Premier League clubs have been extraordinarily busy in the summer transfer window.
Sides in the top-flight have produced what has been a record-breaking window having spent more between them than any other season in the past. A number of clubs have also made the decision to break their own transfer records this summer in an effort to achieve their own targets - whether that be to challenge for the title or indeed simply remain in the league.
With that being said, Mirror Sport has taken a look at each club’s current record transfer and how they managed to fare after putting pen to paper on a deal.
Arsenal - Nicolas Pepe (£72m from Lille)
In the news recently for sealing a loan move to French side Nice, there were certainly higher expectations of Nicolas Pepe after he became the Gunners’ record signing. He scored just eight goals in his first season but then followed that up with 16 strikes in all competitions in the 2020/21 campaign.
However, he fell out of contention under Mikel Arteta next term scoring just three goals before sealing a temporary move back to France.
Aston Villa - Emiliano Buendia (£38m from Norwich City)
With Jack Grealish having moved to Manchester City, Villa were looking for added creativity in their side ahead of the 2021/22 season. They spent a considerable amount of time chasing the services of Norwich City playmaker Buendia.
The Villans eventually secured his signing for a £38m fee but the Argentine endured an indifferent start to his career in the Midlands with just four goals throughout the campaign.
Which Premier League record signing do you think has been the best and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below
Bournemouth - Jefferson Lerma (£25m from Levante)
Upon their return to the Premier League, Bournemouth have not spent vast amounts, leaving boss Scott Parker frustrated. As a result, their record signing remains the 2018 acquisition of Colombian midfielder Jefferson Lerma.
Over four years later and the 27-year-old remains at the Vitality Stadium and recently scored in the opening day victory over Aston Villa.
Brentford - Keane Lewis-Potter (£16m from Hull City)
One of the deals that has seen a club recently break their transfer record is Brentford’s move to bring Keane Lewis-Potter to West London. The 21-year-old was one of the standout players in the Championship last season with 12 goals to his name.
Brentford elected to spend more than it took for them to sign Kristoffer Ajer from Celtic and Lewis-Potter is already off to a positive start for his new club having found the net on his first start in the Carabao Cup.
Brighton - Enock Mwepu (£20m from Red Bull Salzburg)
One of the latest in a long line of exciting talents to have come out of Austrian outfit Red Bull Salzburg, Mwepu arrived at the AMEX Stadium for a fee of £20m.
He endured an injury-hit first season with the Seagulls but still managed to impress. The 24-year-old has been somewhat outside of the side this season having only been limited to cameo appearances with Graham Potter’s men putting together a brilliant start to the new campaign.
Chelsea - Romelu Lukaku (£97m from Inter Milan)
Following a goal-laden spell with Inter Milan, there was a considerable amount of excitement around Stamford Bridge after Thomas Tuchel decided to break Chelsea ’s transfer record to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the club.
The Belgian’s move back to West London started extremely promisingly with three goals in his first three Premier League outings but just five more league goals followed before the striker was allowed to rejoin his former club on a season-long loan.
Crystal Palace - Christian Benteke (£27m from Liverpool )
From one Belgian striker to another, Benteke was fresh off the back of a disappointing period with Liverpool before sealing a move to Crystal Palace. Benteke enjoyed a fantastic first campaign with a 17-goal debut season.
He could not keep up that rate of productivity with just another 21 strikes to his name before joining former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney at MLS outfit DC United.
Everton - Gylfi Sigurdsson (£45m from Swansea City)
Following a sparkling spell with Welsh side Swansea City, Everton made the decision to splash the cash on Icelandic playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson. There were some promising moments from the former Spurs midfielder after his £45m switch but not enough to justify the huge price tag.
The 32-year-old left Goodison Park on a free transfer at the end of last season.
Fulham - Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa (£27m from Marseille)
Still only 26 years old, it would certainly be a surprise to note that Cameroonian midfielder Andre-Franck Zambo Anguissa was a Fulham player for four years in total following his big-money switch from Ligue 1 club Marseille.
In that time, he spent time out on loan at Villarreal and Napoli before sealing a permanent switch to the Serie A club this summer. Fulham have still managed to take a considerable loss on the player though, with him having played just 66 games for the club in the past.
Leeds United - Rodrigo (£27m from Valencia)
Signed after Leeds’ promotion back to the Premier League, the Spanish international played a pivotal role in the club’s efforts to stave off the threat of relegation with seven goals to his name. He followed that up with six strikes last season but appears highly likely to better that this term.
The £27m signing has already scored four goals in just three appearances so far this season and will hope to continue that excellent form throughout the campaign.
Leicester City - Youri Tielemans (£35m from AS Monaco)
Regularly praised for the their transfer acumen, Leicester City elected to bring AS Monaco star Youri Tielemans back to the King Power Stadium following an initial loan spell.
It looked like money well spent after the Belgian international played a key role in two fifth-placed finishes, as well as having scored the winning goal in the Foxes’ FA Cup final success against Chelsea last summer. However, there are currently major questions over his immediate future with Arsenal chasing his signature on a cut-price deal with just a year remaining on his current contract at the King Power Stadium.
Liverpool - Darwin Nunez (£85m from Benfica)
Having previously splashed the cash on Alisson Becker and Virgil van Dijk in the past, Liverpool once again elected to invest heavily - this time into their forward line. Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez arrived at Anfield for what could be a club record amount.
He enjoyed a fantastic start to life with the Reds having netted in the club’s Community Shield success against Manchester City, whilst he also scored on his Premier League debut against Fulham. However, he sunk to a low recently with a red card on his first competitive Anfield outing.
Manchester City - Jack Grealish (£100m from Aston Villa)
Not only is the former Aston Villa star the most expensive signing in the history of Manchester City but also in the history of English football. Signed for a fee of £100m, Grealish’s decision to leave his boyhood club looked to be the correct one after he lifted the Premier League title.
However, his personal showings did not really hit the heights expected of him at the Etihad Stadium with just six goals and four assists.
Manchester United - Paul Pogba (£89m from Juventus )
Brought back from Juventus back in 2016, the union of the French midfielder with Jose Mourinho was expected to take the Red Devils back to their former glories. It did not quite pan out that way for Pogba despite winning the Europa League and League Cup in his debut campaign at Old Trafford.
He struggled with inconsistency, whilst his relationship with Mourinho quickly deteriorated. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Ralf Rangnick were also not able to draw the best out of Pogba. United’s investment then looked even worse after Pogba was allowed to rejoin Juventus on a free transfer this summer.
Newcastle United - Alexander Isak (£59m from Real Sociedad)
Following the Saudi takeover at St James’ Park, the Magpies were expected to invest heavily into their frontline this summer. Initially, it looked as though that may not happen with Eddie Howe being left with his current options.
However, with Callum Wilson having picked up an injury in the early weeks of the campaign, the club were forced to move for attacking recruits and elected to swoop for Real Sociedad star Alexander Isak - the Swede penning a six-year deal in the North-East.
Nottingham Forest - Morgan Gibbs-White (£25m from Wolverhampton Wanderers)
One of the biggest spenders this summer with 17 new names through the door at the City Ground, it certainly took a number of people by surprise after the Reds decided to splash the cash on Wolves midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
He had previously sparkled in the Championship during a loan spell with Sheffield United, with his signing taking Forest’s total expenditure to over £140m in an effort to remain in the Premier League.
The initial fee of £25million usurps the £17million spent on Taiwo Awoniyi earlier this summer to break the record, and the Gibbs-White deal could rise to £42.5million with various add-ons.
Southampton - Danny Ings (£22m from Liverpool)
Following an initial loan spell at St Mary’s where he scored eight goals, the Saints agreed a permanent deal with Liverpool - a move that more than paid off. Ings scored a total of 46 goals in 100 appearances in all competitions for the South Coast club.
They managed to make a profit on that move with Ings moving to Premier League rivals Aston Villa last summer with the now 30-year-old netting seven goals in his debut season in the Midlands.
Tottenham Hotspur - Tanguy Ndombele (£59m from Lyon)
Signed for a huge fee after a stunning spell with Ligue 1 side Lyon, Ndombele has arguably been one of the most disappointing signings on this entire list.
The Frenchman arrived ahead of the 2019/20 campaign but could never find enough consistency in north London. Just two-and-a-half seasons later and the 25-year-old was allowed to rejoin his former club with an option to buy.
Lyon decided not to take up the option and Ndombele now finds himself on a season-long loan with Serie A giants Napoli.
West Ham United - Lucas Paqueta (£51m from Lyon)
Having seen Spurs splash the cash on a Lyon midfielder, London rivals West Ham United will be hoping that they have better luck having done the same. The Hammers have agreed a deal to sign Brazilian midfielder Lucas Paqueta ahead of the likes of Arsenal and Newcastle United.
It of course remains to be seen if he is successful in the Premier League, particularly after becoming the Hammers’ record signing.
Wolverhampton Wanderers - Matheus Nunes (£38m from Sporting Clube de Portugal)
Despite a slow summer under Bruno Lage, Wolves have stepped up their efforts over recent weeks. After previous links with Manchester City, Liverpool and various other clubs, the Sporting midfielder Nunes moved to Molineux in a club-record move.
Since arriving in the Midlands, he has made three appearances for Wolves - two in the Premier League and the other coming in the Carabao Cup.
