Who will be the 2025-26 Premier League's signing of the season? GOAL writers make their predictions

Mark Doyle: Florian Wirtz is likely to be the most popular pick here - and that's wholly understandable. Liverpool may have paid a colossal amount of cash for the German’s services, but the kid is absolute quality, and he should run amok in the Reds' star-studded forward line. However, if we're talking about the best value-for-money signing, Rayan Cherki should prove an absolute steal for Manchester City. The 21-year-old France international is an outstanding young talent, more than capable of filling the creative void left in Pep Guardiola's team by Kevin De Bruyne. City have done so, so well to pick him up for just £34m.

Tom Maston: After the summer signings of 2024 largely failed to deliver, Premier League clubs haven't held back this time around, with a number of clubs having spent like never before on some of the game's most exciting and talented individuals. I like the look of West Ham's new left-back, El Hadji Malick Diouf, as a potential sleeper hit, while both Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres could be game-changers for Arsenal. But it's hard to look past Florian Wirtz being the most impactful new arrival into the league. The Germany international is one of the best players in world football, full stop; him scheming behind Liverpool's new-look forward line promises to make the Reds even more of a handful to defend against than they were last term.

Amee Ruszkai: There is understandably some scepticism about Viktor Gyokeres' 39 goals in the Portuguese top-flight last season and just how transferrable that will be to the Premier League, especially given how some other strikers making that same move have fared recently. But he's not new to England and the general nuances of the domestic game, having impressed plenty at Coventry City, and his prolific Champions League campaign also shows he hasn't just been an average striker thriving in a weaker league. I see Gyokeres excelling in north London and taking Arsenal's ability to challenge for the title up a notch.

Stephen Darwin: Whisper it, but Manchester United might finally be starting to get their act together, or at least they are in the transfer market. After years of signings that have failed miserably, the additions of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are a significant step in the right direction. Both are proven in the Premier League and in the Cameroon international, United now have a player who is able to combine power, finesse and an ability to finish chances that's been sorely lacking at Old Trafford. 

Sean Walsh: Well, he cost £116m, he'd better be good! I think the typical Premier League fan will be pleasantly surprised at just how amazing Florian Wirtz is, however. We've lost one superstar creator in Kevin De Bruyne, and Wirtz is perfectly placed to step into that void on these shores.

Richard Martin: Manchester United have relied upon Bruno Fernandes for far too long, and at last the captain has a player on the same level as him. Matheus Cunha has talismanic quality, with an ability to score from all situations and create chances from nothing for himself or his team-mates. He has also has the fierce competitive nature which United have lacked for more than a decade and he will ensure the Red Devils make up for their terrible previous campaign by finishing in the top five.

James Westwood: Liverpool broke the British transfer record to sign Florian Wirtz, and the German playmaker will repay every cent of his £116m fee in his debut season. There is no better attacking midfielder in Europe than Wirtz, who is a technical wizard with a genius-level footballing IQ and a ruthless edge. It's frightening to imagine how many goals Liverpool will score with Wirtz providing expert service to fellow new signing Hugo Ekitike and Mohamed Salah.

Krishan Davis: This is dependent on whether Liverpool get their proposed move for Alexander Isak over the line, but if they don't, then another Swede will be the signing of the summer. Don't expect Viktor Gyokeres to plunder 39 league goals like he did in Portugal last season, but even half that sum would put him among the division's top scorers and well clear of what any Arsenal player managed in 2024-25. If he can hit the ground running, he could make a mockery of his £64m ($85m) fee. I do also expect Florian Wirtz to impress, but the transition from the Bundesliga is rarely an easy one.

Joe Strange: For £116m - if all bonuses are met - you'd expect one hell of player, and that's exactly what Liverpool have got after smashing their transfer record to bits to sign Florian Wirtz. The seriously-talented German should fit seamlessly into Arne Slot's starting XI, and it's unlikely the pace or physicality of the Premier League will cause him any problems as he sets about helping his new team defend their crown. Expect goals, assists and slaloming runs aplenty as the 22-year-old quickly justifies that mega price-tag.