Arsenal Arsenal did most of their business quickly and decisively, landing Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber early in the window. Long-term target David Raya arrived from Brentford later on and the squad seemed well set until an unfortunate injury to Timber, who will miss much of the season. It is the summer’s one black mark although Mikel Arteta has additionally run a risk by not acquiring top-quality backup for Bukayo Saka. Granit Xhaka was the biggest-name departure and they chose to cash in on Folarin Balogun, who has signed for Monaco. A number of other fringe players were moved on. Verdict: 4/5 Nick Ames Aston Villa It has been a window to remember. Villa smashed their transfer record to sign Moussa Diaby for a fee north of £50m and the forward, who has pace to burn, has hit the ground running, while Youri Tielemans, Nicolò Zaniolo, Pau Torres and Clément Lenglet arrive with impressive pedigree. Inserting buyback clauses into the sales of highly-regarded academy trio Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey and Jaden Philogene has the whiff of an elite operation. Verdict: 5/5 Ben Fisher Bournemouth Bournemouth’s biggest – and most striking – additions are sidelined, £20m Tyler Adams for a couple of weeks and £25m Alex Scott, one of the most exciting talents in the country, possibly a couple of months. The arrival of Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez represented a coup and they are better equipped this season than last, with Andoni Iraola tasked with achieving a mid-table finish. But a deadline-day move for Patson Daka collapsed and the only concern is a goalscoring burden remains on Dominic Solanke. Verdict: 4/5 BF Brentford The focus will be on the ones that got away for Brentford. Neither Brennan Johnson nor Johan Bakayoko were signed after a lengthy chase as the Bees looked to become even more dangerous on the break. They replaced David Raya with Mark Flekken and only time will tell if he is of the same standard, while Nathan Collins was a smart piece of long-term business in defence. Verdict: 3/5 Will Unwin Brighton There is a rich anticipation each window around the business Brighton do. Most clubs would quiver at the prospect of losing key players but the Seagulls happily take the huge profit and reinvest it. They moved quickly to bring in João Pedro, Mahmoud Dahoud and James Milner but the most interesting deal is that of Ansu Fati who will get a chance to fulfil his La Masia promise in the Premier League. Verdict: 4/5 WU Burnley The club’s owners have backed Vincent Kompany to the hilt in their attempts to build on last season’s Championship triumph and consolidate in the Premier League. Another summer of frantic transfer activity has seen 14 players arrive at Turf Moor for a total outlay of over £90m, with no incoming transfer fees, to create a well-balanced squad of experience and young potential. Verdict: 4/5 Andy Hunter Chelsea Another summer of frenzied spending at Stamford Bridge. Plenty of experienced players left the club and Chelsea broke the British transfer record for the second time this year, buying Moisés Caicedo from Brighton for £115m. But is Mauricio Pochettino’s young squad ready to challenge at the top? Pochettino will hope the signing of Cole Palmer makes a difference to his team’s unconvincing attack. Verdict: 3/5 Jacob Steinberg Crystal Palace After losing Wilfried Zaha on a free transfer, the most important thing for Roy Hodgson was to keep hold of Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, which they managed to do. Incomings were quiet but Jefferson Lerma will add solidity, Rob Holding composure and Dean Henderson competition in the goalkeeping department, but fans will have wanted to see a new striker. Verdict: 3/5 WU Everton Considering the financial constraints they are under, Sean Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell did well to address longstanding issues up front. The failure to strengthen further or replace several deadline day departures, however, has left a poor, threadbare squad in a weaker position both creatively and defensively than when Dyche called for major changes at the end of last season. Verdict: 2/5 Andy Hunter Fulham It was a difficult window for the west Londoners, who were frustrated to lose Aleksandar Mitrovic to the Saudi Pro League. There were also doubts over Marco Silva’s future as manager and the mood deteriorated when João Palhinha travelled to Germany to complete a transfer to Bayern Munich on deadline day. Much to Fulham’s relief, though, Palhinha’s move collapsed at the last minute. They will hope to kick on after making a few canny additions, including the signing of Alex Iwobi from Everton. Verdict: 3/5 JS Liverpool There were a few hiccups along the way – Moisés Caicedo, Roméo Lavia and (ongoing) disruption from the Saudi Pro League – but Liverpool managed to completely overhaul their midfield with four gifted additions. The combined £150m outlay for Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo explained the club’s decision not to go for Jude Bellingham. The new midfield offers a greater goal threat and, with an average age of 24, long-term development. Verdict: 4/5 AH Luton The most notable signing was Ross Barkley, the sort of risk a Premier League newcomer can take. The rest of the recruitment work has focused on bringing in players who will make the club going forward for the next few years because in all likelihood they will be relegated but will be left with a stronger squad than the one that came up. Verdict: 4/5 WU Manchester City In the smoothly executed signings of Matheus Nunes, Mateo Kovacic, Josko Gvardiol and Jérémy Doku, a light was again shone on the market prowess of sporting director, Txiki Begiristain. Yet a fair question, though, is how good Nunes/Kovacic will prove as replacements for the departed Ilkay Gündogan and longterm injury casualty Kevin De Bruyne and the same of Doku regarding Riyad Mahrez (who has also left). This means the treble-winners miss out on a maximum rating. Verdict: 4/5 Jamie Jackson Manchester United However you slice it, United entered the window with Harry Kane the No 1 target for Erik ten Hag to fill the vacancy for an elite No 9 and end it with the untested-on-these-shores 20-year-old Rasmus Højlund. André Onana, Sofyan Amrabat, Mason Mount, Jonny Evans and Sergio Reguilón have arrived but Højlund has to fire instantly and consistently or yet again this has been a lost opportunity to kick on. Verdict: 2.5/5 JJ Newcastle United In an ideal world Eddie Howe would have signed a right-sided centre-half as cover, and competition, for Fabian Schär but FFP restrictions dictate that Newcastle needed to be – reasonably – circumspect this window. It is early days but the £55m Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali already looks an excellent signing capable of improving the team’s ball retention and passing accuracy while Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are gifted young full-backs, affording the squad increased depth. Allan Saint-Maximin will be missed but his replacement, Harvey Barnes, should prove more reliable. Verdict: 4/5 Louise Taylor Nottingham Forest The focus was on quality, not quantity with a slightly more measured approach than 12 months ago, aided by the return of former head of recruitment George Syrianos as a consultant. The squad has more depth to it and Ibrahim Sangaré’s arrival was the icing on the cake. The late flurry of activity means patience will be required for them all to gel. Verdict: 4/5 WU Sheffield United You win some, you lose some. If Paul Heckingbottom is still sore about losing his two stars of last season’s promotion campaign – Sander Berge and Iliman Ndiaye – amid a summer of turmoil at Bramall Lane, at least the manager has signed a young striker of immense promise in the England Under-21 striker, Cameron Archer. He shone on loan at Middlesbrough from Aston Villa last season and the Leicester loanee cum England Under-21 left-back, Luke Thomas, also appears a fine acquisition, but the bulk of Heckingbottom’s new recruits boast even less experience. Last season’s collapsed takeover has much to answer for. Verdict: 2/5 LT Tottenham No window in which a club sells the heartbeat of the dressing-room can be deemed a success. Harry Kane will be missed. But Spurs made a decent fist of recruiting players for the new style they will play under Ange Postecoglou; Guglielmo Vicario, Micky van de Ven and James Maddison have hit the ground running. Ditto Destiny Udogie, who is akin to a new signing. Brennan Johnson brings more pace and intensity. The squad is still short in key areas. Verdict: 3/5 David Hytner West Ham The initial focus was on forcing Arsenal to pay at least £100m for Rice. Then West Ham had to fill the void left by the departure of their captain and initial efforts were unconvincing. There was tension between David Moyes and the club’s new technical director, Tim Steidten, but the outlook is much better now. Steidten’s negotiating skills have impressed and West Ham appear to have spent the Rice money well, buying James Ward-Prowse, Edson Álvarez, Konstantinos Mavropanos and Mohammed Kudus. Verdict: 3.5/5. JS Wolves A window of austerity came to life in the final days. Wolves were put in a tight spot when Matheus Nunes went on strike to force his £53m move to Manchester City but that club-record sale gave Wolves some wriggle room financially, triggering a flurry of signings in the past 48 hours, including Jean-Ricner Bellegarde from Strasbourg. But the reality is Wolves have lost key pieces of the jigsaw in Nunes and Rúben Neves, even if for handsome fees. Verdict: 3/5 BF