The five best Premier League transfers of the season so far

Cameron Smith

• 25 Dec 2024 15:00 GMT
• 4 min read

The Premier League flexed its financial muscle in a major way during the 2024 summer transfer window, although the ludicrous sums of 2023 weren’t quite matched.

Dominic Solanke’s €64.3 million move to Tottenham Hotspur was the most expensive Premier League incoming deal of the summer, but Pedro Neto, Leny Yoro and Riccardo Calafiori all moved for large fees in yet another expensive window.

READ MORE: Premier League January transfers 2025 - All the Done Deals

However, some of the best deals were done on the cheap, with clubs operating in a sensible manner in a bid to identify bargain buys across world football.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through the five best Premier League transfers of the season so far.

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive Premier League transfers of all time

Jadon Sancho - Loan (Man Utd to Chelsea)

Chelsea’s loan signing of Jadon Sancho was met with a mixed response following his dismal spell at Manchester United.

The ex-England international had excelled at Borussia Dortmund, but questions were raised over his attitude and whether his style of play was suited to the fast-paced nature of the Premier League.

However, he has answered his critics in emphatic fashion since moving to Stamford Bridge.

Sancho has two goals and five assists in 11 appearances for Chelsea, equating to a goal contribution every 96 minutes of action for the club, and a recall to the England set-up could be on the cards in 2025.

He has dovetailed excellently with Cole Palmer, and a permanent fee of just €30 million next summer looks like it will be a bargain.

Liam Delap - €17.8m (Man City to Ipswich)

Liam Delap has been tipped to become a future England international for years, however his career didn’t quite take off as expected following loan spells at Stoke City, Preston North End and Hull City.

As a result, it was slightly surprising to see Ipswich splash nearly €20m to sign him ahead of their Premier League return.

However, Delap has adjusted to life in the top flight instantly, and his form has given Ipswich a fighting chance of survival.

The Englishman has already scored six league goals so far this season and he is being monitored by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Man Utd.

Noussair Mazraoui - €15m (Bayern to Man Utd)

The majority of Erik ten Hag’s signings at Man Utd were complete failures, but Noussair Mazraoui has undoubtedly been a success.

The Morocco international was the Red Devils’ standout performer during the early weeks of the campaign, and while Amad Diallo has perhaps usurped him recently, Mazraoui remains a key player.

He has adjusted superbly to playing as a centre-back under Ruben Amorim and he has already proven to be a bargain at a mere €15m.

Lewis Hall - €33m (Chelsea to Newcastle)

Lewis Hall spent last season on loan at Newcastle, but he qualifies for this category due to the fact the deal became permanent for €33m this summer.

The Englishman made just eight starts in the Premier League last season, however he has emerged as a key player for Eddie Howe in 2024-25.

Hall has started 13 of Newcastle’s 16 league matches so far this campaign, notching two assists from his left-back berth, and he has firmly cemented his place as one of the Premier League’s most talented defenders.

Furthermore, he is now a full senior England international, and Chelsea will be rueing their decision to let him leave.

Nikola Milenkovic - €12.3m (Fiorentina to Nottingham Forest)

Nottingham Forest are surprisingly in the hunt for European football, with Nuno Espirito Santo overseeing an immense transformation at the City Ground.

Chris Wood and Morgan Gibbs-White have played instrumental roles in forward areas, but Forest’s backline has been the most important facet of their rise up the table so far this campaign.

Matz Sels has been a standout player in between the sticks, however the centre-back partnership of Nikola Milenkovic and Murillo has been the most important reason behind Forest’s impressive start to 2024-25.

The former arrived from Fiorentina for a mere €12.3m, and he has established himself as an imperious figure at the heart of Forest’s defence.

Milenkovic has notched two goals and one assist in 15 Premier League appearances, and he has played 90 minutes in every match since his arrival.