The 2026 summer transfer window has shattered records across world football, with Premier League clubs once again leading the charge in a spending spree that saw five players move for fees exceeding £100 million. Deadline day provided the final flourish, with Enzo Fernandez’s British-record-equalling move to Manchester City sealing the window in dramatic fashion.
Here is the definitive list of the 25 biggest transfers confirmed this summer.
1. Enzo Fernandez — Chelsea → Manchester City | Midfielder | 25 | £125m
Chelsea had set a deadline for Fernandez’s sale, but City called their bluff and eventually got them to buckle with a British-record-equalling move. City broke their transfer record for a second time this summer after doing so for Elliot Anderson earlier. The Argentina World Cup winner reunited with former boss Enzo Maresca at the Etihad on a five-year deal.
2. Morgan Rogers — Aston Villa → Chelsea | Attacking midfielder | 23 | £117m
Rogers is Chelsea’s new record signing and the most expensive English player in history after signing a seven-year deal. Chelsea faced competition from other Premier League clubs but blew them out of the water with a massive bid. Rogers claimed Chelsea “are the biggest club in London and a club I’ve always admired since I was a kid”. Leading the way is Chelsea’s €138m acquisition of Morgan Rogers.
3. Elliot Anderson — Nottingham Forest → Manchester City | Midfielder | 23 | £116m
Man City broke their transfer record to sign Anderson in a strong sign of their faith in his abilities. Having become the most expensive British player of all time – a status he held for only a few weeks until Rogers’ move – Anderson signed a five-year contract at the Etihad. Manchester City’s €135m signing of Elliot Anderson is second.
4. Yan Diomande — RB Leipzig → Real Madrid | Winger | 19 | £106.8m (up to £120m)
For a while, it looked like Liverpool were going to sign Diomande before PSG came into the picture. But once Real Madrid decided to join the race, the battle for the Ivory Coast international winger was all but over. Diomande signed a seven-year contract and is expected to form a fearsome attacking unit alongside Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Bellingham. Real Madrid’s €125m deal to bring in Diomande shares the third most expensive.
5. Bradley Barcola — PSG → Liverpool | Winger | 23 | £106m (up to £123m)
There were times when it looked like Barcola might be out of reach for Liverpool, but they twisted PSG’s arm and secured him on a long-term deal. The compromise sees Liverpool pay £106m up front, with the final fee potentially reaching £123m with add-ons. Should all those add-ons be activated, Barcola would shoot to top of the list. Liverpool’s €125m acquisition of Barcola shares the third most expensive. Barcola is a fast and direct winger who won back-to-back Champions League titles with PSG.
6. Sandro Tonali — Newcastle United → Tottenham Hotspur | Midfielder | 26 | £92.5m (up to £100m)
It could yet be a £100m deal as Tottenham pull off one of the biggest signings any non-Champions League club has ever achieved. Tonali wanted out of Newcastle and he wanted London if he was priced out of a move back to Italy. Tottenham’s €108m transfer of Sandro Tonali is the fifth most lucrative deal so far.
7. Mateus Fernandes — West Ham → Tottenham | Midfielder | 23 | £85m
Tottenham casually smashed their transfer record on the central midfielder who was the first of his kind to move for big money in what is fast becoming the summer of CMs.
8. Bruno Guimaraes — Newcastle → Arsenal | Midfielder | 28 | £75m
Newcastle sales now make up almost half of the top seven, with the Brazil midfielder finally getting his Gunners move.
9. Goncalo Ramos — PSG → AC Milan | Striker | 25 | £63.7m
Ramos is a record signing for former Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim at AC Milan. The 25-year-old scored 12 goals for PSG as a bit-part player last season.
10. Anthony Gordon — Newcastle → Barcelona | Winger | 25 | £60m (up to £69m)
Not a deal that many saw coming, but the England winger has always been in demand. The deal could reach £69m with add-ons.
11. Iliman Ndiaye — Everton → Manchester City | Winger | 26 | £65m
Manchester City completed the signing of Ndiaye from Everton in a deal worth up to £65m, moving decisively on deadline day to strengthen Enzo Maresca’s attacking options.
12. Crysencio Summerville — West Ham → Al Hilal | Winger | 24 | £55m (up to £60m)
Man Utd and Roma were linked but he has taken the £300,000-a-week after tax on offer in Saudi. West Ham could pocket another £5m in add-ons.
13. Jeremy Jacquet — Rennes → Liverpool | Defender | 21 | £55m
Jacquet signed for Arne Slot as Liverpool continued their squad rebuild.
14. Maxence Lacroix — Crystal Palace → Chelsea | Defender | 26 | £52m
Chelsea secured the French centre-back as part of their extensive summer overhaul.
15. Pape Sarr — Tottenham → Juventus | Midfielder | 23 | £47m
Tottenham sanctioned the departure of the midfielder as part of their own midfield revamp.
16. Nicolas Jackson — Chelsea → [undisclosed] | Striker | 25 | £65m
The Chelsea striker moved on as part of the club’s significant squad turnover.
17. Richarlison — Tottenham → Everton | Forward | 29 | £35m
The Brazilian returned to Merseyside four years after leaving the Toffees, as part of a separate deal from Tottenham’s Ndiaye negotiations.
18. Alejandro Garnacho — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Winger | 22 | Undisclosed
Chelsea added the Argentine winger to their growing collection of attacking talent.
19. Geovany Quenda — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Winger | 19 | Undisclosed
Another young attacking signing for the Blues as they continue to invest in future talent.
20. Andrey Santos — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Midfielder | 22 | Undisclosed
Chelsea continued their midfield reinforcements with the Brazilian.
21. Emmanuel Emegha — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Striker | 23 | Undisclosed
The striker was among Chelsea’s numerous summer arrivals.
22. Marco Palestra — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Defender | 21 | Undisclosed
Chelsea added defensive depth with the Italian.
23. Dastan Satpaev — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Midfielder | 19 | Undisclosed
The Kazakh teenager was another long-term investment for the Blues.
24. Denner — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Forward | 21 | Undisclosed
Chelsea rounded out their attacking options with the Brazilian.
25. Tyrique George — [undisclosed] → Chelsea | Winger | 20 | Undisclosed
The young winger completed Chelsea’s remarkable summer of spending.
The Window in Numbers
Premier League clubs dominated the spending charts, with Chelsea leading the way at £352.8m, followed by Manchester City at £268.68m and Newcastle United at £216.55m. Five players moved for fees exceeding £100 million, while 36 stars switched clubs for €50m or more.
Liverpool secured their main target of the summer after a monthslong pursuit of Barcola, while Tottenham completed a dramatic midfield overhaul with the arrivals of Tonali and Fernandes. Chelsea, despite failing to qualify for European football, still managed to pull off the signing of Morgan Rogers – a player who would have been playing in the Champions League had he stayed at Aston Villa.
The transfer window officially closed late Tuesday, bringing an end to one of the most expensive summers in football history.
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