The new season of the Premier League has just started, hence the race to sign top players from around the world is starting to reach its climax. Some top players have already joined their new clubs before the new season kick-offs on Friday night, while for some players negotiations are still ongoing. In this blog, we preview the top 10 Premier League new signings that will be in action this season.
Jurriën Timber (Ajax to Arsenal – £38.5 million)
Jurriën Timber will be in action for Arsenal this season. The 22-year-old joins the London-based club after spending six successful years in the Netherlands with AFC Ajax. The Dutch international can play both as a full-back or as a center-back.
During his time at Ajax, he mostly played in the center-back role. Saliba and Gabriel forged a really strong partnership last season for Arsenal, so it is unlikely that Arteta will break that center-back pairing. Hence it is likely that we will be seeing Timber in action either in the left full-back or right full-back position.
Nevertheless, Arteta will be hoping that his new man can help to strengthen his defensive line which crumpled badly during the latter stage of last season, costing them the Premier League title.
Moussa Diaby (Bayer Leverkusen to Aston Villa – £51.9 million)
At the beginning of the 2023 summer transfer window, Moussa Diaby was one of the most sought-after players and he was being linked with a host of top European clubs. But Aston Villa managed to secure his signature despite facing tough competition from other clubs.
He was a vital part of the Bayer Leverkusen side last season that managed to reach the UEFA Europa League semifinals. He was involved in 12 goals and 11 assists for the German club last season. The French international can either play on the wing or upfront as a striker. The 24-year-old is surely going to bolster the attacking prowess of Aston Villa this season.
Pau Torres (Villareal to Aston Villa – £33 million)
Aston Villa have done some shrewd bit of business in this transfer window so far. Before completing the signing of highly rated Moussa Diaby, they managed to secure the services of Spanish center half Pau Torres.
He has been one of the most consistent defenders in La Liga over the last five to six years. Unai Emery must be delighted to have his fellow countryman on his side. His linkup with Tyrone Mings in the heart of Aston Villa’s defense is going to cause a lot of trouble for Premier League forwards this season.
Justin Kluivert (AS Roma to AFC Bournemouth – £9.6 million)
Justin Kluivert is the son of former Ajax and Barcelona player Patrick Kluivert. Justin burst onto the scene during the 2017-2018 season with Ajax when he scored 11 goals in all competitions for the Dutch club at 18 years of age.
His performances earned him a move to Italian giants AS Roma. The Dutch international failed to make an impact in the Serie A hence he was loaned out to other European clubs. During the last three seasons, Justin has featured for 3 different clubs in three different leagues. This includes RB Leipzig, OGC Nice, and Valencia.
Unfortunately, the 24-year-old hasn’t had the best of times in either league. But Bournemouth’s manager must be hoping that this time a change in the environment may lead to a change in fortune for his new striker. The Cherries are going to be in for a treat if Justin manages to recuperate his form as he used to play for Ajax back in 2018.
Nicolas Jackson (Villareal to Chelsea – £32 million)
Another Premier League new signing who is expected to make a huge impact this season is Nicolas Jackson. The 22-year-old was instrumental for Villareal last season as his 12 league goals helped to secure a top-five finish for the Spanish club.
The Senegalese international is physically strong and can dribble past defenders with ease. All these attributes make him a lethal striker who is excellent on the break. In fact, the majority of his goals last season came from counter-attacking situations.
Mauricio Pochettino will be delighted to have him on his team as Chelsea have struggled to find the right number nine in the recent transfer windows. The likes of Kai Havertz and Romeu Lukaku came into the Premier League with big expectations, but they haven’t quite managed to live up to their name.
Dominik Szoboszlai (RB Leipzig to Liverpool – £60 million)
The Hungarian ace will be part of Jurgen Klopp’s midfield this season. The 22-year-old is known for his strength, pace, and ability to create goal-scoring chances for the attackers. During his two-year spell with RB Leipzig in the German Bundesliga, he provided 8 assists in the league in both seasons.
With his arrival, the competition to take the in-match set pieces is going to increase between him, Trent, and Robertson. But Jurgen Klopp would gladly accept such a competition in the team as he looks to get Liverpool back to their best after a dismal campaign last season.
Also Read: Top 10 Transfers that Shaped the 2023 January Transfer Window: The Best Deals of the Month
Josko Gvardiol (RB Leipzig to Manchester City – £77.6 million)
Although the season hasn’t started yet, but still all football fans would agree with the fact that any hopes of a City slip-up this season have been squashed with this signing. The 21-year-old is one of the most highly rated center-backs in the world right now as is evident from the hefty price tag that City had to pay to secure his services.
The presence of Dias and Gvardiol in Manchester City’s defense promises to be a very tough proposition for opposition teams to break through. The rest of the teams will have to come up with something special in order to dismantle this strong partnership.
Sandro Tonali (AC Milan to Newcastle United – £55 million)
Sandro Tonali’s transfer to Newcastle United is a great coup for the Premier League club. The 23-year-old is ranked among the best center midfielders in the world. Many pundits and football scouts find his playing style similar to the Italian legend Andrea Pirlo.
His presence in the Newcastle team is going to take the Magpies to new heights as they look to surpass their last season’s heroics. It is vital for the Toons to have someone with UEFA Champions League experience under his belt on their side, as Eddie Howe’s men gear up for their first UCL campaign in 20 years.
Rasmus Højlund (Atalanta to Manchester United – £64 million)
Another Premier League new signing to watch out for this season is Rasmus Højlund. The highly-rated forward will be playing for Manchester United this campaign. He was one of the breakthrough stars of Serie A last season. He scored 10 goals in all competitions for Atalanta that not only helped in securing fifth place for the club but also inevitably attracted attention from a number of top European clubs.
The United Faithful would be delighted to have the 20-year-old on their side to support Marcus Rashford in the attack. It was imperative that United signed a new striker after the departure of Elanga and Weghorst at the beginning of the transfer window. The Danish international has impressed with the national team as well as he has fetched six goals in four European Qualifier games for Denmark so far.
One thing is for certain Rasmus Højlund is going to be a nightmare for Premier League defenders and commentators this campaign.
André Onana (Inter Milan to Manchester United – £44.1 million)
David de Gea bid farewell to his Manchester United career after he and the club failed to reach an agreement regarding a contract extension for the Spaniard. The 32-year-old left Old Trafford after 12 years.
De Gea had been a great servant for Manchester United over the years, so it was vital that the United board picked the right man to replace him. Apparently, they seem to have made the right call by signing Andre Onana. The Cameroon international was instrumental for Inter Milan last season as they reached the finals of the UEFA Champions League.
The 27-year-old is good with his feet and is someone who doesn’t shy away from the ball. This is something that de Gea lacked during the latter stage of his Manchester United career. United fans must be hoping that Onana can replicate prime David de Gea’s performances.
How do Premier League new signings fare in their debut season usually?
Regardless of what one’s occupation is, a change in one’s surroundings is always followed by a dip in one’s performance. However, some are able to acclimatize easily to their new environment, while others find it tough to get going. The same is the case with footballers. Whenever someone moves to a new club, he often has trouble adjusting. But with the passage of time, he eventually manages to overcome that hiccup and is able to hit the ground running, while some take almost the whole season to return to their best.
The Premier League is one of the most demanding and competitive football leagues in the world. So, the majority of Premier League new signings find it hard to settle in. There could be numerous reasons behind it. Some are not able to adjust to the coaching or playing style of their new team, while some fail to develop a liking for the country or the food which ultimately has a toll on their matchday performance.
Most recently the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Kai Havertz, Marc Cucurella, and Gianluca Scamacca fall into that category who failed to make an impact in their debut season. But on the other hand, there are players like Erling Haaland, Bruno Fernandes, and Muhammad Salah who took the Premier League by storm in their debut seasons.
