The 2026 summer transfer window has closed with a new benchmark: Premier League clubs spent around 3.46 billion pounds, about 4.67 billion dollars, smashing the summer record for a second successive season, according to ESPN's grading of the market published on 3 September. Manchester City concluded the biggest saga of the window by signing Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a joint-British record 125 million pounds, reuniting the Argentina international with Enzo Maresca, who managed him at Chelsea. ESPN noted the fee brought Chelsea 5 million pounds more than the asking price it set in mid-August for a player who was outwardly desperate to leave and had only one club interested. ## The 100-Million Club Grows Fernandez headlined a host of deals above the 100 million mark. Liverpool paid 123 million euros, plus another 19 million in add-ons, for PSG winger Bradley Barcola, a two-time Champions League winner still only 23. Tottenham spent around 400 million pounds across the window, and the promoted trio of Ipswich, Coventry City and Hull City managed a combined 400 million in their bid to stay up. Everton sold electric winger Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for 60 million pounds, while Newcastle collected 51 million euros for 21-year-old Matias Fernandez-Pardo after his breakout Ligue 1 season, in which he was clocked at 35.51 km/h, among the quickest in the world. ## Saudi Money and Squad Overhauls Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal again shaped the market. Arsenal agreed a 70 million euro departure for Gabriel Martinelli, a club record sale beating the 35 million pounds received for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in 2017, joining a front-three makeover alongside Crysencio Summerville and Ollie Watkins that cost around 165 million pounds in total. Watkins left Aston Villa for 51 million pounds after refusing to play on the opening day while pushing for the move. Aston Villa replaced him with Nicolas Jackson for an initial 47.5 million pounds, potentially rising by 17.5 million, reuniting the Senegal striker with Unai Emery, who coached him at Villarreal. Chelsea banked further fees by selling Liam Delap to Nottingham Forest for 45 million pounds and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez for just 7.5 million pounds, business ESPN said will make Chelsea immediately better after last season's 10th-place finish. ## Loans and Bargains The loan market carried its own headlines. Newcastle sent Nick Woltemade to Juventus after the club-record 64.9 million pounds it paid for him failed to produce results, with the striker's wages fully covered but the 3.5 million pound loan fee falling far short of his amortized cost. Juventus also landed Santiago Gimenez from AC Milan on a deal that could become permanent for 18 million euros. Crystal Palace loaned 18-year-old Atalanta center back Honest Ahanor for the season before he joins Chelsea permanently for 40 million euros in 2027. AC Milan rebuilt its attack around Goncalo Ramos, signed from PSG for 74 million euros, after selling Rafael Leao to Galatasaray for 45 million euros. Mykhailo Mudryk joined Tottenham on loan after his doping ban ended prematurely in July, and Jonathan David moved to Atletico Madrid after scoring just eight goals in his first Juventus season. ESPN's verdict on the headline deal was harsh on the buyer even as records fell: the Fernandez move earned Chelsea an A-plus grade and Manchester City only a C.