Most football fans have had their eyes on the World Cup, with just the odd interruption as Premier League clubs continue to get their ducks in a row for the 2026-27 season.
In case you have not managed to stay across everything, our club reporters have picked the most important things to happen at each Premier League side during the tournament.
Whether a big transfer, a coaching change, long-awaited ground upgrades, new contracts for key players, season-impacting injury news, or the cold grip of a UEFA sanction, here is a recap for each side.
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta will have watched many of his players advance to the latter stages of the World Cup with mixed feelings — delight for them personally, mixed with concern for the impact that may have on their physical shape for next season. Eight important Arsenal players are going into the final week of the tournament. Some will be in the final, which takes place one day before the first official day of pre-season training.
There are obvious implications for Arsenal’s summer plans and approach to the start of their title defence. A delayed return is inevitable for England’s cohort of Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze, plus the Spanish trio of Mikel Merino, Martin Zubimendi and David Raya, and France’s William Saliba. Those nursing injuries from the end of last season and through the World Cup (Rice, Saka and Saliba) will need attention and probably extra time out.
Declan Rice’s minutes will need to be managed by Arsenal following a lengthy season (Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Special consideration to squad building for the new campaign is a factor for potential additions, with highly admired targets such as Morgan Rogers, Bruno Guimaraes and Julian Alvarez going deep into the World Cup.
It makes for a fascinating summer with particular attention to the durability and availability of players for the first batch of Premier League games.
Amy Lawrence
Aston Villa
Villa appear to have beaten Newcastle United to the signing of World Cup breajout star Johan Manzambi. As The Athletic reported yesterday, the 20-year-old Swiss attacking midfielder is in the process of a finalising a move to Villa Park.
Otherwise it has not exactly been good news. Villa were fined €22.5million (about £19m) for breaching UEFA’s squad cost ratio (SCR) limit, which sounds bad, but far worse is the injury to Amadou Onana.
Both of the setbacks are linked to the sobering reality around Villa’s finances, and just how difficult it is for an over-achieving club to compete while adhering to the strict rules.
Amadou Onana’s injury is a hammer blow for Villa (Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Losing Onana, 24, to an anterior cruciate ligament injury means they have to find a replacement at the same time as trying to cut costs and reduce the wage bill. Fortunately, the SCR issue is not as dramatic as the headline figure as Villa will only pay €7.5m with the rest payable if their compliance with the regulations takes a downturn.
Gregg Evans
Bournemouth
Continuity is the watchword at Bournemouth. This time last year, they had lost five first-team squad players including Dean Huijsen (Real Madrid) and Milos Kerkez (Liverpool), with Illia Zabarnyi (Paris Saint-Germain) on his way out.
The exits of head coach Andoni Iraola and centre-back Marcos Senesi had been established for months. New coach Marco Rose will commence work with a squad which has retained its starting players including Alex Scott, Rayan and Eli Junior Kroupi.
With European football, via the Europa League, for the first time in their history, a larger squad is desirable. New signings are required but, unlike a year ago, Bournemouth can look to evolution rather than needing revolution.
Colin Millar
Brentford
Brentford have moved quickly to address their lack of attacking depth, which arguably cost them a place in Europe last season, by signing Jaidon Anthony from Burnley. The 26-year-old is capable of playing across the front line and scored eight goals in the Premier League last season.
Anthony’s arrival has gone slightly under the radar because it was announced the day after Jordan Henderson broke his left arm jumping over advertising hoardings following England’s dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the World Cup.
Brentford have signed Jaidon Anthony from Burnley (George Wood/Getty Images)
Henderson became a key player for Brentford after he joined them last summer and his freak injury could delay his return for pre-season training
Jay Harris
Brighton & Hove Albion
Selling Jan Paul van Hecke to Tottenham Hotspur. Their hands were tied because the Dutch international central defender would have been out of contract in June 2027 and showed no inclination to agree to a new deal.
It was not so much a question of if Van Hecke would leave this summer as when and where he would go. A reunion with Roberto De Zerbi for £52m has been accompanied by the club-record purchase of Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham (£46m), plus Pascal Struijk from Leeds United (around £20m) and Michael Svoboda from Venezia (£4.3m).
Van Hecke has been a mainstay alongside veteran skipper Lewis Dunk of a sound defensive record during Fabian Hurzeler’s two seasons in charge. Absorbing the break-up of that dependable partnership will be a challenge.
Andy Naylor
Chelsea
The chance for Cole Palmer to enjoy the rarity of a full summer off, especially after a campaign where his performances were clearly affected by a nagging groin injury.
Palmer’s last three seasons have been extended due to his involvement with England at the Under-21 European Championship (2023) and Euro 2024, plus the FIFA Club World Cup with Chelsea in 2025.
He has played 148 times for club and country since joining Chelsea in 2023 and the strain has shown. It is a primary reason why he was left out of England’s World Cup squad.
So for Palmer to rest up and be ready to join the first day of pre-season training under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso makes his omission a blessing in disguise. If the 24-year-old is back to his best, it will feel like a new signing.
Simon Johnson
Cole Palmer is having a much-needed summer off (George Wood/Getty Images)
Coventry City
Coventry fans are still waiting for significant movement in the summer transfer window, but head coach Frank Lampard committing his future has been a huge boost. As reported by The Athletic last month, Lampard signed a new three-year deal.
Frank Lampard is back in the Premier League with Coventry City (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Lampard took over in November 2024 with Coventry 17th in the Championship, guiding them to a play-off spot in his first season, before their title triumph last campaign.
Bolstering Lampard’s squad is now the focus. Winger Loum Tchaouna signed from Burnley last week while goalkeeper Carl Rushworth, last season’s player of the season during his loan spell from Brighton, remains a key target.
Tom Burrows
Crystal Palace
At the start of the World Cup it was confirmed that Pierre Sage would be Palace’s next manager.
The Frenchman replaces Oliver Glasner, who left after his contract expired in the summer and then joined Nottingham Forest.
Palace had intended to make a swift appointment to best prepare for the new campaign, wary of the impact of having no manager in place until closer to the start of the season. Although keen on Iraola, it became clear that was an impossible deal and he joined Liverpool.
Therefore, Palace swiftly turned their attention to Sage, 47, who had been in charge at Lens.
Matt Woosnam
Everton
Everton needed to be proactive after a disappointing end to the season, and they have been.
After protracted, month-long talks with Middlesbrough, midfielder Hayden Hackney joined for an initial £16.5m. He was followed last week by winger Tyrique George, with Everton negotiating down the £25m purchase option contained in the original loan agreement with Chelsea to a guaranteed £18m plus bonuses.
Merlin Rohl’s permanent arrival from Freiburg has been confirmed after his obligation-to-buy clause was triggered by the club’s Premier League survival.
It has been a busy, largely positive start to the window. But more is needed, particularly at full-back, where the right side remains a particular concern.
Patrick Boyland
Hayden Hackney has joined from Middlesbrough (Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
Fulham
Never shy of working to their own schedule, Fulham finally announced the arrival of head coach Alvaro Arbeloa late on Tuesday — five weeks after Marco Silva’s departure.
Replacing Silva, the club’s longest-serving manager for more than 60 years, was always going to be a step into the unknown, but this change feels more like a leap into the dark.
Arbeloa’s only senior coaching experience was a mixed four-month spell in charge of Real Madrid. The 43-year-old’s youthful-looking side dominated Manchester City in their Champions League last-16 tie, but fell at the next hurdle against Bayern Munich, then finished eight points behind Barcelona in La Liga.
Without Harry Wilson and Raul Jimenez, both out on free transfers, Fulham’s attack will need to be retooled. Is Arbeloa the man to do it?
Justin Guthrie
Hull City
No sooner had Hull won the Championship play-off final to reach the Premier League, the focus shifted towards a different battle at the end of June.
A £6m overspend brought the threat of breaching Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) unless business could be completed before the end of the financial year on June 30. A points deduction was a distinct possibility.
That sticky situation had parallels with the cluster of clubs that frantically traded two years ago and, just like Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest did enough back then, Hull believe they were eventually able to raise the necessary funds after selling Ivor Pandur (£6m to Rangers) and Aidon Shehu (£2.5m to Panathinaikos).
Philip Buckingham
Ipswich Town
It has been a summer of change at Portman Road. Kieran McKenna stepped down as head coach on the eve of the World Cup, bringing an end to a hugely successful spell, which culminated in steering Ipswich back to the Premier League last season.
Gary O’Neil was appointed his replacement on June 23, tasked with doing the one thing McKenna couldn’t: keeping Ipswich in the Premier League. The first signing of the O’Neil era was completed in July as Brazilian striker Emersonn arrived from Toulouse.
The club and team had been moulded into McKenna’s image during his four and a half years in charge, the success synonymous with his brand of football. Will his successor opt for continuity or sweeping stylistic changes?
Ali Rampling
Leeds United
The arrival of Harry Wilson. After failing to land him at the first attempt, on September 1 last year, Leeds finally secured his signature as a free agent this month.
Wilson was one of the most impactful attackers in the Premier League in 2025-26. Only eight players were directly involved in more goals than Wilson’s 17 (10 goals, seven assists) and Leeds have picked him up for free.
Wilson plugs a creative gap in the Leeds line-up off that inside-right channel. The 29-year-old raises the ceiling of the squad and immediately adds an additional match-winner.
Beren Cross
Harry Wilson had the best season of his career in 2025-26 (John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images)
Liverpool
Signing Victor Munoz for £34m. Without that, supporters would be losing their minds at the lack of transfer action.
After Liverpool’s dismal display last season, the expectation is that a busy summer window will solve everything after Iraola replaced Arne Slot as manager.
There was an online meltdown when The Athletic reported that Yan Diomande would prefer to join Paris Saint-Germain if he leaves RB Leipzig this summer, and unless a blockbuster transfer is secured, there will be concern going into the season.
Munoz, who hasn’t featured for Spain at the World Cup, is a bright spark but still has the potential at 22 to improve. His arrival has at least raised the excitement levels.
Gregg Evans
Manchester City
Regardless of what happens between now and the end of the summer, the most important thing to have happened at City has to be the arrival of Enzo Maresca, and with it the end of the Pep Guardiola era.
City have signed Elliot Anderson. Several more incomings and outgoings are likely, but the change of manager, for the first time in 10 years and as a replacement for the most instrumental figure in the club’s history, is hugely significant and will be talked about throughout the season, good, bad or otherwise.
Sam Lee
Enzo Maresca is in the hot seat at City (Alex Broadway/Getty Images)
Manchester United
United’s summer was always going to be defined by one issue: the success or otherwise of their long-anticipated midfield rebuild.
The Old Trafford hierarchy entered the window with the intention of signing up to three midfielders, but with little hope of beating Manchester City to their first-choice target Anderson, who is signing for a record fee for a British player.
Priorities were shifted elsewhere but, while there was early momentum behind the pursuit of Mateus Fernandes, Tottenham Hotspur swooped past to meet West Ham’s £85m asking price with a guaranteed fee.
United’s attempts to be prudent and disciplined appeared out of step with an inflating market, and may still prove to be, with three midfield signings targeted. But striking a total £50m agreement with Chelsea for Andrey Santos last week marked progress.
As it stands, the completion of a €44.5m (£38
m) deal for Atalanta midfielder Ederson hinges on medical checks. Whether he signs or not, United have work to do.
Mark Critchley
Newcastle United
Combined player sales of circa £170m.
After the damaging and drawn-out Alexander Isak saga last summer, Newcastle have been far more strategic and clinical in offloading Anthony Gordon for around £70m to Barcelona and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for a fee rising to £100m.
Those sales are impressive, but they are indicative of the position Newcastle find themselves when it comes to UEFA’s financial rules. Newcastle have been fined €6m for breaching those regulations and have signed up to a stringent compliance agreement moving forward. The Gordon funds ensured compliance, while Tonali’s sale allows for wider squad reinvestment.
Sandro Tonali has joined Spurs, with Anthony Gordon leaving for Barca (Stu Forster/Getty Images)
With the wage bill (and average age of the squad) being reduced, Newcastle are replacing their experienced stars with younger, hungrier players with massive potential.
They had hoped that Manzambi would be one of those players, but he now seems likely to move to Aston Villa.
Ironically, despite not being in European competition for 2026-27, their transfer strategy is being at least partly governed by European regulations.
Chris Waugh
Nottingham Forest
The £116m sale of Anderson to City is a landmark moment, albeit one that was easy to see coming on the horizon.
What was more surprising was the club parting company with manager Vitor Pereira. That was a decision motivated more by the calibre of his replacement, in Glasner, who arrives with an impressive CV, including helping Palace to secure their first two pieces of major silverware, the FA Cup and the Conference League.
Pereira did a great job in keeping Forest up. But Forest believe Glasner can take them on to the next level, even as they acclimatise to life without their talismanic midfielder.
Paul Taylor
Oliver Glasner in, Vitor Pereira out at the City Ground (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Sunderland
Oddly, something no one had any concerns about when last season ended: Granit Xhaka committing to the Sunderland cause.
Chelsea’s shock pursuit of Xhaka was only worsened by the Swiss captain’s genuine interest in rejoining former manager Alonso and, for six long days, Sunderland were staring into a future without the man so instrumental in last season’s success.
A miserly £8m bid helped Sunderland remain resolute, but Xhaka choosing to stay has reinforced the ambitious feeling on Wearside. Preparations are underway for only the second European campaign in history — Jose Fonte has joined the coaching setup; Eliezer Mayenda has been sold for a bumper fee to Rennes, which has bolstered the budget — but Xhaka was always going to be central to future fortune.
His next chapter remains in the North East.
Chris Weatherspoon
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs have been the busiest Premier League club in this summer’s transfer window and made a number of eye-catching signings, including Van Hecke from Brighton. They even outmuscled Manchester United to sign Fernandes from West Ham United for £85m.
But nothing trumps their stunning pursuit of Tonali. To strip Tonali from Newcastle, a direct rival, for a total package worth £100m will have raised eyebrows around the league. Particularly as Spurs broke their transfer record twice in the same week to do so.
Spurs have finished 17th for two seasons in a row but only seriously danced with relegation in the 2025-26 campaign. Their activity in the market suggests they are desperate to move on from a dismal couple of years and return to the top half of the table. Tonali is a statement signing which will raise expectations.
Jay Harris
