The Premier League's summer transfer window closed with a flurry of activity, and among the deals struck on deadline day were several that look shrewd on paper, backed by strong underlying statistics from last season.
Brighton were among the busiest clubs, completing two notable additions. Femi Azeez arrived from Millwall for a reported £12.5m, potentially rising to £15m, after two impressive Championship campaigns. The versatile midfielder was the division's top performer for open-play crosses last season, delivering 227 of them, and led the league in expected assists from crosses with 6.71. He also ranked highly for dribble attempts (fourth, with 131), shots (ninth, with 95) and open-play chance creation (sixth, with 58). Despite managing only seven actual assists against an expected tally of 9.12, suggesting he was let down by teammates' finishing, Brighton will hope his chance-creating instincts translate to the top flight.
Brighton also brought in Chema Andrés from Stuttgart for £20m to help fill the void left by Carlos Baleba's departure to Manchester United. A Real Madrid academy product, Andrés spent one season in the Bundesliga where he stood out as a defensive-minded midfielder, drawing comparisons to Rodri for his physical profile and holding role, even if his influence in possession doesn't yet match. His anticipation and positioning were particularly praised, ranking second among Bundesliga midfielders with over 900 minutes played for interceptions per 90 since last season, averaging 2.3.
Aston Villa secured one of the window's most eye-catching prospects in Ibrahim Mbaye, signed from Paris Saint-Germain for £47m despite being just 18 years old. The forward already boasts remarkable experience, having featured for Senegal at both the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup, and having won Ligue 1 and the Champions League twice with PSG. He became the youngest player in the French club's history to start a match during their 2024-25 title-winning campaign. Statistically, Mbaye ranked among the league's best dribblers last season relative to his position, sitting 11th for ball carries per 90 and third for take-on-ending carries among players with 900-plus minutes, most of whom were defenders with more space to operate in.
Sunderland strengthened significantly, bringing in defender Kevin Danso from Tottenham on a loan with a buy obligation, alongside forward Malick Fofana from Lyon for £30m. Danso struggled for consistent game time at Spurs behind Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven but proved his worth when called upon, ranking first among Premier League defenders with over 1,000 minutes for clearances (8.2 per 90) and headed clearances (6.3) last season. He could form a formidable partnership with Dan Ballard at the heart of Sunderland's defence, given the club's reliance on a low defensive block. Fofana, meanwhile, is looking to rebuild momentum after a serious ankle injury disrupted his 2025-26 season following a breakout 2024-25 campaign, during which he registered nine goal involvements in Ligue 1 and ranked among the division's most dynamic ball-carriers.
Elsewhere, Everton's Iliman Ndiaye completed a £65m move to reigning dribbling powerhouse Manchester City, joining a squad already featuring Jérémy Doku and Antoine Semenyo, who topped the Premier League's dribbling charts last season. Ndiaye himself ranked second in the division for both dribbles attempted (136) and completed (73), fitting Pep Guardiola's increasingly carry-and-dribble-oriented approach under new management.
Newcastle also moved for a dynamic attacking option, signing Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille for £51m. The Belgium international's versatility across the front line and explosive ball-carrying ability stood out in Ligue 1, where he led the division in carries into the penalty area (69) and ranked among the top performers for progressive carries.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football (Opta Analyst).