Clubs everywhere are working feverishly in the summer transfer window, and we're evaluating every major move they make. We'll grade the biggest signings in chronological order as they happen until the window closes Sept. 1.
👉 Latest transfer news and rumors
Aug. 10
💰 Details: Season-long loan
Liverpool: C
Barcelona: B
This move reeks of desperation from Liverpool. With Ibrahima Konate now at Real Madrid and several remaining defenders either out injured (Joe Gomez, Giovanni Leoni) or slowly working their way back to full fitness (Jeremy Jacquet), the Reds opted for a stopgap instead of a permanent solution. Araujo can cover at center-back and right-back, and his physicality should suit the Premier League, but there's still plenty of risk attached to a player who hasn't been at his best for some time and doesn't necessarily come "cheap." Liverpool are reportedly covering the entirety of his hefty salary, and they'll need to pay €55 million if they want to make the move permanent. Surely there were better options out there.
Araujo, once viewed as a long-term defensive anchor and leader for Barcelona, fell down the pecking order at the Camp Nou. He started only 11 games for Hansi Flick last season and has battled injuries throughout his career - another red flag for Liverpool. Barca offloading his salary should help them register other new signings without materially impacting the squad.
Aug. 8
💰 Details: £75M transfer
Arsenal: A
Newcastle: D
This is exactly what a club in Arsenal's position should be doing. The reigning Premier League champions need to add established stars to keep improving an already excellent squad, and Guimaraes certainly fits that bill. The Brazilian is one of the game's best, most versatile central midfielders, capable of operating in various roles and playing with Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard no matter how he's deployed by Mikel Arteta. Considering what other, lesser midfielders have cost this summer, this is a great deal.
Meanwhile, it's another agonizing blow for Newcastle fans. The Magpies have been losing vital pieces - both on the pitch and the bench - left and right this summer. Watching their beloved captain and best player depart is the clearest signal yet that Newcastle's attempt to hang with the Premier League's elite is over after their spell of Saudi-backed spending.
Aug. 6
💰 Details: €140M transfer
Real Madrid: B+
RB Leipzig: A+
Florentino Perez, as promised, has his galactico signing for the summer. Diomande, still only 19, has all the tools necessary to become a world-class winger and has already showcased his immense talent in one of the world's top leagues with RB Leipzig. Finding the right balance in a team that now includes the Ivorian teenager, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, and Kylian Mbappe won't be easy, but Jose Mourinho is savvy enough to make it work.
Although this was probably an overpay by Madrid, the transfer market has become so distorted that it's increasingly difficult to make that assessment. Los Blancos at least took a big swing on someone with the right age profile, and they beat out competition from Paris Saint-Germain. Leipzig, meanwhile, played a blinder by letting the World Cup pass and inciting a bidding war for a player who cost them just €20 million.
💰 Details: Free transfer
Trabzonspor: A+
Liverpool: C
Salah, 34, is obviously not the player he was at his peak just a couple years ago. But this is still quite the statement signing from Trabzonspor, especially since they beat out Turkish rivals Besiktas - a more illustrious Istanbul-based club - and deep-pocketed Saudi teams to land the Egyptian icon.
Grading free transfers from the perspective of the player's former team is always a tricky exercise; oftentimes, the impact is negligible, and both camps have agreed it's the right time to go their separate ways. But Salah's departure doesn't quite fit that mold. Yes, the veteran forward struggled last season and was at odds with the now-departed Arne Slot, but such an abrupt ending to his illustrious Anfield spell simply doesn't sit right, even if wasn't really necessary for Liverpool to recoup a transfer fee.
💰 Details: €50M transfer
PSG: B
Monaco: B+
Akliouche, a member of France's World Cup squad, will link up with several international teammates at PSG. That familiarity should help him acclimate to Europe's best team. Breaking into a loaded squad that's coming off back-to-back Champions League titles is a huge task, so any extra edge helps. The attacking midfielder's exact fit in Luis Enrique's lineup remains to be seen, but his playmaking ability is undeniable.
Could Monaco have held out for more money for one of their prized assets? Perhaps. But Akliouche, born in the Paris suburb of Tremblay-en-France, had his heart set on this move. He leaves the principality after coming through Monaco's academy and making over 100 senior appearances for the club.
Aug. 4
💰 Details: €40M transfer
Fulham: A-
Real Madrid: B+
Fulham are banking on Garcia's familiarity with coach Alvaro Arbeloa to help smooth the young striker's transition from Real Madrid backup to Premier League starter. The 22-year-old showed glimpses of excellence in his limited opportunities after breaking into Madrid's senior team, particularly at last summer's Club World Cup, and was being chased by multiple suitors.
Losing promising young players is almost always viewed as a negative for clubs of Real Madrid's stature, but selling academy products to help balance the books is a reality of the business model. Garcia had no path to a consistent starting spot playing behind Kylian Mbappe. For little more than half the price, Real Madrid signed another young Spaniard, Carlos Espi from Levante, to serve as the team's change-of-pace striker off the bench.
Aug. 2
💰 Details: €41.2M transfer
Juventus: B-
PSG: A
Juventus are persistent, if nothing else. The Bianconeri have been chasing Kolo Muani for over a year, trying desperately to bring him back to Turin after his successful loan spell in 2024-25. After absurdly protracted negotiations, they finally landed their man in a deal that could eventually be worth up to €50 million. It's a steep fee.
Whether it warrants all the hassle remains to be seen. Kolo Muani is coming off a miserable loan spell at Tottenham, where he scored just one Premier League goal, but I'm hesitant to hold that against him too much considering how dysfunctional Spurs were. He clearly wanted to be back at Juve, so perhaps that will rekindle his scoring ability.
💰 Details: €30M transfer
Juventus: A
Bayer Leverkusen: B-
This, on the other hand, is a much more exciting deal for the Old Lady. Alajbegovic, 18, is one of the game's most intriguing attacking prospects. Juve managed to flex some muscle and prove that it still has some allure by convincing the Bosnian international to join the club despite not being able to offer Champions League football this season.
The Italian giant has fallen on tough times in recent years, but this is the type of move that can boost morale throughout the club - especially if Alajbegovic can quickly foster a strong connection with fellow young playmaker and incumbent star Kenan Yildiz.
Aug. 1
💰 Details: €5.8M transfer
Chelsea: A-
Brighton: B-
This is a welcome departure from Chelsea's typical transfer strategy of splashing obscene amounts of cash on every new phenom that shows any promise, only to later realize they can't find minutes to develop all the players they've hoarded.
Welbeck has hit double digits in goals in each of the last two Premier League seasons and, similar to fellow new signing Jordan Henderson, will provide some leadership and veteran presence for a club sorely lacking in that department. At that fee, this is a very nice move for Xabi Alonso's side.
💰 Details: €45M transfer
Brentford: A+
Lens: A
This is precisely the type of deal a Premier League club of Brentford's standing should be making. If Sangare continues his ascent, we could look back on this as one of the best signings in Europe full stop at this time next year. The defensive midfielder, 24, was a ball-winning machine at Lens last season, regaining possession at an elite rate and consistently halting opposition attacks with interceptions and strong tackling.
Brentford believe they've signed one of the most promising midfielders in the game, and I'm inclined to agree with them. Don't be surprised when half of the Premier League is rumored to be chasing Sangare next summer for double the price Brentford just paid.
July 30
💰 Details: €60M transfer
Chelsea: B+
Crystal Palace: B
Some might scoff at the hefty fee for a 26-year-old who doesn't start for his country, but there's no shame in being a backup to William Saliba - one of the world's best center-backs - and Dayot Upamecano on an absolutely loaded France squad. Lacroix is just now entering his prime, and conventional wisdom suggests center-backs can continue to operate at a high level later into their careers.
Lacroix might be the piece that finally shores up Chelsea's backline after multiple years of big spending on central defenders. This is the first time Chelsea have paid a transfer fee for a player 26 or older since 2022, which signals a clear philosophical shift in recruitment. Losing Lacroix is another tough blow for Crystal Palace - the talent drain in recent seasons has been enormous - but he helped them win two major trophies and fetched the club a significant transfer profit.
July 23
💰 Details: €135M transfer
Manchester City: B+
Nottingham Forest: A+
Anderson has the unenviable task of trying to live up to his enormous price tag, but the ascendant English international has all the tools to be the centerpiece of Manchester City's midfield for years to come. After the Citizens tried, and failed, multiple times to find a long-term replacement for Rodri, who looks destined to return to Spain this summer, Anderson could be the answer. For that price, he better be.
The 23-year-old won more duels and more touches than any other Premier League player last season. He was central to all of Nottingham Forest's play and success last season, so actually replacing him could prove nearly impossible. But for that price - which makes Anderson the second-most expensive British player in history - this was a no-brainer for the Forest brass.
💰 Details: €29M transfer
Barcelona: D
Borussia Dortmund: C-
Any way you slice it, this is a strange one. Adeyemi's desire to play for Barcelona and work with Hansi Flick again is obvious, but it's not immediately clear why Barca opted for the inconsistent German forward, nor why Borussia Dortmund allowed him to leave for such a modest fee.
While Adeyemi's blistering pace can be valuable - especially off the bench as games get stretched and defenders tire - better players could just as easily assume that role, including Marcus Rashford before Barcelona let him return to Manchester United. As a clear backup option who arrived for a modest fee, at least Adeyemi won't have the pressure of huge expectations that comes with most Barca signings.
💰 Details: €39M transfer
Arsenal: B+
Club Brugge: A
Arsenal needed someone to replace Leandro Trossard following the Belgian's move to Besiktas, and Tzolis looks like a shrewd signing capable of filling that hole; the Greek international racked up 51 goal contributions across all competitions for Club Brugge last season. Obviously, it remains to be seen how that will translate to the Premier League, but Arsenal - still very much in the market for another star attacker - doesn't need Tzolis to replicate those numbers to have another successful season.
Club Brugge collect a club-record fee in the deal, and Tzolis himself has a point to prove in his return to the Premier League after a challenging first spell with Norwich City earlier in his career.
July 22
💰 Details: Free transfer
Inter Miami: B
Manchester United: B
Casemiro's physical decline in recent years is no secret, but the Brazilian midfielder still managed to score nine Premier League goals last season for Manchester United, showing that there's gas left in the tank. His fit at Inter Miami, a team that likes to dominate possession more than most in MLS, will be interesting. Will all that time on the ball help mitigate Casemiro's lack of mobility, or will it expose him more in defensive transitions?
The Red Devils definitely overpaid when they signed the ex-Real Madrid star in the first place, but he ultimately gave them four solid years of service, finishing his time at Old Trafford with the best scoring season of his career.
July 21
💰 Details: €137M transfer
Chelsea: C
Aston Villa: A+
First, an acknowledgment: Rogers is a very good player who offers attacking versatility, durability, and production. He was outstanding for Aston Villa last season and parlayed that into a key role with England at the World Cup. But was it wise for Chelsea to make him the most expensive British player in history? Even if that was the result of market dynamics and transfer inflation more than anything else, it's still an overpay.
Rogers will score goals for the Blues, but that enormous fee could be a burden that's hard to shake if he struggles. Aston Villa, meanwhile, have done spectacular business here, especially considering the club's ongoing need to satisfy its financial settlement agreement with UEFA.
July 17
💰 Details: €58M transfer
Aston Villa: A
Freiburg: A+
This is a great deal across the board. Aston Villa bundled Newcastle out of the way and won the race for Manzambi, one of the breakout stars of this summer's World Cup with Switzerland. Considering some of the inflated fees we've seen clubs spend on other midfielders in recent months, looking beyond the league's borders to avoid the dreaded "Premier League tax" was a smart move by Villa.
Freiburg more than doubled their record sale in this deal, and Manzambi gets the opportunity to continue growing in a good environment at a prominent Premier League club. Aston Villa have an excellent manager, just won the Europa League - beating Freiburg in the final - and will play Champions League football this season.
July 14
💰 Details: €41M transfer
Manchester United: A
Aston Villa: C-
This was a nice surprise for Manchester United, who quickly pivoted and triggered Tielemans' release clause after their deal for Ederson collapsed. The Belgian midfielder's quality is undeniable, and he'll provide much-needed depth. The 29-year-old also brings plenty of Premier League experience after Casemiro's departure and softens the blow after the Red Devils were unable to land other, more expensive midfield targets this summer.
Aston Villa will feel Tielemans' absence in the center of the pitch, even if they've made other moves to help mitigate the impact of the classy Belgian's exit. There was a stark contrast between their results with and without Tielemans available last season. Unai Emery has no choice but to adapt.
💰 Details: €54M transfer
Brighton: A
Tottenham: F
As a general rule, you should be wary any time Brighton come calling about one of your young phenoms. The Seagulls are transfer-market masters, and this looks like another masterful move. Vuskovic is one of the best center-back prospects in the entire game. After a brilliant season on loan at Hamburg last year, he was widely expected to be incorporated into Tottenham's first team. Instead, Spurs let him go far too early in what essentially amounts to a straight swap for Jan Paul van Hecke (an excellent defender, to be fair).
You can argue that Tottenham's summer spending signals an intent to win right away, and perhaps Vuskovic didn't fit that timeline - but elite central defenders don't grow on trees, and the Croatian teenager looks destined to become a world-class player in the not-too-distant future.
July 13
💰 Details: €56M transfer
Manchester United: B-
Chelsea: B-
Santos isn't at the level of the other midfielders that Manchester United attempted to acquire this summer, but the Red Devils apparently see enough promise in the young Brazilian to believe he can get there. The 22-year-old rather quietly played almost 2,500 minutes for Chelsea across all competitions last season, often deputizing for Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo. He'll need to improve to justify this fee, but time is on his side.
Chelsea, meanwhile, make a very healthy profit on a player they've deemed surplus to requirements - the BlueCo model in action. The deal has the potential to backfire badly, however, if Santos blossoms and becomes a star at one of Chelsea's direct top-four rivals. We're in the "wait-and-see" stage on both sides of this one.
July 6
💰 Details: €108M transfer
Tottenham: D
Newcastle: A+
Tonali does multiple things well in midfield, and his tireless effort can't be questioned. But he's suddenly become one of the most expensive midfielders ever, and there's an obvious disconnect between his price and his ability. The Premier League tax is real, and this is just the latest example of English clubs paying an astonishing premium for players with experience in the top flight of English football.
Roberto De Zerbi might prove to be the ideal manager to get the absolute best out of his fellow Italian. Still, several other players available this summer could give you Tonali's production - or at least a lot of it - for a fraction of the price.
July 5
💰 Details: €20M transfer
Real Madrid: B-
Inter: D
Dumfries' fit at Real Madrid will be very interesting. The Dutchman is far more comfortable and effective as an attacking wing-back than as a more traditional right-back in a four-man defense, but with so many superlative attackers already in place, can Madrid maintain any kind of defensive shape and balance with Dumfries on the pitch? If anything, he could spend more time as a winger in Jose Mourinho's system.
Dumfries was a massive part of Inter's recent run of success, so losing him for such a nominal fee hurts after Real Madrid triggered his release clause. It doesn't help that the Nerazzurri lack a ready-made successor - neither Luis Henrique nor Andy Diouf is fully convincing as a replacement - and failed to land Marco Palestra this summer, losing a transfer tug-of-war with Chelsea for an Italian international who would've instantly solved this problem.
July 3
💰 Details: €55M transfer
Bayern Munich: B+
Eintracht Frankfurt: A
Brown's career has taken off over the past year. An excellent season at Frankfurt allowed him to not only make Germany's World Cup squad, but establish himself as the first-choice left-back, where he was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing tournament for the Germans.
The athletic 23-year-old balances defensive responsibilities with attacking prowess - he registered a goal and an assist at the World Cup - and solidifies a Bayern left flank that's lacked explosiveness during Alphonso Davies' extended injury struggles. He's maybe a touch expensive, but Bayern were never going to let anyone else sign such an exciting young German international.
July 2
💰 Details: €99M transfer
Tottenham: C-
West Ham: A+
Despite being part of two consecutive Premier League relegations with Southampton and West Ham, it's clear that Fernandes is a very talented young player who can function in multiple midfield roles. He certainly makes Tottenham better. But the fee is monstrous. In Spurs' desperation to improve quickly after a calamitous season that nearly ended in an unthinkable relegation, they've overcorrected. When the quoted price is too rich for Manchester United, you know you've gone too far.
Full credit to West Ham, though, who managed to capitalize on Tottenham's anxieties despite having no real bargaining power after dropping into the second tier. The fee should theoretically help the Hammers rebuild as they seek to make a swift return to the Premier League.
July 1
💰 Details: €50M transfer
Bayern Munich: B+
PSV: A-
This is more like the Bayern Munich of old that labored in the shadows to lay the foundation for transfers that eventually looked like bargains. Bayern established a connection with PSV well before the World Cup, which ultimately proved crucial as Saibari starred for Morocco. His all-around game should be a perfect fit for Vincent Kompany's side.
PSV always knew the 25-year-old's ascent would lead to this type of move at some point. Disappointing as it is in the moment to lose an influential star who helped the club win the last three Eredivisie titles - Saibari scored 31 league goals in that time - the Dutch side made a very healthy profit.
💰 Details: €50M transfer
Chelsea: B
Atalanta: A+
Chelsea swooped in and flexed their financial might to muscle Inter out of the picture and land one of Italy's most exciting young talents. Palestra, 21, looks like a perfect fit for Xabi Alonso's system, and his physical traits - tall, fast, and powerful - should help him adapt to the rigors of the Premier League. He's still a little raw, but the tools are there.
Atalanta, once again, must be laughing. The club has developed a reputation for being an ingenious seller in the transfer market, and Palestra, an academy product whose only full Serie A season came on loan at Cagliari, represents pure profit for La Dea. They didn't jump the gun and accept Inter's first offer, remaining patient enough to allow Chelsea's interest to develop.
June 30
💰 Details: €74M transfer
AC Milan: C-
PSG: A+
This one makes me nervous. AC Milan smashed their transfer record for a player who's spent the past three seasons coming off the bench. That's not to say Ramos isn't a good striker - he's certainly delivered goals for Paris Saint-Germain despite limited playing time. Milan are banking on the belief that more opportunities will mean more output for the Portuguese international after he was stuck fighting for scraps behind PSG's array of star forwards.
For a potential €80-million fee, Milan had better be right; Premier League teams and a handful of others can brush off any high-priced transfer mistakes, but cash-strapped Italian sides don't have that luxury nowadays. If this one doesn't hit, Milan will feel it. PSG, meanwhile, collect a huge fee for a backup.
June 29
💰 Details: Free transfer
Chicago Fire: A+
Barcelona: B+
What a coup for the Fire. Lewandowski may be 37 years old, but he still scored 14 La Liga goals for Barcelona last season in just 1,664 minutes, and only one of those came from the penalty spot. The legendary striker should find the net regularly in MLS, and he provides the type of big-name presence the Fire have been looking for since Xherdan Shaqiri's departure.
Barcelona will be pleased to have the Polish icon's hefty wage bill off their books. His tenure with the club was an obvious success following his transfer from Bayern Munich in 2022, but it was the right time to part ways.
June 18
💰 Details: £52M transfer
Tottenham: B
Brighton: A+
Van Hecke has steadily become one of the Premier League's better central defenders, and his passing ability from the back will be crucial to Roberto De Zerbi's buildup play; the Italian coach clearly rates the Dutch international after working with him at Brighton. With Cristian Romero seemingly on the way out, Spurs desperately needed some leadership quality in the heart of defense. Still, it's hard to shake the feeling that Tottenham, in their haste to improve immediately, overpaid for a player who was entering the final year of his contract at the Amex.
Brighton reinforced their reputation as one of the Premier League's best operators in the transfer market. They paid roughly €2 million to sign Van Hecke from NAC Breda in 2020 and have flipped him for a gargantuan profit. Other clubs may have been cowed in these negotiations, but not the Seagulls.
💰 Details: €40M transfer
Liverpool: B+
Osasuna: B
Liverpool moved quickly to hijack Newcastle's move for the busy Spanish winger, giving new manager Andoni Iraola a player who should fit nicely into his system at Anfield. Moving from Osasuna to Liverpool will be a big step up in quality for the diminutive 23-year-old, and the Reds must ensure his arrival doesn't impede the growth of teen phenom Rio Ngumoha.
The €40-million fee looks spectacular for Osasuna at first glance, but Real Madrid, Munoz's ex-club, are entitled to 50% of that amount. Nevertheless, the Pamplona-based club still makes a healthy profit on a Spanish international who cost them only €5 million last year.
June 17
💰 Details: Free transfer
Real Madrid: B
Manchester City: C-
Silva appeared to be on the verge of joining Barcelona, but Jose Mourinho's appointment helped Real Madrid beat their eternal rivals to the Portuguese midfielder. Silva provides an instant injection of gravitas in the locker room as a role model who should prove hugely beneficial to the club's younger star players. And, at 31, he's far from finished as a footballer, even if his absolute best days are behind him.
Man City didn't need to recoup any kind of transfer fee here considering Silva provided nine incredible years and over 450 appearances during his decorated tenure, but losing a player of his intelligence and integrity still hurts. The hole he's left won't easily be filled, and his departure is particularly painful since Silva won't be around to help bridge the gap in the post-Pep Guardiola era that's now starting.
June 15
💰 Details: €55M transfer
Real Madrid: B
Chelsea: C
Jose Mourinho is going to love his new all-action left-back. Cucurella, now a World Cup winner after an outstanding showing with Spain at this summer's tournament, is already 28 and probably won't give Madrid the kind of longevity you want from a €55-million player. He immediately takes over starting duties from Alvaro Carreras, who cost a pretty penny himself just last year. Is it perfect squad building? No. But it does make Madrid better.
It's easy to say in hindsight, but Chelsea would've benefited from waiting until after the World Cup to sanction this deal considering how great Cucurella was during Spain's title-winning campaign. On the surface, the deal looks quite good for a 28-year-old left-back, but it's less than what Chelsea paid for him in the first place, and it also means the Blues are losing one of their few consistent performers.
May 29
💰 Details: €80M transfer
Barcelona: C+
Newcastle: A
The industrious Gordon can play multiple attacking positions and is a rapid and relentless presser, so he should be a great fit in Hansi Flick's system. But spending €80 million on a forward with just 12 Premier League goals over the past two seasons combined is a puzzling choice, especially if the Englishman is expected to be the primary replacement for Robert Lewandowski. Barca, hamstrung by financial difficulties for so long, continue to spend frivolously.
Newcastle obviously didn't want a repeat of last summer's exhausting, distracting Alexander Isak saga and opted for a quick resolution. They fetched a great fee for a player who was clearly ready to depart and take the next step in his career.
