Ten of the most exciting new arrivals to the Premier League this summer.
Matej Vydra (West Brom)
This exciting 21-year-old could be a great piece of business in the loan market again by West Brom. Having enjoyed the services of Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku at the Hawthorns last season, the Baggies have now gained the temporary addition of Udinese forward Matej Vydra, who had been attracting several top clubs after his displays in the Championship for Watford last season. The Czech Republic international scored 20 times for the promotion hopefuls, though his spell with the London club ultimately ended in heartbreak as they lost the playoff final to Crystal Palace. He has still found his way to the top flight with West Brom though, and will be one to watch this season.
Victor Wanyama (Southampton)
It wouldn’t be surprising if Southampton were simply a stepping stone on the way to bigger things for Kenyan midfielder Victor Wanyama, but for now the youngster looks like an excellent signing from Celtic for £12.5million. Still only 22, Wanyama had been atracting interest from the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool this summer before moving to the Saints, and has the potential to be one of the best midfielders in the Premier League this season. This big-name transfer is a sign of the growing ambition at St Mary’s, and it will be interesting to see the new highs Wanyama can fire the club to.
Stevan Jovetic (Manchester City)
After a long summer of speculation, Manchester City ended up being Stevan Jovetic’s final destination. The 23-year-old had been a stand-out performer in Serie A for Fiorentina, and was also a top target for Arsenal, Chelsea and Juventus for much of the summer as these big clubs were all determined to battle it out for this top talent. A skillful forward, Jovetic operates best just behind the main striker, but is also a very capable goal scorer himself, and should provide some real quality for City this season as they look to reclaim the Premier League title off rivals Manchester United. One of City’s less lavish signings for just £22million, the Montenegro international could end up being something of a bargain for new manager Manuel Pellegrini.
Jozy Altidore (Sunderland)
This exciting United States international has had something of a journeyman career already, despite only being 23, but really hit top form over the last couple of seasons in the Eredivisie with AZ Alkmaar. The striker has been one of the hottest prospects in his country since making his debut as a teenager for New York Red Bulls, and is set for a second stab at the Premier League after a brief loan stint with Hull City in the 2009/10 season. With 31 goals in Holland last season, £8million Altidore looks like an excellent venture into the market by manager Paolo Di Canio, as he looks to move his side away from the relegation zone.
Etienne Capoue (Tottenham)
One of the most recently-confirmed new signings, Etienne Capoue was unveiled as a Tottenham player earlier today, and has to go down as another good piece of business by the club this summer. An £8.6million signing from French side Toulouse, Capoue had been eyed up by the likes of Arsenal, though he also came close to joining ambitious newly-promoted Cardiff earlier in the summer. A tough defensive midfielder, the 25-year-old should make a good replacement for the departing Scott Parker, and could form an excellent partnership with Moussa Dembele in the heart of Spurs’ midfield.
Paulinho (Tottenham)
Another new arrival to get the fans excited at White Hart Lane this season is Brazil international Paulinho. The 25-year-old completed his move to Tottenham shortly after impressing for his country at this summer’s Confederations Cup, where he showcased his abilities as an all-round box-to-box player, scoring two goals from midfield in the tournament. Arsenal and Inter Milan were also believed to be interested in the former Corinthians man, and he looks certain to be a big success in England, looking a good piece of business at £17.5million.
Wilfried Bony (Swansea)
A club-record signing for Swansea, Wilfried Bony arrived earlier this summer for £12million, and has already started repaying his transfer fee with two goals in the Europea League for Michael Laudrup’s side. The talented Ivorian is another player to have been snapped up ahead of a queue of other big clubs, with Arsenal and Newcastle among those interested in the 24-year-old, who scored an excellent 37 goals in 36 appearances for Eredivisie side Vitesse last season. Combining pace, power and skill, Bony looks made for the Premier League, and could form a mouth-watering partnership with free-scoring Spaniard Michu in this exciting Swansea team.
Andre Schurrle (Chelsea)
One of the many exciting young talents emerging in German football at the moment, Andre Schurrle was a prime target for Chelsea this summer, and they made sure to sign him early, confirming the £18million deal back in June. The skillful and pacey winger scored 11 goals and provided 7 assists in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen last season, and could provide a more direct alternative to the Blues’ other attacking midfielders Juan Mata, Eden Hazard and Oscar. Despite only being 22, he has plenty of experience with 25 caps for the German national team and four seasons as a regular in the Bundesliga. Whilst also being one for the future, he can certainly add something special to Jose Mourinho’s side straight away this season.
Alvaro Negredo (Manchester City)
Another good addition upfront for Manchester City, Alvaro Negredo arrived from Sevilla this summer for around £16million. The 27-year-old has been one of the most prolific strikers in La Liga for a number of seasons now, and found the back of the net an impressive 31 times last year. Despite immense competition, Negredo has also managed 15 caps and 7 goals for the Spanish national team, and could form an exciting new-look strike partnership with fellow new-arrival Stevan Jovetic. He is also joined at the Etihad Stadium by his former Sevilla team-mate Jesus Navas.
Roberto Soldado (Tottenham)
Another excellent signing by Tottenham and part of a growing Spanish influence in the Premier League, Roberto Soldado arrived at White Hart Lane from Valencia this summer in a £26million move. Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas has shown plenty of ambition in the transfer market this summer in an attempt to persuade want-away star Gareth Bale that the club can compete with the big boys and make the top four this season. Soldado is certainly the kind of calibre of player to help Spurs achieve that, as he has consistently been one of the best goal-scorers in La Liga for the last five years. The 28-year-old scored 30 goals last season as Valencia narrowly missed out on a Champions League place, but will be hoping that this time he can help his new club achieve that goal. Like so many of Spurs’ signings this summer, Soldado is said to be another player that rivals Arsenal were looking at, and who they probably could have done with.