Squawka Premier League Value Index: Who has been the best-value signing of the summer transfer window?

Ever wondered which club has got the best value for money from their transfer fees? We’ve used our Squawka Score player performance system and measured it up against the transfer fees paid for players who joined the Premier League this summer to find the best value signings of the 2025 summer transfer window.

We’ve used Transfermarkt’s transfer fees and focused solely on players who have joined on permanent transfers this summer, including those who originally signed on loan last season with an option or obligation to buy in the summer.

Alongside that, we’ve limited our analysis to players with a minimum of 300 minutes played in the Premier League so far over at least seven different matches, to ensure we have a large enough sample size to truly evaluate their performance so far.

So which players came out on top? Which teams need to make their money go further? And who has been the biggest flop of the campaign so far? (The answer to that last one might not come as a surprise!)

Best Value Summer Signings 2025-26

These are the best five value signings of the 2025 summer transfer window according to our Value Index for the 2025-26 season so far.

1. Rayan Cherki – Value Score: 95

Of all the players on our list, Rayan Cherkhi is the highest in terms of Squawka Score. As a result, the Manchester City man has been the best-value summer signing of any Premier League player, by our value index, after his €36.5million move from Lyon.

In just 399 minutes in the Premier League so far, the French international has already racked up five assists, including a stunning rabona cross for Phil Foden in Man City’s win over Sunderland in his last appearance, plus one goal.

His versatility makes him a perfect fit for Pep Guardiola’s Man City team. As the Citizens go through a transition in the post-David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne era, the 22-year-old has displayed the kind of potential that could have people whispering about his ability to replace Man City legends such as those two over the coming seasons.

2. Malick Thiaw – Value Score: 87.57

Newcastle United’s summer business has been hit and miss, according to our value index. But one player who has been an undoubted success so far is centre back Malick Thiaw, who joined the Magpies from AC Milan for €35m.

The former Schalke defender has averaged 5.26 clearances, 1.18 interceptions and 3.81 aerial duels per 90 minutes in his first season in the Premier League so far. And he even chipped in with two goals in a 4-1 mauling of Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium recently.

Thiaw has also been comfortable and composed in possession, with an 89.1% retention rate and a forward passing accuracy of 75.88%. The German international has brought an extra level of composure and classiness to Eddie Howe’s backline.

3. Zian Flemming – Value Score: 84.43

Zian Flemming is technically in his second season with Burnley having joined them on loan with a mandatory €8.3m purchase fee. But since the move was technically made permanent in the summer, he qualifies for our list. And he ranks very well in terms of value this season.

The Dutchman scored 12 times last season in helping the Clarets to win promotion from the Championship. He’s already found the net five times in the Premier League this season, although Burnley have lost three of the four matches he has scored in.

With 25 aerial duels won and 11 flick-ons attempted he’s been a focal point for Scott Parker’s side so far this season and although he needs more support from his team-mates, the five goals and low fee allow him to rank very highly on our value index so far this season.

4. Robin Roefs – Value Score: 83.4

You’d be forgiven for having never heard the name Robin Roefs prior to this season. The Dutch goalkeeper joined Sunderland from NEC Nijmegen for €10.5m having made just 37 Eredivisie appearances. But he’s been an absolute revelation since moving to Wearside.

With four clean sheets to his name, Roefs ranks first among Premier League goalkeepers for high claims, second for saves from shots inside the box and, remarkably, Sunderland’s opponents have underperformed their xG by -9.12 so far this season.

The Black Cats have been the surprise package of the Premier League campaign so far and Roefs has arguably been the stand-out figure in their season. At just 22, he has the potential to look like one of the best value buys of recent seasons if he can continue his current trajectory.

5. Dominic Calvert-Lewin – Value Score: 81.57

Although the free transfer element is doing a lot of heavy lifting here, Dominic Calvert-Lewin has proved to be a very handy pick-up for Leeds so far this season after leaving Everton in the summer after his contract expired.

The 28 year old has scored four times in his 13 appearances but he’s also been on hand to bring the Whites’ other attacking players into play, winning 39 aerial duels and completing 11 flick-ons – more than any other player in the Premier League.

While other attackers on the list such as Alejandro Garnacho and Hugo Ekitike score higher on the Squawka Score, they came with huge price tags whereas Calvert-Lewin moved to Elland Road on a free and with a point to prove. He’s been a very handy addition for Daniel Farke so far.

Worst Value Summer Signings 2025-26

These are the best worst value signings of the 2025 summer transfer window according to our Value Index for the 2025-26 season so far.

1. Florian Wirtz – Value Score: 5

Florian Wirtz has undeniable ability as a footballer and has potential to grow into one of the leading lights of world football. But, having joined for a huge €125m fee, it’s fair to say that Liverpool will have expected more from the German international so far.

No goals and no assists tell their own story and as the Reds’ title defence lies in tatters, it seems that Arne Slot is still trying to figure out how to get the best out of new signings like Wirtz and Milos Kerkez, who has also struggled.

There are shoots of recovery for the former Bayer Leverkusen man as he has created a total of 22 chances so far and completed 230 final third passes. But much, much more will be expected of him in the remainder of this season and beyond.

2. Jhon Arias – Value Score: 9.06

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ campaign has been nothing short of a disaster so far. They sit bottom of the table with just two points and a huge issue they have faced this term is in attack where the likes of Jorgen Stand Larsen and Jhon Arias have failed to have an impact.

In 14 Premier League appearances so far, the Colombian is yet to get a goal or an assist and is yet to create a single big chance – while simultaneously managing to miss four big chances of his own.

Having managed 10 direct goal involvements in 27 appearances in the Brazilian Serie A for Fluminense last season, big things were expected of the €17m signing this summer. But, despite that relatively small transfer fee, he sits second-bottom in terms of our value index of Premier League summer signings.

3. Simon Adingra – Value Score: 10.04

Sunderland’s transfer business over the summer has won plenty of plaudits for good reason. But it hasn’t come without the odd mis-step. There’s still plenty of time for Simon Adingra to turn his poor start around but up to now, he’s yet to really make his mark at the Stadium of Light.

In his nine Premier League appearances so far this season, Adingra has managed to create just one big chance and one shot, so it’s hardly surprising that he’s yet to score or assist a goal for Regis le Bris’ side having recorded two of each last season for Brighton.

At €24.4m he was actually the most expensive of Sunderland’s summer signings, but he’s also been the least effective so far with a Squawka Score rating of just 33 – the second lowest on the entire list after Simon Adingra.

4. Evann Guessand – Value Score: 15.59

Evann Guessand was the only permanent Aston Villa signing of the summer to have completed enough minutes to qualify for a Value Score. But he’s not yet been able to repay much of the €30m fee the Villans shelled out for his services in his 510 minutes of Premier League football.

The Frenchman scored 12 goals and managed eight assists in Ligue 1 for Nice last season, but he’s got just one assist to his name in his first 11 Premier League appearances and no goals. Although he did find the net in the Europa League defeat at Go Ahead Eagles.

Given that he’s yet to complete a single cross and has won just 42.86% of his ground duels, Guessand has struggled to get to grips with life in the Premier League so far. As such, it’s no surprise that he finds himself being rotated in and out of Unai Emery’s starting eleven so far.

5. Anthony Elanga – Value Score: 17.04

On paper, Anthony Elanga looked like a perfect fit for Eddie Howe’s Newcastle when he joined from Nottingham Forest this summer as a hard-working, vertical right winger to provide balance to Harvey Barnes and Anthony Gordon on the left.

However, so far the 23-year-old has struggled to displace Jacob Murphy from the starting XI and at €61.4m he was expected to be almost a guaranteed starter.

The Swedish international will hope to turn things around as the season goes on but he’s yet to get off the mark in terms of goals, has managed just one assist and has completed only five of his 15 attempted take-ons for the Magpies.

Every Player Index rating

How have your teams new signings performed in the 2025-26 campaign so far? Check how every permanent signing who has met the threshold of minutes has performed in the Premier League below.

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