English Premier League's top transfers to watch this season

Bournemouth sold the striker for a record fee, giving the club an opportunity to sign and develop a few promising young forwards to replace him. Reportedly, Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah may find a starting role on England’s south coast appealing.

Tottenham has yet to find a true replacement for club legend Harry Kane since his move to Bayern Munich last summer. Richarlison, signed from Everton last year, scored 11 goals but was not the box presence Tottenham needed following Kane’s departure.

Manager Ange Postecoglou doesn’t “see any reason why [Solanke] shouldn’t be in a position” to start against Leicester for the Spurs’ opening game Monday, Aug. 19.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka | Manchester United to West Ham

The Londoner joins West Ham for only $19 million as one of the most dominant one-on-one outside backs in the league.

At only 26 years old, Wan-Bissaka has already played over 170 Premier League games. His experience in the Champions League compliments a West Ham squad keen to compete well in Europe. 

His pace compliments slower center backs Kurt Zuoma and Nayef Aguerd. New French center back Jean-Clair Tobido may struggle with the physicality and speed of the Premier League. Pairing him with Wan-Bissaka could cover up those deficiencies. 

Matthijs de Ligt & Noussair Mazraoui | Bayern Munich to Manchester United

United’s defense was historically bad in 2023-24, conceding 83 goals to match the club’s highest mark since 1976. Manager Erik Ten Hag hopes this duo addresses their defensive struggles and buffers a unit decimated by injury in the last campaign. 

Bayern Munich will receive $50 million and $18 million for center back de Ligt and full back Mazraoui, respectively. Mazraoui is going to be counted on to fill the void left by Wan-Bissaka while de Ligt’s signing is in response to United’s disagreement with Everton over the valuation of standout English center back Jarrad Branthwaite.

Both players earlier performed under Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax. United have reportedly spent almost $300 million on players ten Hag coached at the Dutch club.

Emile Smith Rowe | Arsenal FC to Fulham

The English midfielder earned a Fulham-record signing of $35 million. 

Smith Rowe, an Arsenal academy graduate, leaves a title-challenging club that no longer needs his services. Since Mikel Arteta took over Arsenal in 2020, Smith Rowe struggled with consistency, either due to injury or form.

Fulham, on the other hand, must be delighted for a young, talented midfielder to keep them progressing in the Premier League. Manager Marco Silva has acknowledged that the club’s steady form since rejoining the top flight in 2021 resulted in multiple impactful players moving onto bigger European clubs.