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.
7. Jorgen Strand Larsen – Wolves (Loan)
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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.
3. Mikel Merino – Arsenal (£32m)
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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)
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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.
