Yesterday, I waded through the bottom of the barrel to select my personal worst five signings of the Premier League season.
Today, I think it’s only right to tip the cosmic scales and offer my picks for the most successful Prem acquisitions to date. As with yesterday’s list, I have decided to leave the turbulent loan category out of my assessment. This has been a tough list to assemble, with many of the marquee summer signings (Wirtz, Isak, Sesko, Simons) failing to capture the imagination in the opening salvos of the season. Still, I think these five names are a decent approximation of the season thus far.
5. Nick Woltemade- £73m from VfB Stuttgart to Bayer Leverkusen
This is a slightly contentious choice (especially given that price range). No 9’s are treated like royalty in Geordie country (people would trample over Brad Pitt’s feet to be around Alan Shearer on the Toon). Alexander Isak was embraced by the Magpies but left in acrimonious circumstances. The Newcastle hierarchy acted decisively, bringing in the imposing Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart. And he enjoyed an excellent start to life in the league, scoring four goals in his first seven outings (he is still just one of five players to net against Arsenal in the league). He has endured a tiny blip in recent weeks, adapting to the demands of Eddie Howe’s high press. Woltemade likes to drop deep and link up play ala Harry Kane. I think these teething issues will sort themselves out and I anticipate a bright future for the young German international.
4. Bryan Mbeumo- £71m from Brentford to Manchester United
No player has been more important in United’s recent uptick in form than right-sided forward Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian has been a sensation since arriving from the Bees, scoring six goals in all competitions while assisting another. His versatility has made him an indispensable member of Amorim’s attacking plans. He can play in one of Amorim’s dynamic no.10 roles, using his energy and pace to drift into that right-wing position when necessity dictates. He is the antithesis of failed experiment Antony, working extremely hard to regain lost possession. Mbeumo was recently acknowledged for his achievements, winning the Premier League Player of the Month Award for October.
3. Martin Zubimendi- £51m from Real Sociedad to Arsenal
Many scribes- myself included- thought that Arteta had perhaps been a bit short-sighted in letting go of Thomas Partey. Controversies aside, the Ghanaian understood the rigours of the league. I thought that Martin Zubimendi may struggle with the physicality of the league. I was wrong. The Spainard has probably been Arteta’s most important signing since Declan Rice, bringing real poise to that No.6 role. He is much more progressive than either Patry or Jorginho, and his presence gives Rice the freedom to produce his trademark lung-bursting forays forward. Technically gifted and surprisingly durable, Zubimendi could very well become Arteta’s Rodri.
2. Granit Xhaka- £13m from Bayer Leverkusen to Sunderland
From a purely financial perspective, this must be the steal of the summer. The former Arsenal man has made an indelible impact since returning from his Bundesliga-winning spell at Leverkusen, scoring once and assisting three times in the league. He has brought both steel and guile to that Sunderland midfield, helping propel the Black Cats into the Champions League places. Can we just take a moment to acknowledge the herculean resurgence of the Swiss midfielder. Xhaka became persona no grata at one point in his Arsenal tenure, ridiculed for recklessness and lack of dynamism. But he enjoyed a fantastic last season at the Emirates, forging telepathic links with Saka and Odegaard as Arsenal fell agonizingly short of winning the title. He then joined Leverkusen and helped Xabi Alonso end Bayern Munich’s stranglehold on German football. Now he is thriving in a new leadership role, leading this resurgent, energized Sunderland outfit.
1. Gianluigi Donnarumma- £26m from PSG to Chelsea
Could this be the most transformative goalkeeping purchase since Liverpool acquired Allison in 2018? It’s too early to say that, but you can’t deny his early impact on the squad. How Guardiola managed to buy one of the three best keepers in the world for £26m is beyond me (especially after he played a key role in PSG’s Champions League winning campaign). Donnarumma has brought an immediate sense of calm to a fragile City backline, keeping six clean sheets in twelve appearances. Sure, he isn’t the type of tiki-taka goalkeeper that Guardiola has embraced in the past. But Guardiola is taking a more direct approach this campaign, moving away from the build-up-from-the-back style that backfired spectacularly last season. Donnarumma is almost a throwback to a simpler time, where big-guy-energy was king between the sticks.
