Rating the 10 most expensive Premier League transfers in the 2025/26 season | OneFootball

Premier League clubs splashed the cash again in 2025/26, with several sides setting new club records.

Following the conclusion of the campaign, we’ve ranked the top 10 priciest deals by their debut season impact.

Alexander Isak – Newcastle to Liverpool (£125m)

Liverpool broke the bank to land Alexander Isak on deadline day, following a summer-long pursuit. Recognised as one of Europe’s top forwards at the time, Isak has shown little of the form that saw him score 62 goals in 109 games for Newcastle. A lack of pre-season and serious leg injury have hindered his campaign, and while better will be expected, year one has been a disaster.

Rating: 2/10

Florian Wirtz – Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool (£116m)

Another marquee recruit for the Merseysiders who has not fulfilled expectations. He arrived as the reigning back-to-back winner of the Bundesliga Player of the Season award, but has underwhelmed at Anfield.

It hasn’t been as bad as some have suggested, but eight Premier League goals and assists is a disappointing return.

Rating: 4/10

Benjamin Sesko – RB Leipzig to Manchester United (£74m)

After a slow start under former manager Ruben Amorim, Sesko found his feet at Manchester United over the second half of the season. He thrived under Michael Carrick, scoring nine of his 11 league goals from January onwards. The 22-year-old averaged a Premier League goal every 145 minutes in 2025/26 and is ready for more football.

Rating: 6/10

Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford to Manchester United (£71m)

Manchester United prioritised Premier League-ready signings last summer, and Bryan Mbeumo was a plug-and-play option. The Cameroonian arrived from Brentford after a 20-goal league campaign and immediately increased the club’s forward threat. He scored 11 league goals and added three assists in a productive season.

Rating: 7/10

Nick Woltemade – Stuttgart to Newcastle (£69m)

Nick Woltemade faded rapidly after an encouraging start at Newcastle, with the German giants often overlooked or played out of position across the run-in. Woltemade scored once in his last 19 league appearances of the campaign, and a Bundesliga return perhaps beckons.

Rating: 3/10

Hugo Ekitike – Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool (£69m)

Hugo Ekitike’s arrival at Liverpool was somewhat overshadowed by deals for Isak and Wirtz, but the Frenchman has been the one undisputed hit of the club’s summer recruitment.

He scored 17 goals in all competitions and became a firm fans’ favourite, before a serious Achilles injury that will cruelly rob him of a large portion of his second season.

Rating: 8/10

Matheus Cunha – Wolves to Manchester United (£62.5m)

A double-figure return for Premier League goals marks a good first season at Manchester United for Matheus Cunha. Like Mbeumo, he was ready to hit the ground running, and his arrival lifted the level of the XI.

Rating: 7/10

Antoine Semenyo – Bournemouth to Manchester City (£62.5m)

A super season for Semenyo across spells at Bournemouth and Manchester City. The Ghana international excelled with the Cherries until a January move to Manchester City, where he scored 11 goals in just half a season of football. Among them was a fantastic FA Cup final winner to etch his name into the club’s history.

Rating: 8/10

Eberechi Eze – Crystal Palace to Arsenal (£60m)

Delivered in some big moments for title winners Arsenal, including a North London Derby hat-trick against Spurs and a crucial winner against Newcastle. That said, it feels as if Eze has only scratched the surface of what he can bring to Arsenal.

Rating: 7/10

Joao Pedro – Brighton to Chelsea (£60m)

Chelsea have wasted plenty of money in recent years, but the £60m spent on Joao Pedro has proven to be worth the investment. The Brazilian scored 23 goals in 53 games, a rare positive performer in an otherwise poor campaign.

Rating: 8/10

Read – The Premier League clubs with the highest average attendances in 2025/26

See more – Ranking the five best Premier League managers in 2025/26

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