With the transfer window closed until January, here is a look at several players who are already having a positive impact at their new clubs and are proving to be good signings so far in the Premier League campaign:
Declan Rice
Arsenal won the race to sign Declan Rice for £105m from West Ham, with him picking the Gunners over Manchester City and Bayern Munich, fans were already in love with Rice due to choosing them over the treble winners and German giants.
Being the statement signing of the summer for Arsenal, expectations are high for Rice and he fits into life at North London sweetly, he has already stamped authority in the starting eleven and looks comfortable in Mikel Arteta’s system.
He has managed to pick up Man of the Match awards against Crystal Palace and Manchester United, United he was the game-changer that Arsenal needed to put them up 2-1 in the 96th minute, which saw them win 3-1 in the end.
Declan Rice’s numbers vs. Manchester United:
◉ 88% pass accuracy
◉ 85 touches
◉ 5 recoveries
◉ 3 aerial duels (100% success)
◉ 1 goalPlayer of the match. 🌟 pic.twitter.com/VOh215fOSt
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 5, 2023
Something to note about his impact on the squad is his presence on the field, he has shown the ability to provide support for both the defence and attack, his tackles, recoveries, ball carrying abilities are top quality and he is proving to be worth the £105m spent on him, Declan Rice has not allowed the price tag affect his performances.
Dominik Szoboszlai
Joining from Bundesliga side RB Leipzig for £60m Dominik Szoboszlai has come to grips with the Premier League in quick succession. The usual worry with players coming to the league for the first time is not adapting to the intensity, Szoboszlai has fit right into Liverpool’s side.
So far for Jürgen Klopp’s side, he has showcased his sensational passing, he also scored a wonderful goal against Aston Villa to open the scoring in a 3-0 win against Unai Emery’s side.
Giovanni Costantino, who is the ex-Hungary assistant manager, knew what he would provide to the Premier League right from the start when asked about the transfer of Szoboszlai to Liverpool he said “Look, I don’t believe people who say “Dominik will need some time to adjust to the Premier League”, adding “I think he will have an impact from the beginning.”
James Maddison
A player proving to be a bargain, and an absolute game-changer is James Maddison, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from Leicester City for a fee of £40m. He has won the Premier League Player of the Month for August, completing the double with manager Ange Postecoglou who has also won Manager of the Month.
James Maddison knows the Premier League inside and out, playing a total of 163 games in the competition before joining his new side, and he is showcasing what he can do in this new-looking Tottenham side. He has managed to pick up two goals and four assists in six games so far in the campaign.
James Maddison has been voted the @premierleague Player of the Month for August! 🌟
Well in, @Madders10! 👏
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 15, 2023
Moussa Diaby
Making a move from Bayer Leverkusen (for an undisclosed fee), the Frenchman has shown what he can do. He possesses the ability to dribble rapidly with his footwork, create space and attack the goal, this has seen him contribute two goals and two assists so far.
Diaby is aiming to continue his prolific form going into the next run of games, stating “I came here to play like this, helping the team with goals and assists.”, adding “I hope I will continue like this, helping the team in the next game and during the season.”
James Ward-Prowse
West Ham is off to a flying start this season, with James Ward-Prowse’s transfer from Southampton for a fee of £30m he has been colossal to the recent success. So far, the central midfielder is proving to be an absolute bargain from what he has produced so far into the season.
He had a sensational debut against Chelsea, assisting both the first and second goal in a 3-1 win against the Blues. James Ward-Prowse described the game to be his “dream debut” – so far he has registered two goals and three assists, which includes bagging the opener against Manchester City with a sweet-headed finish.
James Ward-Prowse has either scored or assisted in every Premier League game he has played for West Ham:
🅰️🅰️ vs. Chelsea
⚽ vs. Brighton
🅰️ vs. Luton
⚽ vs. Man CityOnly Erling Haaland and Mo Salah have been directly involved in more PL goals in 2023/24. 👀#WHUMCI pic.twitter.com/vBuhl4w96a
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) September 16, 2023
It is a surprise that he was let go for so little considering what he offers to a side, and still astonishing to think he was left out of the England squad, considering the instant impact he has had.