Premier League Transfers in 2025/26 We Didn't Expect (Analysis)

Every transfer window provides an opportunity for Premier League teams to make significant roster changes, but some moves are more surprising than others.

The 2025-26 campaign was no different, as several big clubs splashed the cash on marquee signings in the summer and again in January.

Below, I’ll review the top five most unexpected Premier League transfers from the previous season.

Frank Ammirante Last Updated on Jul 2, 2026

Most Unexpected Premier League Transfers (Top 5)

The biggest transfer saga of last summer saw striker Alexander Isak swap Newcastle for Liverpool in a British-record £125 million transfer. That deal, which took until deadline day to complete, was unexpected after Newcastle qualified for the Champions League and Liverpool had already shelled out over £100 million on Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz.

Leverkusen was involved in another unexpected Premier League transfer last summer, as Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka joined a newly-promoted Sunderland side for an initial fee of £13 million. The former Arsenal player looked to have found a home in Germany, having helped Leverkusen win the Bundesliga in the 2023-24 campaign.

Arsenal were also major players in the Premier League transfer window, making eight additions to their squad. The most unexpected of those was Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze, who was heavily linked with Tottenham Hotspur before making a last-minute move to Spurs’ North London rivals.

By comparison, the January transfer window offered fewer shocks than the summer. However, Manchester City's moves to strengthen their squad by bringing in Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi were among the most unexpected, especially considering the standing those players had at Bournemouth and Crystal Palace, respectively.

What Were the Implications for These Teams?

As is the case with most Premier League transfers, the results were a bit hit-or-miss.

Isak’s transfer to Liverpool proved to be detrimental for both sides in Year 1. The Swedish striker missed several months of the season due to injury, perhaps the result of missing preseason, while Newcastle missed his contributions at the top end of the pitch.

On the contrary, Xhaka’s move to Sunderland proved to be one of the signings of the summer, as the Black Cats not only avoided the drop but qualified for Europe, finishing five spots above their local rivals Newcastle.

Eze’s move to Arsenal may not have lived up to the hype it stirred among the fanbase by bringing back one of their academy products, but his North London derby hat trick was a memorable moment, and he delivered some key goals down the stretch of the season.

Guehi and Semenyo steadied the ship for Manchester City in its most trying period of the season, reigniting a Premier League title challenge with Arsenal in the second half of the season. That challenge ultimately fell short, but the two were instrumental in City's run to a Carabao Cup and FA Cup double.

Reasons Why Such Transfers Happen

The Premier League is the richest league in the world, so money is often a driving force behind these unexpected transfers. As much as Newcastle wanted to keep hold of Isak, the club eventually couldn't help but accept a record transfer fee.

Another reason these unexpected transfers can occur is desperation, which is often caused by injury. Eze's move to Arsenal likely would not have happened if versatile forward Kai Havertz hadn't succumbed to an opening-day knee injury against Manchester United that saw him miss several months and forced the Gunners into action.

The same can be said about Manchester City's January splurge for Guehi, whose Crystal Palace contract was set to expire in the summer. Pep Guardiola's side was forced to act after losing the trio of Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias, and John Stones to injury.