Some of the most expensive transfers in the Premier League this summer were deals from North West sides, topped by Antony joining Manchester United from Ajax on deadline day.
The Red Devils broke out the chequebook to bring the Brazil winger to Old Trafford as the window wound down. It reunites Antony with Erik ten Hag in England following their time together in Amsterdam, and also marked the most expensive signing across the top-flight.
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Only Aurelien Tchouameni’s move from AS Monaco to Real Madrid also matches the value of Antony’s arrival at Manchester United. Los Blancos paid Les Monegasques a European-high €100m (£86.5m), with €80m (£69m) upfront to make the Frenchman a new Galactico.
Manchester United handed over an initial £82m to sign Antony from Ajax on deadline day, plus £4.5m in add-ons. The move makes him the fourth-most expensive signing in Premier League history, and also the most expensive deal by a North West-based club this summer.
Furthermore, it put Manchester United in second for the total summer outlay by a Premier League team at £227.4m. Only Chelsea outspent the Red Devils at £278.4m, ahead of West Ham United at £179.2m, Tottenham Hotspur’s £172m and Nottingham Forest at £157.3m.
North West rivals Liverpool ended the window with a total spend of only £91.5m to rank in just 11th-place. Manchester City, meanwhile, fluttered £128.8m on the market to improve Pep Guardiola’s Premier League champions, whilst Everton paid £83.5m for their transfers.
Altogether, Premier League clubs combined to set a new record for the total amount spent in a summer window. The total outlay by the 20 English top-flight teams stood at £2.14bn as the summer sales slammed shut – eclipsing the previous-high £1.49bn set back in 2017.
Liverpool had led the North West spending list prior to Manchester United finalising a deal to bring Antony to the Premier League, so who was each squad’s most expensive signing?
Everton struck most expensive deal to bring Amadou Onana to Premier League
Everton secured their most expensive deal to bring Amadou Onana to the North West and the Premier League from LOSC Lille at £34m. The Toffees hijacked West Ham United’s bid to sign the Belgian, just a year after Les Dogues took him to France from Hamburg for £6m.
Frank Lampard also paid Burnley £20m to sign Dwight McNeil, as the Goodison Park outfit replaced Richarlison after joining Tottenham Hotspur for £50m, up to £60m. Neal Maupay also joined from Brighton for £15m, whilst James Garner left Manchester United for £15m.
Darwin Nunez capped limited spend at Liverpool ahead of young prospects
Darwin Nunez capped a limited spend at Liverpool as Jurgen Klopp brought an out-and-out centre-forward to Anfield. The Reds paid Benfica an initial £64m for the Uruguay star, with a further £21m available through potential add-ons over the course of his six-year contract.
Liverpool’s only other spending came in signing young prospects Fabio Carvalho off Fulham for £8m and Calvin Ramsay from Aberdeen for £6.5m. Klopp also made a deadline day deal with Juventus to lure Arthur Melo to the North West on loan, including a £32m option to buy.
Manchester City struck bargain deal to bring Erling Haaland to Premier League
Manchester City struck a bargain deal to coax Erling Haaland to the Premier League in June for £51.5m. Pep Guardiola triggered a release clause in the 21-year-old Norway sensation’s contract at Borussia Dortmund, where he hit 86 goals in 89 outings across all competitions.
The Citizens further improved their Premier League title-winning team with Leeds United’s talismanic England international anchor Kalvin Phillips at £45m. Manuel Akanji also moved to the Etihad Stadium from Borussia Dortmund on deadline day in a last-gasp £15m switch.
Manchester United agreed most expensive Premier League deal for Antony
Manchester United agreed the most expensive deal throughout the Premier League – and joint-most throughout Europe – to bring Antony to the North West of England from Ajax on deadline day for an initial £82m, plus up to £4.5m in add-ons over his five-year contract.
Erik ten Hag also fluttered £60m, rising £10m in add-ons, to take Casemiro to Old Trafford from Real Madrid. While the Dutchman also paid Ajax an initial £48.5m, rising £8.5m after add-ons, to reunite with his former Godenzonen defender, Lisandro Martinez, during July.
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