The Premier League had one of the most eventful transfer windows during the summer of 2025. It involves plenty of players who changed clubs, and some who joined the Premier League, looking to prove themselves at the biggest clubs in England’s top league. We are looking at the biggest transfers and how they could make an impact.

What constitutes a good transfer?

Every transfer is made as the clubs and their sporting directors felt the players could help the team. Their goal is always to boost the team’s chances of winning matches, so transfers must make sense. To determine a good transfer, there are some factors that must be present. Here are some of them:

• Impact - A player must make an impact on the team. It can be small or significant, but as long as they meet the standards set by the club, they should be considered a good transfer.

That could be something like a Christian Nørgaard transfer to Arsenal, which is a small deal, but it provides the team with much-needed cover in midfield. The other side of the spectrum is someone like Xavi Simons to Tottenham Hotspur, who could be a game-changer for the club.

• Price - This can determine a good transfer, depending on whether it’s a bargain or not. Some transfers are big-money deals that can’t be considered bargains, but they are still worth the money their previous club are getting paid for. This factor is mostly focused on the player’s valuation and the value they provide to their new club.
• Fan sentiment - By looking at the fanfare behind a transfer, that could be a great one. An example of this is Ebere Eze, who moved to Arsenal in the 2025 summer window, and he was unanimously popular among the Gooners.

Alexander Isak to Liverpool

As one of the world’s best strikers, Isak is one of the top signings a club could make. Even if they already had Hugo Ekitike earlier in the window, Isak wanted to leave Newcastle United, and his only preferred spot was Liverpool. That is massive for the Reds, as they could defend their title properly with a strong striker as the focal point.

Of course, Mohamed Salah is still the primary goalscorer, but Isak provides a new dimension to their attack. He scored 23 goals in the 2024/25 Premier League season, and Isak was the only one who came close to Salah’s 29-goal tally that won him the Golden Boot. 

With this firepower, Liverpool could keep relying on their attack to help them defend their league title. It will be challenging to integrate him without a full pre-season with him in the squad, but Isak is versatile enough to help the team across the front three.

Florian Wirtz to Liverpool

Liverpool broke the British transfer fee record twice, and the first one was for Florian Wirtz. One of the best attacking midfielders in the world, Wirtz is a creative force, who can generate scoring opportunities out of nothing.

However, the signing of Isak has put a bit of a damper on this as Wirtz could probably be playing more as a left-sided attacker rather than the favoured #10. Isak and Ekitike can play alongside each other as two strikers, but that could lead to issues further down the pitch as Wirtz will have to work harder with tracking back to defend.

Wirtz’s skills and talent allows him to play in almost any position. He is definitely a super talent, who could be with Liverpool for a long time as the foundational piece in their midfield.

Viktor Gyökeres to Arsenal

From 2023, Arsenal have been looking for a striker who is ruthless enough to keep scoring goals and finishing off their chances. That has been the missing link for Arsenal, as Kai Havertz has filled in as a good striker, but he is not the prototypical #9 that this club needed. 

Enter Viktor Gyökeres, who scored 97 goals in 102 appearances from 2023 to 2025. This is a massive number, and he will want to do that again for Arsenal. The numbers won’t be as outrageous as that, but he will be there to score goals when needed. Arsenal’s players must platform him better to score goals, but the team has the playmaking quality to do so. 

With Martin Ødegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Ebere Eze creating opportunities for him, Arsenal are in good hands with their striker situation and the rotation of Gyökeres and Havertz in the long run.

Jack Grealish to Everton

After a few seasons of being limited at Manchester City, Jack Grealish finally got a move away from the club. It was a loan deal to Everton with an option to buy, which could be triggered if Grealish continues to succeed. He is back to his old play style, as he has become more of a maverick again who attacks the full-back.

This has been a godsend for Everton, as Grealish is the creative force in attack they need alongside Iliman Ndiaye. With Grealish, they could push for a high-table finish by the end of the season.

Granit Xhaka to Sunderland

After a few years away from the Premier League, Granit Xhaka is back. This time, he is playing for Sunderland, a newly-promoted side. He was immediately given the captaincy, and he could be the game-changer for them. The Swiss international is a fantastic midfielder, who can both create and defend well. 

The experience of winning trophies is his primary attribute for Sunderland, which could be enough to keep them in the Prem. It will be a tough test, but Sunderland could stay up with Xhaka at the forefront.

With all these signings, the Premier League has flexed their financial muscle again.

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After winning the 2024/25 Premier League, Liverpool have done a fantastic job in the summer transfer window of 2025. They want to maintain their success, so they doubled down and broke the British transfer fee twice with moves for Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak.

This is a great step in the right direction for Liverpool, as they have superstars to build around. They are quite young compared to their foundation of Mohamed Salah and Virgil Van Dijk, who are both well into their 30s.

Liverpool have insane attacking firepower

With Isak, Wirtz, and Salah, Liverpool already have arguably the best attack in the league. Add a role player like Cody Gakpo and new signing Hugo Ekitike to that, and you have one of the most dangerous front lines in the sport. This firepower could propel them to keep winning matches through their offence.

This is especially true for Liverpool, as they do not have the legs and depth in the midfield and defensive areas. They lost out on Marc Guéhi, who would have been a fantastic cover for Van Dijk. Guéhi has stayed with Crystal Palace after his move to Liverpool collapsed, as it was too late in the window to let go of the Palace captain.

With those issues in the midfield and defence, Liverpool will try to outscore any opponent they play against. That is a huge task, but Liverpool’s talent makes them such a strong choice.

The pressure is on Liverpool to perform

With the spending they did, Liverpool must be under pressure. They broke the record transfer fee twice, which should mean people will look at them as the winners. They are under pressure to perform, as the Reds must defend their title win against title race rivals Arsenal.

Liverpool will operate under pressure, but their talent can help them get through some of the issues the club has with their defence. With manager Arne Slot leading the way alongside veterans like Van Dijk and Salah, the squad is in good hands.

Defending champions have higher expectations

As defending champions, Liverpool have a target on their back. It will be tough to follow up on the 2024/25 season. However, the Reds must live up to the pressure, as they are a title-winning side, so they must do their best to defend it with everything they can. 

It will be challenging to play with these expectations, but Liverpool can get through that kind of issue. This happened with Manchester City, as they lost in the 2024/25 season despite having connections. Liverpool must step up their game and meet the lofty expectations.

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The striker position is integral to any team’s success as the players in that role are typically the pivotal pieces that determine the match’s result. Since it is a big-time role, you must distinguish between the best and mediocre strikers.

Any top-tier striker is a game-changer, but some have separated themselves from the rest. However, you must learn first how to determine an elite striker before looking into the top names.

What makes a good striker?

In football, only a few types of players can affect a game as much as a good striker. Here are the traits that make them what they are:

• Clinical finishing - The biggest role a striker has to play is to score the goals. Passes will be made to the striker, and it is up to them how to finish the opportunity. They must do their best to score goals in the most efficient way possible, which means they must finish most of the chances they are given.
• Ball control - Strikers are meant to score goals, but they should also be superb when the ball is on their feet. They must be able to stand out when defenders are hounding them, so being creative with their dribbling should lead to good results. 
• Link-up play - A striker’s job is not only to score goals, but they can also help the team out by providing options to pass to. With link-up play, strikers can hold their defenders in uncomfortable spots, while the other players make the moves to the right places. 
• Positioning and awareness - A big part of playing as a striker is the positioning they must consider when playing. They have to avoid being called for offside, while the defenders are bothered enough to make mistakes and let him score goals. As long as the striker is aware of what he must do, he can make a difference.

Who are the best strikers in world football?

Now that you know the qualities of a good striker, you should look into which players can be considered the best out of the crop of strikers in football. Here they are: 

Erling Haaland (Manchester City and Norway)

Erling Haaland is one of the most feared strikers in the world. Known for his exceptional mental toughness, Haaland has the resilience to go up against elite defenders and dominate them with his towering frame and power. He outmatches his defenders physically, as he can bully his opponents in one-on-one duels.

His left foot is one of his best weapons as he scores countless goals with powerful shots. Even when he is playing awkward angles, he combines power and accuracy to constantly find the back of the net. His positioning is also elite, as he is relentless with his movement. That has made him an elite number nine that people will see as the pinnacle of the position.

Kylian Mbappé (Real Madrid and France)

If you want to see a fast striker, Kylian Mbappé is your guy. He is arguably the fastest player in the world, which makes him a threat to any defender. The combination of his blistering pace with supreme control is unmatched since no defender can keep him under wraps.

Mbappé is more than just a speedy player, as he is also one of the smartest on the pitch. He can read the game, which leads him to exploit his defenders�lack of pace and awareness with his movement and deft touch when he gets the ball.

Alexander Isak (Newcastle United and Sweden)

Intelligent strikers are hard to come by, but Alexander Isak might be the best example of a striker with an elite football IQ. He has tremendous physical attributes, including his height and deceptive strength. However, his football IQ stands out as he loves manipulating the defence with subtle movements and good positioning.

Whenever Isak is in front of the goal, he has solid composure. He is always dangerous when he has a chance to score due to being extremely clinical. His ability to be calm under pressure makes him one of the scariest players, as he can create a goal out of nothing. He can also drift to either side of the box, which confuses defenders when he takes them on.

Harry Kane (Bayern Munich and England)

Harry Kane is remarkable with his playmaking and goal-scoring, making him one of the most well-rounded strikers. He is a natural finisher with either foot and a strong presence in the air with his headers. Kane is always reliable since he constantly delivers when he is given the ball. 

He is capable of excelling in any situation as he has the power, IQ, and finishing you would expect from an elite striker. Kane is also quite reliable in clutch moments as he finds ways to get shots off and bends them into the net.

Viktor Gyökeres (Sporting CP and Sweden)

Viktor Gyökeres has flown under the radar compared to the other names on this list, but he has made a serious impact at Sporting CP. He is a relentless striker who is constantly pushing his defenders to their limits. The movement and physicality disrupt his matchups, which opens him up for a chance to score. 

He has a powerful shot, which makes him a constant goal threat anywhere he plays. Forcing defenders to always stay alert makes them anxious every time he has the ball because he can shoot or make a pinpoint pass.

These strikers are good examples of the pinnacle of this position. They are important to any team, as they could become the game-changers when they’re on the pitch. Football has 11 positions, but no one can deny that strikers are essential, especially since they score goals.

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Liverpool has talked to people close to Alexander Isak, 25, a striker from Newcastle, about moving to their team this summer. They want him for next season.

Wolves are also looking at Diogo Jota, 28. Jota plays for Liverpool now, but Wolves want him back. They are watching what happens with him and may try to bring him back to their team this summer.

Meanwhile, Manchester United wants more money for Marcus Rashford, 27. Rashford has done well while on loan at Aston Villa, and his strong play has got him a spot back in the England team.

Man Utd also looks at two young players: Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt and Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth wants to sign Liverpool’s goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher. AC Milan wants to sign Kyle Walker from Manchester City but will not keep Joao Felix, who is on loan from Chelsea.

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