Premier League clubs were busy wheeling and dealing in the last summer transfer window, making full use of an influx of cash from the Saudi Pro League buying up veteran players.
The English top flight continues to lap the competition in European football when it comes to spending, signing some of the most talented footballers in Serie A and the Bundesliga, for example.
Which signings have already paid off thus far after six Matchdays of action? Let’s take a look at the 10 best signings of the season to this, very early, point.
West Ham CM James Ward-Prowse
Known as the finest free-kick specialist in all the land, James Ward-Prowse is earning a reputation as an even more impressive footballer for West Ham United.
The Hammers raised eyebrows by spending 30 million pounds on the 28-year-old midfielder, but he already looks to be worth the investment.
Ward-Prowse has two goals and three assists in five appearances, working his creative magic with 1.6 key passes per game.
Better yet, he’s averaging 1.2 tackles and 2.0 interceptions per match, rating him as one of the top defensive midfielder in the top flight.
Tottenham AM James Maddison
Another well-known player moving from a relegated Premier League power, James Maddison is finding even more success as the centerpiece player of a resurgent Tottenham. No Harry Kane? No problem, says Maddison, who was the decisive player yet again in Spurs’ 2-2 draw with Arsenal in the North London Derby.
Maddison has two goals and four assists as one of the most productive players in the Premier League, seemingly reaching new heights after already being one of the league’s brightest stars for Leicester City.
He is pulling the strings for Ange Postecoglou, averaging nearly three key passes and fouls drawn per game each with two more dribbles completed per match for good measure.
Tottenham look like a legitimate top-four side to this early point, and Maddison’s graceful attacking style is vital to that. Maddison is legitimately a Premier League Player of the Season candidate.
Tottenham LWB Destiny Udogie
Tottenham players will be a common theme on this list. Antonio Conte and Co. pushed to secure the signing of wing back Destiny Udogie from Udinese before the 2022/23 season started, offering back to the Friulani on loan. Udogie had a solid final season in Serie A, but he looks like an even more mature player already for Tottenham Hotspur.
With Pedro Porro across from him, Udogie is forming one of the best wing back pairings in the world.
Both young men are versatile and are aggressive in pushing up the pitch, functioning as center midfielders in alternating roles when Tottenham are in control of possession in the attacking third.
The 20-year-old has two assists to his name with a whopping 4.6 combined tackles and interceptions per game, serving an important function in Postecoglou’s aggressive pressing scheme.
Manchester City RW Jérémy Doku
One of the most prolific dribblers in European football at Rennes, Jérémy Doku was still underutilized by a French outfit that had an awful lot of quality to feed in the final third.
Manchester City is the same way, yet Pep Guardiola is already prioritizing a role for Doku in the rotation of wingers.
Doku’s directness and unpredictable feet make him just as dangerous to Premier League defenses as he was to those in Ligue 1.
The young Belgian is making the most of his 217 minutes, averaging nearly three dribbles completed and three fouls drawn per game.
Mostly playing on the right side, Doku’s ability to provide width can open up more opportunities for Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne in the middle.
Liverpool CM Dominik Szoboszlai
More of an attacking midfielder and forward, Dominik Szoboszlai has become a more physical presence in order to help his new club as a center midfielder in a 4-3-3.
Szoboszlai emerged as one of the most dangerous playmakers in European football last season, making highlight reels with his stunning strikes from range.
Now, Szoboszlai is an even more complete player and has shown an admirable mentality and work ethic in making the step up from RB Leipzig to Liverpool.
Early on, the Reds look like the biggest title challengers to Manchester City, which is a spot they should be in every season. Szoboszlai has been one of Liverpool’s best players, averaging two key passes per game with solid defensive contributions.
Crystal Palace DM Jefferson Lerma
Crystal Palace signed Jefferson Lerma for free right when the summer transfer window opened, and the ex-Bournemouth defensive midfielder is already paying dividends for an underrated Eagles side.
Lerma is enhancing his reputation as one of the best defensive midfielders in the top flight, averaging 2.3 tackles and 1.8 interceptions per game.
He’s even averaging 1.5 key passes per match.
Though Lerma won’t make as many headlines as Doku and Szoboszlai on bigger clubs and as stars of the next generation, he has to be in the conversation as one of the best signings of the window when you look at his (free) price tag.
Arsenal DM Declan Rice
Everyone knew Declan Rice was a signing Arsenal had to make, and he’s been every bit the upgrade they expected.
When he went down with a back injury against Tottenham, observers from around the league knew that the Gunners would be in a tough spot in that second half against their bitter local rivals.
Rice was one of the best players in the Premier League last season and recognized as such despite being a defensive midfielder. The same looks to be the case in 2023/24.
He is averaging 3.3 combined tackles and interceptions per game, completing 92 percent of his 67 passes per match. Rice is CLASS, all caps.
Arsenal GK David Raya
So is David Raya. It says something that Raya has already unseated Aaron Ramsdale as the unquestioned No. 1 in North London, because Ramsdale was one of the top goalkeepers in the Premier League last season.
But Raya was even better for Brentford and has, rather unsurprisingly, been even better for Arsenal.
Raya’s massive save in the North London Derby helped the Gunners salvage a point. He’s one of those keepers who makes those kinds of goal-erasing stops while still being consistent each and every week.
It looks like Arsenal have found a real gem in between the sticks.
Tottenham LW Manor Solomon
Manor Solomon isn’t a nailed-on starter every week, but that could change in rather short fashion if he keeps impressing in cameos.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk standout is yet another exciting attacking winger to hail from the perennial Champions Leauge side, and the 24-year-old seems to fit the identity of what Postecoglou is looking for in his attack.
An excellent athlete, Solomon combines speed and strength with sufficient end product.
He has two assists in under 200 minutes for the rebounding Premier League power, averaging an astounding 4.6 key passes and dribbles completed per game…each. Definitely watch out for him as his role under Postecoglou increases.
Aston Villa RW Moussa Diaby
Aston Villa did well to back Unai Emery in the transfer market after the Spanish manager helped lead them to European football. Their most high-profile signing has also been their biggest success to this point, as Moussa Diaby is sitting on two goals and two assists after six Premier League matchdays.
Like Dominik Szoboszlai, Diaby has arrived in England after establishing himself as one of the best young players in European football while benefiting from the free-flowing attacking style of the Bundesliga.
Diaby has come a long way since being a booking-prone, inconsistent winger. He is now legitimately one of the best right wingers on the planet.
The 24-year-old is a key creative influence for Villa, averaging 1.7 key passes per game. Expect to see his production rise, if anything, as he continues to build familiarity with his talented attacking teammates.
