An intriguing new report has ranked all of the 2025/26 Premier League signings in order, from best to worst.
There were 189 Premier League signings in all spread across the 20 clubs.
Now all of those players ranked from 1-189.
The Athletic report that £3.4billion was invested on the 189 Premier League signings.
Giving a neutral view when ranking every single signing in 2025/26 from worst to best, best to worst.
A massive piece of work by The Athletic and they explain: ‘This is not a list compiled purely in order of how talented these players are or how good they could be in the future… it’s a weighted power ranking based on how impactful each individual has been for his new club this season, relative to expectations and cost.’
We have listed the handful of very worst Premier League signings AND the handful of very best Premier League signings.
Whilst we have picked out the six Newcastle United signings in between those two extremes and what The Athletic had to say about them (as well as our old friend Alexander).
Starting with the very worst Premier League signings…
189. Harvey Elliott, Liverpool to Aston Villa
188. Armando Broja, Chelsea to Burnley
187. Jhon Arias, Fluminense to Wolverhampton Wanderers
186. Marc Guiu, Chelsea to Sunderland
183. Yoane Wissa, Brentford to Newcastle United
First impressions: Was Wissa really worth the hassle and the dough? He probably doesn’t even get in Newcastle’s best XI, however he is a good addition to their forward options in a busy European season.
Verdict: Disastrous debut year on Tyneside, ruined by injury and a lack of pre-season. He has never looked fit and has started just one of Newcastle’s last 22 games in all competitions. A £55million deadline-day panic buy which simply hasn’t worked. At least he got Jean-Philippe Mateta’s shirt in a swap after a one-minute substitute appearance against Crystal Palace last month.
172. Alexander Isak, Newcastle United to Liverpool
Given the fee, the talent and the palaver in getting him to Anfield, it’s hard to imagine Isak’s debut season going any worse.
136. Anthony Elanga, Forest to Newcastle United
First impressions: How much?! But, fine, it’s hard to see how this won’t be a good addition, given Elanga’s rapid improvement at Forest in the past two years.
Verdict: Well, it couldn’t have gone much worse. Didn’t score in the league in 32 appearances, failed to make a meaningful impression and ended the season out of the side. Did join Kylian Mbappe and Ferenc Puskas as one of only three players to score a European Cup knockout-phase brace against Barcelona at Camp Nou, which bumps him up the list a bit. Just don’t mention the result that night.
83. Aaron Ramsdale, Southampton to Newcastle United
First impressions: Appears to have a genuine redemption story in his grasp at Newcastle, given their current first-choice goalkeeper Nick Pope’s inconsistent form. The epitome of good competition.
Verdict: Had a couple of stints in the team, but due to Pope being injured or out of form, rather than because he necessarily excelled. Was always signed as a stop-gap solution and has never really threatened to secure a permanent deal.
61. Jacob Ramsey, Villa to Newcastle United
First impressions: Very ‘pure profit’, this. Newcastle were short of midfield cover and Ramsey, with his dynamism, athleticism and positive attacking mindset, gives them a fresh option. Injury history is a concern.
Verdict: Took time to settle and an ankle injury early on affected him, too, but Ramsey really came into his own during the second half of the season and looked like the kind of technical but athletic player Newcastle require to evolve as a team.
57. Nick Woltemade, Stuttgart to Newcastle United
First impressions: They can’t exactly call him their first choice, but Newcastle finally have a forward in the door and yes, he’s a very good one. Surname will be pronounced ‘Walt Made’ by thousands of Geordies.
Verdict: He could be anonymous, but he could also be spellbinding. Scorer of one of the greatest penalty kicks in Premier League history, a unique talent and netted 11 times in an inconsistent side. Got moved from centre-forward into midfield and didn’t look comfortable until a late-season switch to the No 10 role in a tweaked 4-2-3-1 system.
6. Malick Thiaw, Milan to Newcastle United
First impressions: Thiaw, aged 24 and capped three times by Germany, is comfortable on the ball, can play in a high line and is good at switching play. Rolls-Royce-type, very calm under pressure, good technique, quick and decent in the air.
Verdict: Started 50 of their last 52 games in all competitions (and at one stage, 38 in succession). Not perfect, but overall he was a model of consistency and chipped in with a few goals too amid some imperious defensive displays.
5. Joao Pedro, Brighton to Chelsea
4. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Everton to Leeds
3. Michael Kayode, Fiorentina to Brentford
2. Rayan Cherki, Lyon to Manchester City
1. Granit Xhaka, Leverkusen to Sunderland