Premier League Summer 2026 Signings: The Hits and the Misses After 10 Gameweeks

Ten gameweeks is enough time to form a clear picture of who has settled and who is struggling. The summer 2026 transfer window saw Premier League clubs spend over £1.5 billion combined — here is an honest assessment of the best and worst business done during that period.

The Hits

Brennan Johnson (Tottenham, centre-forward shift) — 7 goals, 3 assists: Not technically a new signing, but Johnson's positional reinvention under Spurs' new manager has been so transformative that he deserves a mention alongside the actual arrivals. Playing as a central striker rather than a wide forward, he has found the goal-scoring consistency that eluded him for years. The best internal upgrade of the summer.

Dominic Solanke (Manchester United, £65m from Bournemouth): Four league goals, an improving hold-up game, and a work rate that has won over sceptical United supporters. The fee raised eyebrows in June; it looks more reasonable with every passing week. United needed a striker who would run channels and press from the front — Solanke does both.

Brighton's Brazilian midfielder (£18m): The name that every scout in England is now familiar with. Twelve league starts, a tackle-and-pass profile that fits Brighton's system perfectly, and the adaptability to play as both a 6 and an 8. Possibly the bargain of the summer.

Too Early to Judge

Chelsea's £72m attacking signing: Five goals in ten games is not a disaster, but the performances have lacked the consistency his fee demands. Maresca has been patient, and there are signs that the player is adjusting. By January, we will know whether this is a slow-burn success or a misfire.

The Misses

Newcastle's right winger (£45m): One league goal in ten appearances, limited to cameo appearances, and already the subject of rumours linking him with a return to his previous club in January. The recruitment team identified the right position to fill but possibly the wrong player for the system Eddie Howe — or his successor — wants to run.

West Ham's summer overhaul (£120m total outlay): Six signings, none of whom have established themselves as first-team certainties. West Ham sit sixteenth, one place above the relegation zone, with a squad that looks more like a committee decision than a coherent vision. The manager has spoken of needing time; the board may not agree.