The summer transfer window closed on the 1st September 2015 and saw Premier League clubs sign a total of 184 players either as permanent deals or on loan. The net transfer spend of the 20 clubs for this summer was £432.6m, which was a rise on the previous two summers.
Now ten games in, with the table starting to take shape following an explosive start and some shock results, we take a look at the top five summer transfers.
Kevin De Bruyne
The biggest deal of the transfer window saw Manchester City prize Kevin De Bruyne away from Wolfsburg and back to the Premier League following his brief and disappointing time with Jose Mourinho and Chelsea. De Bruyne came with a hefty price tag but the 24-year-old Belgian has begun life at the Etihad superbly with three goals and three assists in his six Premier League appearances. WhoScored.com have given him a healthy rating of 7.7. He has registered 2.67 shots per game along with 1.67 dribbles per game. He also has completed 0.7 through balls ranking him 5th in the top 5 leagues in Europe and top in the Premier League. De Bruyne has slotted in perfectly to Manchester City’s attacking style of play which has seen them score 24 goals in 10 Premier League games and will form a fearsome trio alongside David Silva and Raheem Sterling behind Sergio Aguero, which should ensure City challenge for the title and the latter stages of the Champions League.
Dimitri Payet
West Ham have surprised many this season with their performances on the road beating Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City and Saturday’s victory at home to Chelsea sees Slaven Bilic’s team sit third in the Premier League. Few would have predicted such an upturn in the club’s fortunes and on the pitch, Dimitri Payet must take the plaudits. The 28-year-old signing from Marseille in the summer has been ever present for the Hammers in the league and racked up an incredible five goals and three assists in 10 appearances. Payet sits second only to Mesut Ozil in the top 10 across the 5 European leagues for key passes per game on 4.1 and 10th for crosses with 2.3 per game. It has been this kind of form which has seen WhoScored.com rate him 7.8 for his exploits with the Hammers. He’s also managed 2.1 shots per game and 2.4 dribbles per game; West Ham fans can expect plenty more from their iconic Frenchman.
Georginio Wijnaldum
Whilst Newcastle have been getting to grips with Steve McClaren and sitting in the relegation zone for the majority of the season, Wijnaldum has without a doubt been their shining star in a largely unforgettable start to the season. The 24-year-old Dutchman has scored an impressive six goals in 10 appearances including four in the 6-2 demolition of Norwich last weekend and brings hope that there will be better to come for the North East side. Wijnaldum is an experienced Dutch international and captained PSV Eindhoven to the Dutch title last season and was named Eredivisie player of the season in the process. Wijnaldum could quite of easily walked into any of the top Premier League sides but chose to sign for Newcastle and Steve McClaren and has bought undoubted quality to a side lacking in confidence. Wijnaldum has averaged 1.5 shots, 0.7 tackles and 2.1 dribbles per game and has received a rating of 7.2 overall from WhoScored.com thanks largely to his complete man of the match performance last weekend against Norwich and could posses the leadership qualities required to propell Newcastle up the table.
Petr Cech
Arsenal failed to sign an outfield player during the last transfer window, in fact they only brought in one player overall. That player however was Petr Cech signed from London and title rivals Chelsea. The 33-year-old had been a mainstay in the Chelsea side that won various Premier League titles, FA Cups, League Cups, the Champions League and Europa League but found himself resigned to the bench with the imergence of Thibaut Courtois. It was clear Cech was unhappy to find himself second choice especially as he was still in his peak for a goalkeeper. This transfer had many Arsenal fans excited as finally Arsene Wenger had signed a top quality keeper to add to his talent-filled squad. This signing was seen as the one player Arsenal needed to fully challenge for the Premier League and 10 games in they sit second to Manchester City level on points having only conceded 8 goals, the joint lowest in the league. Arsenal may have failed to sign a top quality striker, but in Cech they may have bought themselves the required number of points to finally challenge for the title.
Yohan Cabaye
When Crystal Palace announced the signing of French midfielder Yohan Cabaye from Paris Saint-Germain, there was an excitable buzz around Selhurst Park and highlighted the style of football Alan Pardew had brought in to attract the quality of Cabaye. The 29-year-old previously played under Pardew at Newcastle before a largely stuttering stint with PSG, so his inclusion to an increasingly improving Palace side under Pardew maintained the fact Palace were heading in the right direction. Crystal Palace currently sit 7th after 10 league games having won five and lost five but they have put in some impressive displays, especially away from home, and Cabaye has been central to those and scored four goals in 10 appearances and one assist. His performances has seen WhoScored.com rate him 7.4 overall and show a great level of attacking intent with 2.3 shots per game and tenacity with 3.7 tackles per game. Adding Cabaye to the midfield has been a fantastic addition and one Palace will relish come the end of the season.
