Premier League transfer window's biggest loser clear amid Liverpool and Arsenal debate

If someone asked you to describe the 2025 summer transfer window in one word, you wouldn't be short of options. Hectic, tantalising, dramatic, agonising - take your pick.

But one word sums it up best, especially for the Premier League: expensive. Following a good, old fashioned frantic deadline day, the 20 clubs' combined spending surpassed £3billion, shattering the previous record of £2.44bn from 2023.

The top flight also set a record for the amount of money brought in from player sales, recouping an eye-watering £1.8bn. That also made for an all-time-high net spend of £1.2bn.

But which club had the best transfer window? And who had the worst?

We asked some of Mirror Football's writers to give their verdicts for this week's Big Debate.

READ MORE: Every Premier League transfer completed AFTER deadline with blockbuster deal still expected

READ MORE: Transfer news LIVE: Arsenal, Man Utd and Liverpool updates amid deadline day fallout

Ben Husband

Best - Everton

I really like what David Moyes has done this summer. With almost every deal they have improved on the squad they had last year. Under Sean Dyche they were often a difficult watch, but by bringing in players like Jack Grealish, Tyler Dibling and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall they have the potential to be really exciting for the neutral.

Grealish in particular was the no-brainer transfer of the summer and I think almost every Premier League side would have been wise to go for him. I'm expecting a much-improved season for the Toffees, with a top-half finish more than attainable, with Europe not out of the question.

Worst - Wolves

It probably says a lot that the best work Wolves managed was keeping a player they had signed about a month earlier. Had they sold Jorgen Strand Larsen then you could have safely stuck the 'R' next to their name and moved on.

Regardless, in contrast to Everton, I'm struggling to pick a position where Vitor Pereira's squad is demonstrably better at the end of the window, than it was at the start. Fer Lopez is an intriguing signing, Jackson Tchatchoua has all the traits, but it's a summer where they have failed to bring in ANY Premier League experience.

Honourable mention to Manchester United. Spending all that money and still having THAT midfield? Definitely a choice.

Which teams had the best and worst transfer windows? Let us know your picks in the comments section.

Sam Meade

Best - Liverpool

There's certainly been some mixed emotions for club bosses and executives over the summer, but it is hard to say Liverpool haven't conducted the best business. Their decision to spend as big as they have has surprised some, but they now have a squad to rival anything in Europe.

If anything underlined their ambition it was deciding that a striker who cost £79m and scored in his opening three games wasn't enough, so they went and shattered records to get Isak. That alongside other stellar buys like Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.

Worst - Brentford

The worst window would've been Newcastle had they not got two strikers through the door late on. Instead a club like Brentford is likely to be wondering if their top flight stay is now under serious threat. Losing their two main goal sources will potentially prove defining, especially with Yoane Wissa going so late in the day.

Tom Victor

Best - Arsenal

It's easy to overlook them, given how early some of their big deals were done, but Arsenal have had what should be regarded as a fantastic window. Liverpool have been the big spenders, breaking the British transfer record twice, but sometimes you want to eschew the all-you-can-eat buffet in favour of the tasting menu.

Arsenal have addressed key positions while offloading some of the players who are no longer needed in North London. They even got a fee for Albert Sambi Lokonga!

Worst - Newcastle and Fulham

On the other side of the coin, Newcastle's window has to be seen as a failure and not just because of the Alexander Isak saga. They have overpaid for Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa, though both could prove useful pick-ups, while missing out on enough first and second choices that it became a meme.

In the era of baffling bragging about winning the transfer window, though, Fulham's fanbase might be the most frustrated. Just two new permanent signings, though the late dash for Kevin and loanee Samuel Chukwueze is better than nothing after Benjamin Lecomte was the only new face for a while.

Nathan Ridley

Best - Tottenham

I was torn on which half of north London to go on, but after Arsenal's start to the season I'm swaying towards Tottenham. The biggest positive from Spurs' summer has been the appointment of Thomas Frank.

He's potentially my favourite Premier League manager. A forward-thinking tactician but also someone who comes across as authentic and stands out compared to the vapid 'head coach' our pyramid has become full of.

Frank is so good at coaching a solid defence that Tottenham haven't needed to prioritise their back line which was constantly leaking under Ange Postecoglou. In midfield, I really like the signing of Joao Palhinha - Manchester United should've gone for him.

Xavi Simons is such a talent, too, and the comparison between how well he and Arsenal's Eberechi Eze do this season will be fascinating. Fortunately, Spurs had already signed a Premier League-proven playmaker in Mohammed Kudus, while I'm hoping that Randal Kolo Muani can show what he's made of after a decent loan spell with Juventus.

Worst - Brentford

My choice for the worst window is Brentford - again, partly because they lost Frank. Fulham are a popular pick but I think there's something to be said for keeping your squad and manager together.

Regardless of how much money they've brought in, it's going to be extremely difficult to replace the 39 league goals of Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa. Less spectacularly, Christian Norgaard is a huge loss, especially when Keith Andrews could've done with that kind of character to keep things steady on and off the pitch while he gets his feet under the table.

It's probably unwise to doubt Brentford because they always seem to recover from losing their best players, and club-record signing Dango Ouattara has started brightly. But this is their toughest test yet in the top flight, having been forced into a much busier summer than they'd have hoped for.

Aaron Morris

Best - Sunderland

Sunderland have seemingly had the best transfer window of the summer all things considered. Regis Le Bris knew stepping up to the Premier League that a major revamp was needed if the Black Cats had any real hopes to remain in the English top flight at the end of 2025/26 and Kyril Louis-Dreyfus has backed his man while Kristjaan Speakman has worked tirelessly in his recruitment drive.

Sunderland have welcomed 14 fresh faces this summer if you include Enzo Le fee, and now have a squad which could finish mid-table if they are able to gel.

Worst - Fulham

The biggest losers are surely Fulham, given they've only welcomed Kevin and Benjamin Lecompte permanently, and Samuel Chukwueze on loan while losing the likes of Andreas Pereira and Martial Godo. They are also without Reiss Nelson, who will be a big miss.

Scott Trotter

Best - Arsenal and Liverpool

Arsenal and Liverpool were the pre-eminent spenders of this summer. The Reds splashed out on two British record fees to give Arne Slot a wealth of options but failed to acknowledge a key area when they failed to secure a move for Marc Guehi on deadline day.

The Gunners meanwhile are completely renewed in terms of depth and now have a goalscorer. Things have not quite fallen into place just yet but Mikel Arteta now has a squad that will allow him few excuses come May.

Worst - Fulham

Fulham have acted with a couple of intriguing additions in Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze but certainly kept Marco Silva waiting for any progress. The former Watford and Everton boss will have his work cut out to keep the Cottagers progressing and while the squad is talented, it was clear Silva wanted more done.

Given his persistent links away in the past, leaving the 48-year-old discontent feels a risky move.

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