Premier League transfer window slams shut after hectic deadline day

Why do Premier League clubs spend all summer negotiating before completing big-money deals in the final 24 hours of the window?

Nobody knows, but transfer deadline day once again lived up to its notoriously frenetic reputation, with Premier League clubs sealing landmark purchases that could be crucial for the season ahead. From Liverpool’s record-breaking swoop of the summer’s most discussed transfer, to Sunderland’s audacious deadline day double, the end of the summer transfer window was far from disappointing.

The pursuit of Isak was a summer-long saga

Building on a defence which conceded the least amount in the Premier League last season, Arsenal brought in Piero Hincapié from Bayer Leverkusen. He’ll initially sign on a year-long loan, but with a £45 million option to buy. Part of the Ecuadorian’s allure must’ve been his versatility, able to play at both at left-back and centre-back. Arsenal will hope that signing a player with a league title in Germany may be the missing piece of their trophy puzzle.

Spurs once again bolstered their attack with the loan signing of Randal Kolo Muani from PSG. The 26-year old spent last season on loan at Juventus, a productive season which saw the Frenchman bag eight goals in 16 games. Adding Kolo Muani to a summer transfer window which also saw Mohamed Kudus, Joao Palhinha and Xavi Simons join Spurs, the team can be quietly confident of a successful season.

The biggest story of the day was Liverpool finally landing the club record signing of Alexander Isak from Newcastle for an overall package of £130m. The pursuit of Isak was a summer-long saga, one which estranged him from the Newcastle fans who once loved him but now label him a traitor. Such talk cannot overshadow the undeniable quality of the Swede, who has produced 52 goal contributions in his last two premier league seasons for Newcastle. Slot has got his man, and despite failing to land Marc Guehi, a serious attempt at a title defence is looking ever more likely.

On Newcastle’s side, the £55m signing of Brentford’s Yoane Wissa seemed a rapid response to the Isak sale. With 19 goals in the league last season, his arrival injects fresh impetus into the Newcastle attack, but leaves Brentford without their talisman, and now anxiously reliant on new boy Dango Outtara.

Elsewhere, Fulham reshaped their wide options with the club-record signing of Kevin for £34.6m, a 22-year-old Brazilian trickster from Shakhtar Donetsk. Despite the Ukrainian club’s failure to qualify for the Europa League through the playoffs, Kevin kicked off the season incredibly with four goals and two assists in three matches. Samuel Chukwueze will also be visiting Craven Cottage on a year-long loan from AC Milan, previously a prolific force at Villarreal.

Nicholas Jackson joined Bayern Munich for a ridiculously high loan fee

Newly promoted Sunderland brought their summer spend up to £161.7m with the signing of 23-year-old Brian Brobbey from Ajax. The Black Cats will be hoping to find form from Brobbey in a similar vein to his 23/24 Eredivisie campaign, notching 18 goals and eight assists in 30 games. The club has also loaned in Dutch international Lutsharel Geertruida from RB Leipzig, who became the 15th signing of the window.

Outside of England, Leicester City’s title-winning talisman Jamie Vardy joined Serie A side Cremonese, Nicholas Jackson joined Bayern Munich for a ridiculously high loan fee of £14.25m, and Manchester United saw the departures of Antony to Real Betis for £21.65m and Rasmus Hojlund on loan to Napoli.

Deadline day had everything: record signings, last-minute gambles, and yet another sleepless night for Fabrizio Romano. It perfectly capped off a summer in which the Premier League once again flexed its financial muscle and reshaped squads for the season ahead.