The 2023 summer transfer window was a monumental moment for the Premier League. In total, the topflight clubs spent over £2 billion on new signings, smashing the previous all-time highest tally from the year before.
West London club Chelsea FC were the biggest spenders last summer, but they weren’t the only club who had an active transfer window. Arsenal FC, Manchester City FC, and Tottenham Hotspur FC all spent over £200 million each, while even the “lesser” sides like AFC Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest FC shelled in excess of £100 million.
However, boasting the most-expensive transfers hardly ever guarantees success. Moisés Caicedo, Mason Mount, and Matheus Nunes are just three examples of high-profile new arrivals that have endured mixed starts at their respective new clubs.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though, with plenty of other signings hitting the ground running in the Premier League. In this article, I rank my top five best summer signings of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
#5 Pau Torres
Spanish centre-back Pau Torres finally arrived in the Premier League last summer, linking up with former Villarreal CF manager Unai Emery at Aston Villa FC after missing out on a move to Manchester United FC in 2022.
Following a shaky start to its career in the West Midlands, the Spaniard has gone from strength to strength.
Torres is what we call the “modern-day” centre-back: excellent on the ball and at starting attacks with his wide passing range. He possesses excellent recovery speed in defensive situations. Moreover, his intelligence coupled with the ability to remain composed in defensive situations while rarely rushing in and over-committing has been crucial to Villa’s charge of securing a top-four finish this season.
#4 Micky van de Ven
Spurs made a big coup in the transfer market when they beat the likes of FC Bayern Munich and Liverpool FC to the signing of Micky van de Ven last summer. The Dutch centre-back has been an instant hit in north London, with his mobility allowing Ange Postecoglou to implement his high defensive line.
A physical prototype of the modern-day defender with a 6’4” frame, Van de Ven is a dominant aerial presence, with good timing, positioning, and technique in his heading. Despite largely being considered as a ball-carrying centre-back, his key strength is his ability to delay opposition attacks with expert defensive angles, natural recovery speed, and smart, well-timed tackling.
Although Spurs’ season has gone off the rails in recent months, the Netherlands international remains a consistent performer in an otherwise horrible defensive unit.
#3 Kai Havertz
Ridiculed and mocked endlessly following his £65m switch from Chelsea FC, the Germany international has finally silenced all his critics and haters. It took Havertz more than a couple of months to slowly regain his lost confidence and start making a difference for the Gunners.
For three years, Havertz underperformed in the Chelsea setup for various reasons. Under the right environment and a manager that supports and wants to improve him, however, he has found his home in England. Despite a really slow start to his Arsenal FC career, where Arteta chopped and changed his roles to find what suited him best, Havertz has accumulated 20 goal contributions this season, including some crucial match-winners.
Given what he brings to the table both on and off the ball for Arsenal, Havertz has been a hugely successful piece of business by Mikel Arteta and his team.
#2 Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer being the only Chelsea player to feature on this list is a depressing indictment of the club’s £450m summer transfer splurge. Ironically, his arrival was among the signings that was greeted with the least enthusiasm when he completed a £42.5m switch from Manchester City FC.
However, since then, Palmer has emerged as one of Mauricio Pochettino’s leaders, already netting 21 goals as well as registering nine assists in 30 Premier League appearances.
A left-footed attacking player with the ability to play wide as part of a front three or in a central No. 10 position, Palmer has been crucial in unlocking defenses for Pochettino. At Chelsea, he has showcased his ability to create chances for runners in behind the opposition backline, while his game from set-pieces and the penalty spot has improved by leaps and bounds.
Given how consistent he has been for a misfiring Chelsea, Palmer has positioned himself as an outside bet for England’s Euro 2024 squad this summer.
#1 Declan Rice
The fact that there was the possibility of an alternative reality where Manchester City beat Arsenal to Declan Rice’s signature is a scary prospect.
The English midfielder has been ever-present in the heart of the Gunners midfield this season, breaking up play, driving forward, and keeping his side composed in possession. However, there’s a stark difference between the Declan Rice we see at Arsenal and the one we have seen play for West Ham United FC and England.
Under Mikel Arteta, what people perceived to be a pure No. 6 has turned out to be much more than just a defensive midfielder. In his first season with the Gunners, Rice has adapted quickly to his new role as the new left-sided No. 8, driving forward with the ball and making a difference in the final third.
There were a few eyebrows raised at his £105m price tag, but Rice has definitively silenced his doubters already. If Arsenal end their Premier League trophy drought this May, their marquee summer signing will be a huge reason why.
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