With the summer 2023 transfer window closed in England, Alex Keble analyses how each Premier League club fared in the market.
Arsenal
Major deals
Ins: Kai Havertz (Chelsea), David Raya (loan from Brentford), Declan Rice (West Ham), Jurrien Timber (Ajax).
Outs: Ainsley Maitland-Niles (released), Pablo Mari (Monza), Marquinhos (loan to Nantes), Kieran Tierney (loan to Real Sociedad), Matt Turner (Nott'm Forest), Granit Xhaka (Bayer Leverkusen), Rob Holding (Crystal Palace), Folarin Balogun (AS Monaco), Nuno Tavares (loan to Nott’m Forest).
Arsenal’s downturn in the second half of last season – when they won 34 points from 19 matches, which was the same points-per-match average as across the whole of 2021/22 – was the result of injuries and increasing tactical predictability.
Mikel Arteta needed to add variety and depth this summer, and prior to Jurrien Timber’s ACL injury it was mission accomplished. Kai Havertz, though struggling to settle, is an intelligent footballer capable of playing in multiple positions, as is Declan Rice.
Rice has already played as a "No 6" and as a "No 8", while Arteta has won 10 points despite using a different back four in every fixture. The variations are now many, which should prevent things clogging up again, while the depth from the bench has notably improved, as we saw when Fabio Vieira came on to inspire victory over Manchester United on Sunday.
Aston Villa
Major deals
Ins: Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen), Youri Tielemans (Leicester), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Nicolo Zaniolo (loan from Galatasaray), Clement Lenglet (loan from Barcelona).
Outs: Cameron Archer (Sheff Utd), Marvelous Nakamba (Luton), Aaron Ramsey (Burnley), Morgan Sanson (loan to Nice), Wesley (Stoke), Ashley Young (released), Keinan Davis (Udinese).
Villa also needed depth more than anything else, and a bench containing Nicolo Zaniolo and Youri Tielemans – two of Villa’s five new signings – is a much-needed upgrade ahead of a busy season with European football.
See: 2023/24 Europa League and Europa Conference League draws
Unai Emery’s side also occasionally lacked speed on the counter-attack last season, becoming over-reliant on Leon Bailey, which is why money was spent on Moussa Diaby - who completed the second-most progressive carries in the Bundesliga last season, with 125. He looks a superb signing, who can take Villa’s fast breaks to the next level.
Pau Torres has struggled to adapt so far, but his capacity to carry the ball out of defence is an important upgrade on Emery’s careful build-up play, while Clement Lenglet bolsters Villa’s options following Tyrone Mings’s serious knee injury.
The only slight worry for Villa is the lack of back-up for Ollie Watkins, after the sale of Cameron Archer to Sheffield United.
AFC Bournemouth
Major deals
Ins: Max Aarons (Norwich), Tyler Adams (Leeds), Romain Faivre (Lyon), Milos Kerkez (Alkmaar), Justin Kluivert (Roma), Alex Scott (Bristol City), Hamed Traore (Sassuolo), Luis Sinisterra (loan from Leeds).
Outs: Siriki Dembele (Birmingham City), Romain Faivre (loan to Lorient), Jefferson Lerma (released), Ben Pearson (Stoke), Jack Stacey (released), Junior Stanislas (released), Mark Travers (loan to Stoke).
Andoni Iraola will be happy with Bournemouth’s business – in the defensive and middle thirds, at least.
First and foremost, Alex Scott and Tyler Adams are the kind of forward-thinking central midfielders perfect for the sharp verticality and hard pressing of Iraola’s system. Last season, Scott was in the top five Championship midfielders for progressive carries, with 88, while among Premier League players to start at least five matches only Casemiro and Joao Palhinha attempted more tackles per 90 minutes than Adams’ 3.71.
Bournemouth have also added two talented full-backs in Max Aarons and Milos Kerkez, the latter contributing five goals or assists in the Europa League for AZ Alkmaar last season.
But Justin Kluivert and Luis Sinisterra are the only noteworthy additions in the final third. There isn’t much support for Dominic Solanke, who continues to carry the responsibility of goalscorer and creator; his two goals and assists mean he is responsible for 75 per cent of Bournemouth’s Premier League output so far, in keeping with his high volume of 35 per cent in 2022/23.
Brentford
Major deals
Ins: Nathan Collins (Wolves), Mark Flekken (Freiburg), Saman Ghoddos (free), Kevin Schade (Freiburg), Neal Maupay (loan from Everton).
Outs: Sergi Canos (Valencia), Pontus Jansson (Malmo), David Raya (loan to Arsenal).
Brentford’s undefeated start to the season owes much to their continuity, which is a polite way of saying they didn’t do much business over the summer.
Kevin Schade’s loan move was made permanent. Mark Flekken replaced the departing David Raya, and Nathan Collins arrived to bolster central defence, but Brentford did not manage to replace Ivan Toney or add pace in the final third.
Thomas Frank’s reported pursuit of Brennan Johnson suggests he knew Brentford needed to add speed on the counter, after last season they finished bottom of the table for progressive carries with 392, while their 597 attempted take-ons was ranked 18th.
Neal Maupay returned on loan, but he is likely to be a back-up only. Frank will hope Mikkel Damsgaard and Keane Lewis-Potter, two big-money signings last season, come good after starting only 11 matches between them in 2022/23.
Brighton & Hove Albion
Major deals
Ins: Mahmoud Dahoud (Dortmund), Igor Julio (Fiorentina), James Milner (Liverpool), Joao Pedro (Watford), Bart Verbruggen (Anderlecht), Carlos Baleba (Lille), Ansu Fati (loan from Barcelona).
Outs: Moises Caicedo (Chelsea), Aaron Connolly (Hull City), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Robert Sanchez (Chelsea), Jeremy Sarmiento (loan to West Brom), Deniz Undav (loan to Stuttgart).
It’s not often that a club loses three first-team players and still ends the transfer window stronger than they started it – but Brighton aren’t like any other club.
Alexis Mac Allister, Robert Sanchez, and Moises Caicedo left for a reported combined £175 million. For only over half that amount, Brighton have made a host of excellent signings.
Joao Pedro adds dynamism and forward thrust in the number ten role; James Milner brings experience and versatility at right-back; Bart Verbruggen looks an upgrade on Sanchez; and Carlos Baleba has all the hallmarks of being the next Caicedo, with Mahmoud Dahoud filling the defensive gaps until Baleba is ready.
Finally, in the biggest coup of all, Ansu Fati gives a new dimension to the Brighton attack. His speed and trickery can complement Kaoru Mitoma.
Also in this series
Part 2: Burnley to Fulham
Part 3: Liverpool to Newcastle
Part 4: Nott'm Forest to Wolves