Arsenal‘s transfer dealings this summer took them all the way to a few hours after the official deadline, until finally confirming the signing of Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea. And thanks to a summer of shrewd business both in and out, they are all set up to go again in January.
The Gunners are in a very strong financial position, at a time rivals are struggling to navigate the Premier League‘s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Newcastle were forced to consider selling star man Anthony Gordon to Liverpool, and did eventually let promising young talent go in Yankuba Minteh and Elliot Anderson, in a mad dash before the June 30 PSR deadline.
Liverpool bought one player this summer, Federico Chiesa, for just £10million and Manchester City also kept their powder dry, with Savinho’s £21m move from sister club Troyes their only major incoming despite raising £159m through sales.
But Arsenal, even after spending more than £100m to bring in four players including Sterling’s loan, are primed to go again.
Arsenal swooped late in the summer window to sign Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea
Even after spending more than £100m on four new players, the club are ready to go again
‘I think they’re in a strong position (compared to their rivals),’ football finance expert Kieran Maguire tells Mail Sport, who says Arsenal have ‘plenty of headroom’ with regards PSR.
‘That gives them flexibility. Come January, if they want to buy a player, they’re not one of those clubs that will be constrained. And they won’t be one of those clubs in June 2025, as we saw at Chelsea, Newcastle, Villa, Everton and Leicester this summer, having to get rid of players because of a genuine danger of breaching PSR.’
It comes after a major fire sale of players on the fringes of the first team. Emile Smith Rowe, a fan favourite, went to Fulham for an initial £27m, Eddie Nketiah headed south of the Thames to Crystal Palace for £30m and goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale joined Southampton in a deal that could reach £25m.
They were followed out of the door by academy players Mika Biereth (£4m to Sturm Graz), Brooke Norton-Cuffy (£3.5m to Genoa), Reuell Walters (£500,000 to Luton) and Amario Cozier-Duberry (£500,000 to Brighton).
On top of that, former academy star Omari Hutchinson’s £22.5m move from Chelsea to Ipswich netted the Gunners up to another £4.5m in sell-on clauses.
It adds up to a club-record window for sales, with close to £100m…