The 2024-25 Premier League season has delivered its fair share of highs and lows in the transfer market, but a handful of new arrivals have stood out from the rest. From value deals to breakout stars, these ten players made the biggest impact in their debut campaigns.
10. Omar Marmoush – Manchester City (£59m)
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The only January arrival on this list, Omar Marmoush hit the ground running at Manchester City. Despite joining during a dip in form for Pep Guardiola’s side, he managed seven goals in 15 appearances and offered a glimpse of his future role as a versatile forward.
9. Evanilson – Bournemouth (£40m)
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Bournemouth’s record signing proved to be a smart investment, scoring 10 league goals while stepping up after Solanke’s departure. His sharp finishing and movement in the box helped keep the Cherries in contention for a top-half finish.
Sarr returned to the Premier League with a bang, becoming a creative engine for Palace under Glasner. With 13 goal contributions and an improved end product, he transformed Palace’s attack with his speed and direct play.
Wolves took a gamble on Strand Larsen, and it paid off with 13 goals that proved vital to their survival. His physical presence and hard-working style earned praise from his manager and fans alike.
6. Maxence Lacroix – Crystal Palace (£15m)
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Lacroix overcame a slow start to become a cornerstone of Palace’s three-man defence. His recovery speed and confident passing helped turn the club’s fortunes around after a rough opening stretch.
5. Liam Delap – Ipswich Town (£20m)
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Despite Ipswich’s relegation, Delap shone as their standout performer with 12 league goals. The 21-year-old showed both physical dominance and a natural eye for goal, attracting interest from Premier League giants.
4. Elliot Anderson – Nottingham Forest (£35m)
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Sold reluctantly by Newcastle, Anderson blossomed into a key player at Forest, helping them push for Europe. His creativity, vision, and versatility made him indispensable in Nuno’s system.
Initially viewed as an underwhelming signing, Merino silenced critics by becoming a key figure in Arsenal’s attack during an injury crisis. His aerial threat and intelligence brought a new dimension to Arteta’s side.
2. Dean Huijsen – Bournemouth (£13m)
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Huijsen impressed so much in his debut season that Real Madrid came calling with a £50m deal. His calmness, technical quality, and goal-scoring ability from defence made him one of Europe’s hottest young talents.
1. Nikola Milenkovic – Nottingham Forest (£12m)
Photo: NFFC
Forest’s best-ever signing? Possibly. Milenkovic turned their leaky backline into one of the strongest in the league and scored five goals himself, proving to be a bargain of historic proportions.
