The five most expensive Premier League transfers of the summer so far

Premier League clubs have led Europe for transfer spending in recent seasons, comfortably outspending their continental counterparts.

English clubs have again been active in the 2024 summer transfer window so far with some notable names having already switched sides.

Here are the five most expensive Premier League transfers of the summer so far.

5. Ian Maatsen – Chelsea to Aston Villa (£37.5m)

Ian Maatsen was involved in the pre-PSR deadline madness as Premier League clubs worked together to thrash out deals and bring balance sheets to order. Maatsen, however, appears far more than a pawn in the PSR game after featuring in last season’s Champions League final on loan at Borussia Dortmund.

The Dutch international is a versatile attacking threat from full-back and appears an astute addition to an Aston Villa squad set to compete in the Champions League in 2024-25.

Maatsen, who was named in the Champions League Team of the Season last season, has the flexibility, pace and potential to be a real asset for Unai Emery.

4. Archie Gray – Leeds to Tottenham (£40m)

Tottenham Hotspur have capitalised on Leeds United’s failure to win promotion to sign the highly-coveted Archie Gray. The 18-year-old broke into the Leeds team last season and was named the EFL Championship Young Player of the Season for 2023-24.

Gray’s father, grandfather and great-uncle all played for Leeds before his own rise through the academy ranks, though the midfielder will now look to establish himself as a top-flight talent in North London.

The teenager has already won rave reviews with his opening performance in pre-season for Spurs, who feel they have signed one of English football’s most exciting talents. Spurs are building for the long-term with one of the youngest squads in the Premier League next season.

Gray and fellow 18-year-old Lucas Bergvall have followed the recruitment of Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie and Radu Dragusin in recent windows, all aged 23 or under.

Spurs offset £10m of the transfer fee with Joe Rodon’s move to Leeds in the opposite direction.

3. Max Kilman – Wolves to West Ham (£40m)

Julen Lopetegui’s first task as West Ham manager was to solve the club’s vulnerable rearguard. Only the three relegated teams conceded more goals (74) and had higher xGA figures than the Hammers last season, despite a top-half finish for the Londoners.

Lopetegui returned for a familiar face after signing Wolves captain Max Kilman in a £40m deal. It’s an eyebrow-raising fee for the 27-year-old but West Ham are confident that Kilman can improve a defence that was too often exposed last season.

In 2023-24, Kilman ranked fourth in the Premier League for clearances and blocks, fifth for percentage of dribblers tackled, and 10th for both touches and percentage of aerial duels won (70.5%).

His exit also saw Wolves bank a remarkable profit, having signed the defender from non-league Maidenhead United for a fee of just £40,000 in 2018.

2. Amadou Onana – Everton to Aston Villa (£50m)

Everton were expected to cash-in on Amadou Onana this summer and have recouped £50m for the Belgium midfielder.

Aston Villa have made Onana the second-most expensive player in their history, as The Villans look to reinforce a midfield depleted by the sale of Douglas Luiz to Juventus.

Onana adds to Unai Emery’s options ahead of the club’s Champions League campaign and could form part of an all ex-Everton midfield alongside fellow recruit Ross Barkley. He also links up with Belgium teammate Youri Tielemans in the Midlands.

“I’ll be playing in the Champions League again and that’s very exciting,” Onana said.

“We also have a manager that’s one of the best in the business and I think he can take my game to the next level.”

1. Leny Yoro – Lille to Manchester United (£52m)

Manchester United are responsible for the most expensive Premier League signing of the summer so far after landing Leny Yoro in a £52m deal.

Erik ten Hag’s team blew the competition out of the water to sign the coveted centre-back, beating Real Madrid to the 18-year-old. The Spanish side had appeared the frontrunner to sign Yoro, but a superior offer from Old Trafford saw United win the race.

Yoro made 44 appearances in all competitions for Lille last season and earned inclusion in the Ligue 1 Team of the Year.

A future France international in the making, Yoro revealed how ex-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand helped persuade him to the Premier League.

“Two weeks ago, he called me,” Yoro revealed.

“We spoke for 10 minutes about Man United, so he helped me a lot to make my choice.

“He mainly spoke about the club and what it’s like. That this is a historic club with a big story, and if I go there I need to fight for the club, to be ready, because this is the biggest club in the world.”

Read – Five Premier League record signings who didn’t stick around

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