Every Big Transfer, World Cup Fallout and Preseason Story You Missed

The Premier League never really sleeps, and if you’ve been away from the football headlines for a few weeks, you’ve missed a summer packed with drama. Between a World Cup that reshuffled squads, a transfer window already producing record fees, and preseason tours kicking into gear, there’s a lot to catch up on before the new campaign starts. Here’s everything that’s happened, broken down so you can get back up to speed in one read.

The World Cup Left Its Mark

The 2026 World Cup ran through most of June, and its ripple effects are still being felt across the Premier League. Clubs had to manage tired legs, fresh confidence, and in some cases, players using their World Cup performances as leverage for a summer move. With the tournament wrapping up on July 19, several clubs delayed their transfer business until key players were free to finalize deals, which is part of why this window has felt like it’s arrived in waves rather than all at once.

One knock-on effect worth knowing: the new Premier League season kicks off a week later than usual, on August 21, specifically to give World Cup players extra recovery time before the grind of a nine-month campaign begins again.

The Big Exits Nobody Saw Coming

This transfer window has been defined as much by who’s leaving as who’s arriving, and some of the departures are genuinely stunning.

Liverpool’s rebuild has been the headline story of the summer. Mohamed Salah has been released by the club after years as one of its most important attackers, and he’s been joined out the door by defender Ibrahima Konate and midfielder Casemiro, both also released. Andy Robertson, long a fixture at left-back, has completed a free transfer across London to Tottenham Hotspur. It’s a level of squad turnover that suggests Liverpool’s new-look side next season could look dramatically different from the one fans watched last year.

Manchester United has trimmed hard as well, releasing Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia while sending Rasmus Hojlund to Napoli. Andre Onana has also left on loan to Trabzonspor, a sign that United’s goalkeeping situation is very much in flux heading into the new season.

The Marquee Signings

If you want the single biggest transfer story of the summer, look no further than Manchester City. The club has broken the record fee for a British player, signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a reported €135 million. City haven’t stopped there either, bringing in highly-rated young talents Mathys Detourbet, Jeremy Monga, and Pierce Charles as part of a squad clearly being built for the next decade, not just next season.

Elsewhere, there’s been plenty of shuffling within the league itself. Sandro Tonali has swapped Newcastle for Tottenham, Kieran Trippier has joined Wolves on a free transfer, and Anthony Gordon has left Newcastle for Barcelona. Youri Tielemans has moved to Aston Villa, while Chelsea have brought in Andrey Santos to bolster their midfield options.

Preseason Is Already Underway

With the transfer window still open until September 1, clubs are simultaneously juggling deals and preseason preparation. Arsenal, defending their first Premier League title in 22 years, have a packed friendly schedule that includes matches against Real Betis in Dublin and Borussia Dortmund, plus a Community Shield clash with Manchester City in Cardiff on August 16. Aston Villa are heading further afield, with matches in Portugal, Spain, and a tour through Southeast Asia including stops in Jakarta and Pathum Thani.

Three clubs are gearing up for a return to the top flight after promotion from the Championship: Coventry City, Hull City, and Ipswich Town. All three will be using their preseason fixtures to find their footing before facing Premier League opposition for real.

What to Watch Next

• Deadline Day looms on September 1, with a later cutoff of 11 p.m. BST than in previous years, so expect late-night confirmations right up to the wire.
• Arsenal’s title defense starts the moment the World Cup dust settles, and early results against City and Liverpool’s overhauled squad will say a lot about where the balance of power sits this season.
• Liverpool’s new-look side will be one of the most watched teams in preseason simply because so much has changed since last year.
• Promoted clubs’ transfer business is worth tracking too, since how well Coventry, Hull, and Ipswich strengthen their squads could determine whether they’re fighting relegation or finding their feet.

That’s the state of the Premier League as things stand. With the window still open and preseason fixtures rolling out through August, expect plenty more movement before a ball is even kicked in anger on August 21.