The 10 Most Expensive Premier League Deadline Day Signings of All Time
With Liverpool still searching for their new number 6, Manchester United being linked to every left back in Europe, and the never-ending spending at Chelsea, this summer’s deadline day could be the busiest one to date.
Here are the 10 most expensive Premier League Deadline Day signings… How many hits, or misses, are on this list? Here are the most expensive Premier League deadline day signings.
The 10 Most Expensive Premier League Deadline Day Signings
10. Anthony Martial: AS Monaco to Manchester United £36m
‘OOOOoooohhhhhhh YESSSSSSS’
Martin Tyler’s iconic reaction to a 19-year-old French lad lighting up the Stretford End in a 3-1 win versus Liverpool on his debut. The young star was touted as the next big thing in the world of football and during his first few years at the club, everyone could see the talent this boy had. In his debut season, Martial scored 18 times, winning the European Golden Boy and cementing his place as the best Under 21 talent in Europe.
The talent was there, but unfortunately for Martial and Manchester United fans, his fitness and lack of consistency continued to halt his development as he never fully hit the heights that he seemed destined to at the start of his career. Despite that, he still had some very good moments at Old Trafford, netting 106 goals and 56 assists, giving the Old Trafford faithful some electrifying moments. He starts off this list of the top 10 Premier League deadline day signings.
RATING 7/10
9. Mesut Özil: Real Madrid to Arsenal £42m
Some of you will remember the Sky Sports coverage of Arsenal fans camped outside the Emirates waiting for confirmation that a deal had been agreed for German Playmaker Mesut Özil in what remains a record transfer for a German player. The former Madrid star was an incredible piece of business for Arsene Wenger’s side and in the years to come, he would create a deadly partnership with Chilean Alexis Sanchez.
Özil lived up to his name, assisting 75 times in just over 200 games for Arsenal and ending the 2015/16 season on 19 assists, 1 off the season record. Despite the £42 million fee, which at that time was a lot of money, it was not wasted as the creative midfielder led Arsenal to 4 FA cups and gave the Gunners some great memories.
RATING 8.5/10
8. Cole Palmer: Manchester City to Chelsea £42.5m
Pep Pep Pep…
Having seen many talented players come and go in his time as a manager, I don’t think Pep could have foreseen what was to come from Cole Palmer in the 2022/23 season. The young forward notched up a remarkable 22 goals and 11 assists in just 33 League games as well as scoring in the European Championship final for England, a truly incredible breakout campaign.
Making the brave decision to depart treble-winning Manchester City in search of guaranteed playing time could prove to be the smartest decision of Palmer’s career so far as he looks to become one of the best players in world football, a target that he has a genuine chance of achieving.
RATING 9/10
7. Thomas Partey: Atletico Madrid to Arsenal £45m
It’s not the first or last time Arsenal will appear on this list and despite the usual ‘panic buy’ shouts from rival fans, they have done quite well with their deadline-day spending. In the 2020 summer window, it was clear that Arsenal needed a mainstay in their midfield, After coming 5th and missing out on Champions League football to rivals Tottenham, a summer revamp was a necessity for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Arsenal activated the £45 million release clause of Thomas Partey on deadline day and it’s safe to say he has had some ups and downs throughout his time at the club. His first season was difficult as he got used to the intensity of the league but in the 2022/2023 season, the midfielder was instrumental in helping Arsenal push Manchester City for the title and anchored the midfield perfectly.
RATING 7/10
6. Brennan Johnson: Nottingham Forest to Spurs £47.5m
After Harry Kane’s £82 million move to Bayern Munich earlier in the summer, Tottenham knew they needed to reinforce in the attacking areas, with their main target being Forest boy Brennan Johnson. The winger had an impressive season for the newly promoted side, netting 8 and assisting 3 while playing every game for his boyhood club, helping to maintain their Premier League status.
With Forest in trouble with FFP and needing to sell, Tottenham swooped in to land their star man for a hefty £47.5m. Johnson featured in 35/38 games for Spurs and registered 15 goals and assists but there is plenty more to come from the exciting forward.
Rating 7/10
5. Fernando Torres: Liverpool to Chelsea £50m
In the January window, Liverpool fans’ hearts were shattered as their talisman Fernando Torres left the club to join Carlo Ancelotti’s Chelsea. The Blues felt that they had pulled off one of the signings of the year when “El Nino” posed in the Chelsea blue and I don’t think anyone could have predicted how it would turn out.
Torres scored 45 goals in 172 games for Chelsea but struggled for consistency as he never hit the levels that most expected of him. He did, however, score the all-important goal in Chelsea’s Champions League triumph over Barcelona in 2012, the competition they went on to win. While more of a flop than not, the title win did make him one of the better Premier League deadline day signings.
RATING 6/10
4. Matheus Nunes: Wolves to Manchester City £53m
In a summer of change at Manchester City, fan favourites Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez left the Etihad and Matheus Nunes was given the task of replacing the German’s spot in the treble-winning side.
Going on strike to force the move, the deal was completed in the last hours of the summer window, with Pep Guardiola getting the man he once claimed was “one of the best players in the world.” Nunes didn’t have the best of seasons for the Citizens, being mostly used as a squad player and could yet depart the club on loan this summer, with a move to Atletico Madrid under consideration.
RATING 5/10
3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: Dortmund to Arsenal: £56m
Regardless of how it ended, Aubameyang’s Arsenal career was a success, with 92 goals and 21 assists in just 163 games, winning the Premier League Golden Boot in his debut season, The Gabonese forward was as prolific as they came. During a difficult time for the North London club, he formed a strong partnership with French striker Alexandre Lacazette and gave Arsenal fans some hope that the pair could lead them to trophies.
Auba performed well under 3 different managers and adapted to the different styles of each, which was a testament to his ability but it all turned sour when he fell out with Arsenal Boss Mikel Arteta, resulting in his contract being terminated and a late January move to Spanish giants Barcelona. With a golden boot under his name, he did somewhat succeed as the third most expensive Premier League deadline day signings.
RATING 7.5/10
2. Antony: Ajax to Manchester United £85m
Having already signed Lisandro Martinez from Erik Ten Hag’s old Ajax side, the Dutch boss wanted to add some flair to his attack and Antony was seen as the perfect option. Touted as one of Brazil’s up-and-coming talents who fits their ‘Joga bonito’ play style, his United career started promisingly with 3 goals in 3 games, a feat that no other Manchester United player has ever achieved. However, he would only go on to score 1 more league goal that season as he struggled to live up to the expectations of his price tag, but at only 24 years old, the winger still has a long career ahead of him to turn it around.
RATING 3/10
1. Enzo Fernandez: Benfica to Chelsea £107m
Coming off the back of an impressive World Cup campaign where he won the Young Player of the Tournament award, interest in Enzo was high, with Europe’s elite lining up for the talented midfielder. Benfica are renowned for getting high fees for their players and having only signed the midfielder from River Plate the previous summer, Chelsea gave them a profit of £100m in just 6 months!
Despite not having the best of starts to his Chelsea career, there is no doubt that the Argentine playmaker has talent and if Chelsea decides to give new boss Enzo Maresca the time to implement his philosophy. Fernandez could become a very important player for his side. But right now he is one of the worst Premier League deadline day signings.
RATING 5/10
And so, with this summer’s transfer window coming to a close, will we see any last-gasp panic buys as clubs try to scramble their squads together for the upcoming season? Will we need to update this article?
Time will tell if there be more or bigger Premier League deadline day signings.
About The Author
