TA conducted an anonymous survey of 20 football agents to provide an in-depth analysis of the record-breaking transfer window in the summer of 2025, which will cost up to 3.11 billion pounds. The survey results reveal what insiders really think abou...
TA conducted an anonymous survey of 20 football agents to provide an in-depth analysis of the record-breaking transfer window in the summer of 2025, which will cost up to 3.11 billion pounds. The survey results reveal what insiders really think about each club's operations, from the best and worst deals, to championship and relegation favorites, to controversial topics such as player strikes.
Best deal: Donnarumma joins Manchester City at a "cabbage price"
Many agents believe that Manchester City's signing of 26-year-old goalkeeper Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain for £25.9 million is the best move in the summer window. An agent bluntly said: "I think the value of goalkeepers is underestimated. It is very remarkable to be able to sign one of the best goalkeepers in the world at a 'cabbage price'." Another well-received deal was Grealish's loan to Everton. The agent believed that "Everton signed a player that they had no right to sign under normal circumstances." In addition, Arsenal's new aid Jocles also received two votes.
Worst deal: Manchester United "spent too much, too early" for Sheshko
Manchester United's deal to introduce Sheshko for up to 73.6 million pounds attracted the most criticism. Many agents believed that the money was "too much" and that the signing was completed "under pressure". Another widely criticized deal was that Manchester City spent £40 million to sign goalkeeper Trafford, only to bring in Donnarumma a few weeks later and leave him on the bench. In addition, Isaac's £125 million transfer to Liverpool has also been questioned, with one agent believing that his strike action "deviates from Liverpool's core principles".
Controversy over training strike: Upright players suffer losses, which may lead to more buyout clauses
Regarding the phenomenon that Isaac and Visa successfully transferred through the strike, but Guey, who performed professionally, missed the opportunity, an agent pointedly pointed out: "This is The epitome of everything that's wrong in football. The guy who behaved with integrity didn't get what he wanted, and the two guys who screwed up got it." While most agents don't think this will lead to a strike, it could change the way negotiations are conducted in the future. An agent predicted: "The players will use this as a bargaining chip, and the agents will ask for more buyout clauses to be added to the contract, because we can no longer trust the club's words."
Transfer window evaluation and season prediction
In terms of club operations, Arsenal and Liverpool were rated as the teams with the best transfer window operations. The former effectively solved the shortcomings of the lineup through signings, and the latter fully reinforced through high investment. West Ham United was rated the worst, with its signings being said to be "a mess" and "seemingly not knowing what they are doing".
Regarding the prospects of the season, more than two-thirds (14) of the agents predict that Liverpool will successfully defend the Premier League title. Arsenal are favored by four agents but are still generally regarded as a "near" team. In terms of relegation, the newly promoted Burnley received the most relegation votes (18 votes), followed by Wolves (13 votes), while the other newly promoted team Sunderland is highly favored for its "brave but not stupid" recruitment strategy.
