The Premier League just shattered its own spending records this summer. Clubs across England poured an unbelievable €3.655 billion into new players. This massive outlay completely blew past the previous record set just last year. It was a true financial earthquake in the world of football.
Liverpool, in particular, made headlines on the very last day of the transfer window. They finalized a huge deal for Swedish forward Alexander Isak. He arrived from Newcastle in a stunning €144 million move. This last-minute addition pushed Liverpool’s total summer spending close to the €500 million mark, landing at €483.7 million. Before Isak, they had already brought in talents like Wirtz, Ekitiké, Kerkez, Frimpong, and Leoni. The only reason they didn’t hit that half-a-billion milestone was a last-minute hiccup. A €40.5 million deal for central defender Marc Guéhi fell through. Crystal Palace pulled the plug because they couldn’t find a replacement for their captain in time.
Isak’s six-season contract didn’t just break Liverpool’s own club records. It also set a new benchmark for the Premier League. His transfer fee made him the fourth most expensive player ever. Only Dembélé’s €148 million move to Barcelona, Mbappé’s €180 million to PSG, and Neymar’s colossal €222 million switch to PSG cost more. That’s some elite company for the young Swede.
Other clubs were certainly busy, too, right up until the deadline. Manchester United secured goalkeeper Senne Lammens, a player Ruben Amorim reportedly wanted. The Belgian signed a contract lasting until 2030. His former club, Antwerp, received €21 million, with potential bonuses. United also loaned out forward Hojlund to Napoli and promising young left-back Harry Amass to Sheffield Wednesday. Arsenal snagged Ecuadorian defender Hincapié on loan from Bayer Leverkusen. Meanwhile, Manchester City confirmed the signing of Donnarumma. He steps in for the former Benfica goalkeeper Ederson, who is off to Fenerbahçe for €14 million. Aston Villa strengthened their squad with Victor Lindelof, Jadon Sancho, and Harvey Elliott. Zinchenko, on loan from Arsenal, and Brazilian Cuiabano, formerly of Botafogo, both headed to Nottingham Forest under manager NES. And Newcastle, using roughly half of the money from Isak’s sale (€63 million), brought in Wissa from Brentford.