A month has passed since the summer transfer window closed. Some players have slotted straight into their new teams, others look lost in new systems.
Who are the summer signings who have had a great start?
Luka Modrić – AC Milan
The veteran midfielder joined AC Milan on a free transfer after thirteen successful seasons at Real Madrid.
Milan finished a disappointing eighth last season and lost key players Tijjani Reijnders and Theo Hernandez over the summer.
Yet five games in, AC Milan find themselves top of Serie A and Luka Modrić has been an instrumental part of the strong start to the season. The Croatian controls the game and dominates the midfield in a way few could.
A Fifpro report found that Modrić played more games than any other footballer in 2024/25, clocking in 76 appearances for Madrid and Croatia. He might be 40 years old, but he is showing no signs of slowing down.
Luis Díaz – Bayern Munich
Harry Kane’s goalscoring exploits have overshadowed just how well Luis Díaz has started life in Bavaria. Three goals and three assists in five Bundesliga appearances only tell half the story for the Colombian.
Díaz’s direct play has been central to Bayern’s dominant attacking displays. His willingness to run at defenders pushes the opponent’s backline deeper, creating pockets of space for Harry Kane to operate in.
An underrated trait is Díaz’s defensive workrate and discipline. He isn’t a forward who needs to be carried defensively; he relentlessly tracks back and presses his full-back.
A Bundesliga title is the least Bayern will be targeting this season. Díaz’s strong start will raise hopes of a deep European run.
Franco Mastantuono – Real Madrid
Mastantuono is already a fan favourite at Madrid.
The young Argentine has had a dream start to life at the Bernabéu following his €45m arrival from River Plate.
Trusted with four league starts already, Mastantuono has impressed on the right of Madrid’s attacking midfield. He links well with Mbappé, presses aggressively from the front and looks a natural fit in Alonso’s system.
He had a comparatively quiet cameo against Atlético once he came on, but Mastantuono was far from alone in having a disappointing game for Real.
The return of Jude Bellingham looks like it will limit Mastantuono’s gametime, but his immediate impact has shown Alonso what he can expect from the young winger.
Joan García – Barcelona
Hansi Flick trusted García with the starting spot from day one. Having conceded only five goals in seven league games, García quickly repaid the faith put in him.
His commanding performances have immediately won over the fans following a decade of Marc-André ter Stegen’s presence between the sticks. One loose pass against Oviedo that led to their opener is the only blemish on an otherwise incredible start to life at Barcelona for the Spaniard.
An unfortunate injury suffered against Oviedo has temporarily sidelined García, but there is a slim chance he will be back in time for the decisive El Clásico at the end of October.
Tijjani Reijnders – Manchester City
Guardiola has finally found his replacement for İlkay Gündoğan.
Serie A fans knew the quality Reijnders would bring to City, but his instant impact has surprised many Premier League fans.
Reijnders is a vital cog in City’s transitional play, as well as a reliable provider of goal contributions. His comfort in receiving the ball under pressure is key to a possession-heavy style of play, whilst his driving runs forward with the ball and well-timed late runs into the box provide Pep with another attacking dimension.
€55m looks to already be a bargain.
Granit Xhaka – Sunderland
Sunderland have been the surprise package of the Premier League season so far. Newly-promoted sides have struggled in recent seasons in the Prem, yet this current crop are bucking the trend.
Granit Xhaka has started and captained all of Sunderland’s league games, contributing three assists whilst anchoring the midfield. His time at Leverkusen has further refined his game following on from his previous time in the league with Arsenal.
Signed primarily for his experience, Xhaka has impressed both on and off the ball, providing the stability at the base of the midfield that has allowed Sunderland’s attacking quartet to impress.
Jack Grealish – Everton
Pep’s shackles are off and Grealish is repaying the positional freedom that David Moyes is entrusting him with.
Grealish is looking back to his Villa best, beating his man and finding the dangerous ball into the final third. Four assists for a goal shy Everton side is an impressive return for a player who had lost his spark in Pep’s possession heavy and low risk system.
If Grealish can continue his impressive early form, Everton will be keen to make his loan move permanent.
Nick Woltemade – Newcastle
A surprise signing following a difficult summer for Newcastle. Isak’s ugly exit overshadowed a successful campaign that saw Newcastle qualify for the Champions League and win the EFL Cup.
Woltemade didn’t appear high up in Newcastle’s list of Isak replacements. Failed bids for Yoane Wissa, João Pedro, Hugo Ekitike, Jørgen Strand Larsen and Benjamin Šeško preceded Newcastle’s €75m purchase of Woltemade.
He might not have been who Newcastle initially wanted, but Woltemade has shown to be the striker Newcastle needed with two league goals in three appearances to date.
Gianluigi Donnarumma – Manchester City
When Enrique made the bold move to move away from the keeper who had been so decisive in their historic treble, few predicted he would end up at City. After all, his departure from PSG was as a result of his comparative weakness with the ball at his feet, a stark comparison to Ederson.
Any question marks over his signing were quickly put to rest with his imperious debut against Manchester United. Donnarumma’s stunning save from Mbeumo’s volley was one that few keepers in world football would have been able to make. The Italian was a commanding presence against Arsenal, blunting Arteta’s usual strength from corners and set pieces.
Looks to be an astute signing from City.
Wesley – Roma
A lower-profile transfer but just as important.
Gasperini’s 3-4-2-1 requires a very particular type of wing-back; Wesley has shown he is the ideal right wing-back.
The shape requires defensive discipline and the ability to quickly transition into a wide overlapping support to the winger. Wesley has the pace to keep up with play at both ends and has improved significantly in the defensive department under Gasparini’s coaching. He is still young and his inexperience shows in certain pressure situations, but his start to his Roma career has been exceptional.
Ritsu Dōan – Frankfurt
Hugo Ekitiké’s big money move to Liverpool left a significant void in Frankfurt’s attack – Ritsu Dōan has so far played a major role in filling it.
The experienced Japanese winger joined from Freiburg in a €21m move and already has five goal contributions in five games in the Bundesliga, including a brace of assists in the thrilling 6-4 away win over Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Frankfurt have conceded the second most goals in the Bundesliga, yet the new attacking lineup that features Dōan and fellow new arrival Jonathan Burkardt have propelled Frankfurt to three wins out of five. Whilst Dino Toppmöller will be hoping to shore up the defence, Dōan is providing an exciting and effective presence going forward.
