Premier League clubs have spent more than £1 billion ($1.3 billion) on new players ahead of the new season’s start on Friday.
Arsenal has led the charge, spending over £200 million on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, and Jurrien Timber in their bid to dethrone defending champions Manchester City.
Manchester United, Newcastle, Liverpool, and Chelsea have also been active, with rivalry for a top-four finish fierce.
However, treble winners City are the team to beat as they seek a record-breaking fourth consecutive English Premier League title.
AFP Sport looks at five of the biggest transfers of the window so far:
Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Arsenal were City’s surprise title rivals last season, topping the standings for the majority of the season until slumping down the final straight.
Rice’s decision to join Mikel Arteta’s club despite rumored interest from Manchester City is yet another sign that Arsenal are on the rise.
To entice the England international away from West Ham, Arsenal had to break their transfer record with a deal that might reach £105 million.
With that money comes high expectations for Rice to be the difference maker in bringing the Premier League title back to north London after a 20-year absence.
At the Emirates, the 24-year-old will be charged with directing the midfield and providing a platform for a talented variety of young forwards to fire at the top of the pitch.
Rasmus Hojlund (Man Utd)
A bid to bring England captain Harry Kane to Old Trafford fell through, and United instead relied on the promise of 20-year-old Dane Hojlund to fill their striker void.
An initial sum of £64 million for a player who cost Atalanta only £17 million a year ago has sparked speculation.
In his sole season in Serie A, Hojlund scored nine goals.
However, his six goals in six appearances for his country have provided a glimpse of his potential.
Hojlund has been compared to City superstar Erling Haaland because to his intimidating physique, rapid pace, and Scandinavian background.
Josko Gvardiol (Man City)
City’s major signing has been Croatian centre-back Gvardiol from RB Leipzig for £78 million.
Last year, the towering 21-year-old led his team to the World Cup semi-finals.
However, he will have great competition at the Etihad, where Pep Guardiola now has a choice of six international center-backs.
Guardiola has argued that it is “absolutely not too many,” despite the fact that he frequently used a back four made up entirely of natural central defenders towards the conclusion of the season.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)
Liverpool’s fifth-place finish last season highlighted the necessity for a makeover of an aging midfield.
Szoboszlai and Argentine World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister promise additional dynamism and goal danger, but further reinforcements are required to replace captain Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner.
Szoboszlai, a Hungarian international, joins the club from Leipzig in a £60 million move.
In 91 games for the German team, the 22-year-old scored 20 goals and assisted on 22 others.
Sandro Tonali (Newcastle)
In recent months, the riches on offer to players in the Saudi Pro League have emerged as a danger to even some of the Premier League’s titans.
However, the Gulf state’s direct interest in English football has been less than predicted.
Newcastle, backed by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund, has avoided the temptation to bring in big-name players to celebrate their return to the Champions League.
They did, however, pay a record £60 million for Tonali, an Italian player from AC Milan.
The combative 23-year-old midfielder assisted his boyhood club to their first Serie A title in 11 years in 2022, before playing a major role in their journey to the Champions League semi-finals last season.
