Permanent transfer signings since we appointed Ange (i.e. permanent transfers since 1st July 2023):
- Solanke £65m
- Johnson £47m
- Gray £40m
- Van de Ven £42m
- Maddison £40m
- *Porro £35m
- Odobert £25m
- *Kulusevski £25m
- Dragusin £21m
- Vicario £17m
- Kinsky £12.5m
- Veliz £12m
- Vuškovic £12m
- Bergvall £8m
- Yang £2m
- Phillips £2m
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TOTAL = £405.5m
* I am well aware both Porro (6 months) and Kulusevski (18 months) were on loan to us prior to making their transfers permanent on 1st July 2023, but they still count as signings in this period as that is when the contracts were signed, player registration was transferred to us, and the permanent fee payments and player amortisation commenced.
Of all those signings, I would say that only Johnson, Dragusin and Veliz are questionable (although it should be noted that Johnson is our top scorer in a high scoring team). Jury still out on Odobert (although I personally am a fan). Add permanent signings from the year before (Bentancur, Romero, Sarr, Udogie, Bissouma, Spence etc.) and I think it shows the club has invested significantly to rebuild the squad since the new stadium was fully operational after the Covid pandemic (following years of neglect it has to be said!).
If we keep progressing like this, adding a couple of first team upgrades and a couple of investments for the future each summer we will have an incredible squad for years to come. We're finally doing things properly (for the first time), with a clear strategy, specialist recruitment and scouting teams set up, and a clear plan on how to build the squad with the right profile of player. Players like Vuskovic, Bergvall and Gray will count as club trained when they hit 21. Next season both Gray and Bergvall will be bigger contributors to our first team, Vuskovic will be with us, to add to 2 or 3 key signings in the summer. I honestly feel the future is very bright, and the approach will be worth the short term pain we are experiencing now.
