his team.

3. Tyler Dibling – Southampton to Everton (£40m)

Tyler Dibling‘s journey from Championship uncertainty to Everton’s attacking arsenal represents one of the window’s most intriguing storylines. Initially, Southampton’s relegation and the teenager’s hefty asking price deterred potential suitors, but Everton’s eventual £40 million commitment reflects their belief in his exceptional ceiling.

The 19-year-old’s graceful playing style draws immediate comparisons to Jack Grealish, both in his elegant ball-carrying technique and his distinctive short socks. His statistics support the visual impression – averaging 13.2 meters per carry placed him eighth among Premier League wingers with 900+ minutes in 2024-25, showcasing remarkable bravery and technical confidence for such a young player.

His dribbling numbers particularly impress – 5.6 take-on attempts per 90 minutes ranked seventh among wingers, while his 14 multi take-ons were bettered only by Mohammed Kudus and Jérémy Doku (22 each). His ability to draw fouls while dribbling (21) ranked second only to Morgan Rogers (22), despite playing nearly 1,300 fewer minutes.

4. Harvey Elliott – Liverpool to Aston Villa (Loan)

Harvey Elliott‘s loan move to Aston Villa represents a calculated gamble that could accelerate his development significantly. After impressing at the European Under-21 Championship and harboring ambitions for England’s World Cup squad, Elliott needed regular first-team football that Liverpool’s star-studded lineup couldn’t guarantee.

Unai Emery’s tactical sophistication makes Villa an ideal destination for Elliott’s skillset. While traditionally known for quick transitions, Villa scored nine build-up goals last season – bettered only by Manchester City’s ten. Elliott’s blend of technical ability, passing range, and ball-carrying skills suits both transitional and possession-based phases perfectly.

His productivity statistics over the past two seasons reveal his potential impact – only five players averaged more shots and chances created per 90 minutes in Premier League games than Elliott’s 6.0. Additionally, only Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri were involved in more open-play shot-ending sequences per 90 minutes, highlighting his creative influence.

5. Michael Kayode – Fiorentina to Brentford

Michael Kayode‘s permanent move to Brentford following a successful loan spell exemplifies the club’s shrewd recruitment strategy. The Italian full-back has immediately established himself as a dynamic force, combining exceptional athleticism with technical proficiency.

His defensive intensity sets the foundation for his impact. Among Brentford players, only central midfielder Yehor Yarmolyuk (79) has pressured opponents more frequently in the defensive third than Kayode (76). Crucially, 82% of his pressures qualify as “high intensity” – a figure bettered only by Nathan Collins (85.2%) among teammates with 30+ pressures in that zone.

Kayode’s combative nature extends to individual duels, where he leads Brentford for tackles per 90 minutes (2.7) and ranks second for ground duels won (4.8 per 90), trailing only Rico Henry (5.6). His attacking contributions add another dimension – he leads Premier League defenders for completed dribbles (five) and has created unique threats through his long throw-ins, launching eight throws into penalty areas and creating two chances directly.

6. Adrien Truffert – Rennes to Bournemouth

Bournemouth‘s acquisition of Adrien Truffert represents another masterstroke in their recent recruitment success story. Following Milos Kerkez’s profitable departure to Liverpool, the Cherries identified the French left-back as an ideal replacement who could maintain their tactical standards while offering significant upside potential.

Truffert’s Ligue 1 credentials speak to his quality – only midfielder Ludovic Blas (47) created more chances for Rennes than Truffert’s 39 last season. His crossing frequency ranked among the division’s elite, with 145 attempts placing him sixth among all Ligue 1 players. His defensive contributions proved equally valuable, winning possession 139 times (most among Rennes players) and completing 61 tackles (second only to Azor Matusiwa’s 64).

His Premier League adaptation has been seamless, epitomized by his standout performance in Bournemouth’s 1-0 victory at Tottenham. Truffert completed more tackles than anyone else (5), won more duels than any Bournemouth teammate (12), and attempted five crosses – joint-most in the match.

7. Anton Stach – Hoffenheim to Leeds United

Leeds United‘s capture of Anton Stach represents exceptional value for a player whose statistics suggest he should have attracted interest from Europe’s elite clubs. The Germany international’s two solid seasons at Hoffenheim following his 2023 move from Mainz established him as one of the Bundesliga’s most effective defensive midfielders.

His 2024-25 season showcased remarkable consistency – only six players won possession more frequently than Stach’s 171 times, while just ten registered more interceptions (46). His previous campaign proved even more impressive, leading all Bundesliga players with 74 interceptions while ranking third for possession wins (222), behind only Nico Schlotterbeck (245) and Granit Xhaka (226).

8. Robin Roefs – NEC to Sunderland

Sunderland‘s signing of Robin Roefs addressed their goalkeeping situation with a statistically exceptional performer who quickly established himself as first choice ahead of Anthony Patterson. The 22-year-old Dutchman’s breakthrough season with NEC in the Eredivisie provided compelling evidence of his shot-stopping abilities.

According to Opta’s expected goals on target model (xGOT), Roefs prevented 11.5 goals last season – more than any other Eredivisie goalkeeper. His 38 goals conceded from 49.5 xGOT represented exceptional shot-stopping performance that helped NEC achieve eighth place. His 10 clean sheets in 32 league games matched the second-highest total in NEC’s Eredivisie history.

9. Dan Ndoye – Bologna to Nottingham Forest

Nottingham Forest‘s acquisition of Dan Ndoye has quickly overshadowed the disappointment of losing Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United. The Swiss winger’s immediate impact demonstrates how shrewd recruitment can transform perceived setbacks into opportunities for improvement.

Ndoye’s debut impact was spectacular – scoring with a magnificent header in Forest’s 3-1 home victory over Brentford before providing a sublime long pass to Callum Hudson-Odoi for the equalizer at Crystal Palace. This performance made him the first Forest player since Geoff Thomas in 1998 to score or assist in each of his first two Premier League appearances.

His Serie A statistics with Bologna revealed a player comfortable taking on defenders – his 86 dribbles led the team, while his eight goals trailed only Riccardo Orsolini (15). Comparatively, Ndoye’s 3.6 dribbles attempted per 90 minutes significantly exceeds Elanga’s 2.6, with a superior completion rate suggesting more effective ball-carrying.

10. Habib Diarra – Strasbourg to Sunderland

Sunderland‘s record-breaking acquisition of Habib Diarra represents one of the most ambitious statements from a newly promoted side in recent memory. The £30 million investment in the 21-year-old French midfielder demonstrates the Black Cats’ determination to establish themselves in the Premier League rather than merely survive.

Diarra’s versatility makes him an ideal partner for fellow new signing Granit Xhaka, creating what could be one of the most intriguing midfield partnerships in the division. His age provides significant upside potential, while his Ligue 1 experience with Strasbourg showcased his ability to compete at a high level. The young Frenchman’s technical skills and work rate suggest he can adapt quickly to the Premier League’s intensity.

For a promoted club to break their transfer record on a single player indicates serious long-term planning beyond relegation survival. If Diarra fulfills his potential, this signing could prove transformative for Sunderland’s Premier League ambitions.

Read More: Yoane Wissa: Is He the Perfect Solution for Newcastle to Replace Alexander Isak?

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