Wirtz, Gyokeres & £27m wildcard: Five Premier League signings who could define 2025-26 season

Premier League teams have been busy throughout the summer transfer window, securing key signings with the aim of bolstering their squads and ultimately helping them reach new heights in the upcoming season.

Whether pushing for the title, chasing the European places or fighting for survival, clubs have invested in new stars to help transform their side and serve as the missing piece that helps them achieve their respective ambitions.

With the 2025-26 season fast approaching, several new arrivals are already expected to play leading roles, and here, Sports Mole look at the top five Premier League signings who could define the upcoming campaign.

Florian Wirtz (Liverpool)

Liverpool made headlines - and not for the only time this summer - by completing the signing of Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £100m fee and with the potential to rise to £116m with add-ons, smashing the British transfer record.

Liverpool won the title in 2024-25 in Arne Slot's debut campaign at the club, and Wirtz has been signed with the intention of defending their crown and further asserting their control over the Premier League in 2025-26.

The signing does appear to signal a potential tactical tweak from Slot, with Wirtz a much more traditional number 10 - preferring to find space between the lines and carry the ball forward or slip in teammates - than Dominik Szoboszlai, who played in that role for much of last term and possesses a far greater engine and is more industrious than the German.

If Wirtz can adapt quickly to the speed and physicality of the Premier League, then the German could prove to be one of Liverpool's most important players as they fight to win the league title for the second consecutive year.

Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)

Arsenal have been crying out for a ruthless number nine for several years, and they may have finally found their man in Gyokeres, who has joined from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth £55m, potentially rising to £63.5m with add-ons.

The Swedish international arrives off the back of a remarkable spell in Portugal, scoring 97 goals in 102 appearances across all competitions for Sporting, including a sensational 54 goals in just 52 games last season, and the Gunners will be hoping that goalscoring ability translates in the Premier League.

Arsenal have finished as runners-up in the Premier League in all of the last three campaigns, leaving the Gunners desperate to take the final step and claim their first crown since 2003-04, and after a campaign where Kai Havertz led their league scoring charts with just nine goals, an elite finisher was certainly needed.

If Gyokeres can hit the ground running, he could well be the difference between another near-miss or being the final piece in their Premier League winning puzzle.

Joao Pedro (Chelsea)

Chelsea looked to be in a title race with Liverpool as they sat second in the standings in December, but a disappointing run around Christmas and the New Year saw the Blues fall behind the Reds, eventually finishing a significant 15 points behind the champions.

While they did score a significant 64 goals in 38 league matches, first-choice striker Nicolas Jackson netted just 10 times, leaving Chelsea fans asking for a new starting striker that can lead the line more consistently, and they may well have got their man.

Pedro joined Chelsea from Brighton & Hove Albion in a deal worth up to £60m, and the Brazilian had an instant impact as he scored three goals in three Club World Cup appearances - including the third in Chelsea's 3-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the final.

The striker is much more than just a goal threat, however, boasting an ability to drift into deep or wide positions and facilitate other attacking players - giving him the potential to rotate superbly with Cole Palmer - while he can also stretch opposition defences thanks to his impressive speed and dynamic dribbling.

If Pedro can continue having the impact that he demonstrated at the Club World Cup, then Chelsea must be viewed as serious title contenders in 2025-26.

Matheus Cunha (Manchester United)

Manchester United were in desperate need of goals, attacking creativity, progression from deeper areas and aggression following a worst-ever 15th-placed finish in the Premier League, and Cunha's profile ticks every one of them boxes.

The forward netted 15 goals and registered six assists for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the 2024-25 Premier League season - more than any Man Utd player in that same period - and that earned him a £62.5m move to the Red Devils at the start of July.

Ruben Amorim has consistently addressed Man Utd's need for direct running, ball progression and increased physicality in central areas, and Cunha offers all of these traits in abundance as well as a much-needed goal threat - a clear improvement on the underwhelming performances of the likes of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho last term.

Cunha will also be familiar with his role in Amorim's 3-4-2-1 formation, as the Brazilian operated in a similar position for Vitor Pereira's Wolves team last term, meaning he could have an immediate impact on the Red Devils.

While other key signings have been added to the Man Utd squad this summer, Cunha's familiarity and clear role in the team and system could help Amorim's men have a much better season than the majority of Premier League fans are expecting.

Thierno Barry (Everton)

Everton have very evidently struggled for goals in recent years, including netting just 42 times in 38 league games last season - only relegated trio Southampton, Ipswich Town and Leicester City recorded fewer - but Barry could be the solution to that problem.

Standing at 6'5" and blessed with surprising speed and agility for his size, Barry appears to be the ideal striker for a David Moyes team - with Everton often looking for their striker to hold the ball up to bring others into play or racing onto direct passes in behind opposition defences on the counter.

Barry looks to be a direct improvement on current striker Beto, who thrived after Moyes's arrival in February - demonstrated by scoring seven after Moyes returned to Goodison, compared to just three goals in the preceding months in 2024-25.

That run coincided with Everton winning eight, drawing seven and losing just four Premier League matches after Moyes took over from Sean Dyche in February, and the Toffees will be hoping to build on that streak next term.

With Everton also bringing in Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and being linked with a host of other talented attacking players - such as Malick Fofana, Tyler Dibling and Jack Grealish - Barry fulfilling his potential as a consistent goalscorer could help the Toffees maintain and improve on their 2024-25 season-ending form and make a surprise push for the European places, especially with several other expected challengers losing key players throughout this summer.