SUMMER 25

A look at some teams after the closure of the summer transfer window of 2025

The summer transfer window closed on 01/09/2025, and might I say, it was a crazy summer. There was a lot of movement across Europe, some more dramatic than others. We also saw some big moves fail to happen for multiple reasons. Let’s check the new look for teams after the summer moves.

1. FC BARCELONA

Barca’s financial constraints are still a thing plaguing the club and its operations. Their bloated salary cap means Barcelona can’t just sign players despite their revenue being ridiculously high. In terms of additions, Barca addressed the goalkeeper position and brought in Joan Garcia from local nemesis Espanyol. Replacing Marc-André ter Stegen was long overdue, and the Blaugrana finally acted accordingly. They also brought in Marcus Rashford on loan. Marcus will be looking to prove his doubters wrong and go back to his best self. Roony Bardghji was also brought in from FC Copenhagen. Barca lost out on a key player in Inigo Martinez (to Al-Nassr). It remains to be seen how Barca will replace their departed defensive leader.

2. REAL MADRID

Los Blancos were also active in the market, bringing in a few new players. They signed Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool to offer competition to the recovering Dani Carvajal. They also brought back in academy graduate Alvaro Carreras to hold down the left fullback spot. Madrid broke the bank and brought in center-half Dean Huijsen, who had an outstanding season with Bournemouth. Real also brought in Argentine starlet Franco Mastantuono from River Plate. I’m interested to see what Huijsen has in store for them.

3. CHELSEA

The Blues have had a host of incomings and outgoings this summer like they’ve had the last 3. The incomings include:

1. Jamie Gittens - Dortmund, £51.5m

2. Joao Pedro - Brighton, £60m

3. Liam Delap - Ipswich, £30m

4. Jorrel Hato - Ajax, £38.5m

5. Estevao Willian - Palmeiras, £29m

6. Dario Essugo - Sporting, £18.5m

7. Mamadou Sarr - RC Strasbourg, £12m - Loaned out to Strasbourg

8. Kendry Paez - Independiente del Valle, £17.3m - Loaned out to Strasbourg

9. Alejandro Garnacho - Man Utd, £40m

The standout outgoings include:

1. Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan

2. Nicholas Jackson loan to Bayern Munich

3. Joao Felix to Al-Nassr

4. Noni Madueke to Arsenal

5. Keirnan Dewsbury-Hall to Everton

6. Kepa Arrizabalaga to Arsenal

7. Djordje Petrovic to Bournemouth

I’m most excited to see what more Joao Pedro and Estevao Willian can do seeing as they’ve both had amazing starts to life in Chelsea blue.

4. LIVERPOOL

Liverpool have probably won the summer window with the business they’ve carried out. They’ve broken the bank and brought in several marquee players into the club. Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Hugo Ekitike, Milos Kerkez, Giorgi Mamadarshvili, Giovani Leoni, and Alexander Isak. It’s clear to everyone that they intend to defend their domestic crown whilst hunting for more. The Isak deal was completed on deadline day, and it was all people talked about this summer. Finally the saga with Newcastle is over. The Reds lost academy boys Trent and Harvey Elliot this summer. The Greek Scouser also got a loan move to AS Roma. Liverpool's record-breaking £446m window has earned them the only "perfect" rating—and it would have been even better had Marc Guehi's transfer gone through.

5. MANCHESTER CITY

Manchester City have strengthened their team in an attempt to change last season’s ill-fortune. They’ve brought in Gigio Donnarumma and James Trafford as their new goalkeepers, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, and Tijjani Reijnders. It remains to be seen whether the Sky Blues improve. Their outgoings this season have been key to their decade-long success. They include Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Manuel Akanji, Ederson, and Jack Grealish.

Other key summer transfers that interested me were:

1. Paul Pogba to Monaco

2. Viktor Gyokeres to Arsenal

3. Alex Baena to Atletico Madrid

4. Eberechi Eze to Arsenal

5. Xavi Simons to Spurs

There’s more transfer action that I haven’t covered. Feel free to share them in the comments.