Isak, Gyokeres, Woltemade, Sesko – how have big-name striker signings fared?
Viktor Gyokeres (left), Alexander Isak (centre) and Benjamin Sesko made high-profile summer transfers, joining Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United respectively.
Strikers dominated the summer transfer window as the Premier League’s leading teams looked to strengthen up front.
Not a day goes by without speculation that reigning champions Liverpool and last season’s runners-up Arsenal are among the teams strengthening their attacking options, and that Manchester United and Chelsea are doing the same.
We experienced strikers going on strike, clubs gaslighting their opponents, and many other dramas in the process.
With the international break continuing, clubs need to think about the seven league matches they have played so far.
So how did the forward transfers of big names begin? We took a look at nine of them to see how successful they were, and we want your opinion.
Thierno Barry (Everton)
Among players who have played at least 180 minutes in the Premier League this season, no player averages more runs off the ball per 90 minutes than Barry’s 17.7.
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 7. Minutes played: 208. Goals: 0. Assists: 0. Shots on target: 0. Chances created: 1.
Everton paid £27 million to sign 22-year-old Villarreal striker Thierno Barry, who scored 11 goals in La Liga last season.
But it has been a difficult start for the France Under-21 national team at the Toffees.
He is yet to score in nine appearances in all competitions, and five of his seven appearances in the Premier League have come as a substitute; Beto is often preferred by coach David Moyes.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Leeds United)
Only Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (17) and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta (14) have made more flicks in the Premier League this season than Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s 13.
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 5. Minutes played: 357. Goals: 1. Assists: 0. Shots on target: 7. Chances created: 6.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin, who scored 57 Premier League goals for Everton in his nine-year career, left the Toffees on a free transfer and quickly joined newly promoted Leeds United.
Whites boss Daniel Farke, who said that England national team player Calvert-Lewin, 28, has the chance to “revive his career”, has used the striker regularly and has coached him in Leeds’ four Premier League matches so far.
Calvert-Lewin scored his first goal for the club and his first since January in Leeds’ 3–1 win over Wolves on 20 September, but it remains his only goal of the season.
Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
Hugo Ekitike has a shooting accuracy of 40% in the Premier League this season and no summer signing has ever scored more goals than him.
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 6. Minutes played: 386. Goals: 3. Assists: 1. Shots on target: 4. Chances created: 4.
France international Ekitike was a wanted man in the summer and Newcastle United were the first club to make an offer for him. With Liverpool initially frustrated in their efforts to land Alexander Isak from the Magpies, the Reds made an immediate move, initially signing him from Eintracht Frankfurt for £69 million. Liverpool disappointed Newcastle and added Isak to their squad.
The 23-year-old player has won great admiration from the fans, but question marks remain about how he and Isak will adapt to the champion team.
Ekitike has scored three goals and made one assist so far, but was sent off after taking off his shirt while celebrating a late victory over Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
Only Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo (108) and Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins (100) have made more runs behind the ball in the Premier League this season than Gyokeres’ 86. He also became the third player with the most touches in the opponent’s penalty area (45).
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 7. Minutes played: 578. Goals: 3. Assists: 0. Shots on target: 5. Chances created: 5.
Sweden international Viktor Gyokeres scored 54 goals in 52 appearances in the 2024-25 season and helped Sporting win their second successive Portuguese league title before moving to Arsenal in the summer.
Arsenal have signed the 27-year-old in a deal worth up to £64 million and he has become a vital part of the team sitting higher in the Premier League table.
He started all seven league matches, scoring twice in the 5-0 win against Leeds and once in the 3-0 win against Nottingham Forest, and was also a starter in both of Arsenal’s Champions League wins.
Alexander Isak (Liverpool)
Among players without a shot on target in the Premier League this season, only Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard (0.62) has a higher xG (expected goals) than Alexander Isak’s 0.61.
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 3. Minutes played: 181. Goals: 0. Assists: 1. Shots on target: 0. Chances created: 1.
Alexander Isak’s protracted transfer from Newcastle to Liverpool was the story of the summer.
The Swedish striker released a statement saying promises made by Newcastle had been “broken” and that their “relationship could not continue” after Liverpool’s initial offer was rejected, and he finally moved for a British record £125 million on transfer deadline day.
But Isak, 26, has made a slow start at Liverpool without much pre-season preparation. Although he made an assist and scored a goal in the 2-1 win over Southampton in the Carabao Cup, he has yet to take a shot on target after his first three Premier League matches.
Igor Jesus (Nottingham Forest)
Among forwards who have taken 10 or more aerial duels in the Premier League this season, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (84.2% – 16/19) has a higher success rate than Igor Jesus’ 60% (6/10).
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 6. Minutes played: 101. Goals: 0. Assists: 0. Shots on target: 2. Chances created: 1.
Brazilian forward Igor Jesus joined Nottingham Forest in a £10 million move from Botafogo in July.
It has been a difficult start to the season for Forest, who are winless in nine matches in all competitions and sacked Nuno Espirito Santo in September and replaced him with Ange Postecoglou.
Jesus, 24, is yet to score in the Premier League but has scored four goals in cup competitions; two in a 3-2 Carabao Cup defeat to Swansea City, followed by a further double a week later in Forest’s 2-2 draw with Real Betis in the Europa League.
Joao Pedro (Chelsea)
Only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland (10) and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo (nine) have more goal contributions in the Premier League this season than Joao Pedro’s five goals (two goals, three assists).
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 7. Minutes played: 586. Goals: 2. Assists: 3. Shots on target: 3. Chances created: 7.
Chelsea have signed a £60 million deal to bring Brazilian striker Joao Pedro from Brighton on an eight-year contract, with Pedro heading straight to the USA to play in the Club World Cup.
His two goals in the semi-final helped defeat Fluminense and he then scored against European champions Paris St-Germain as Chelsea won the final.
He has scored two goals and assisted three goals in the Premier League, but has failed to score in his last six appearances in all competitions. However, with Cole Palmer and another new Blues striker, Liam Delap, a £30 million summer signing from Ipswich Town, both out injured, 24-year-old Joao Pedro has been leading the Chelsea team week in and week out.
Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United)
No player has scored more goals from inside the six-yard box in the Premier League this season than Benjamin Sesko’s two goals.
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 7. Minutes played: 385. Goals: 2. Assists: 0. Shots on target: 6. Chances created: 5.
Manchester United completed the transfer of RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko in August with a transfer worth £73.7 million.
The 22-year-old Slovenian international’s first start came as United suffered a humiliating Carabao Cup defeat against League Two side Grimsby Town, who won 12-11 on penalties. Sesko was criticized for being the last of 10 United outfield players to take a spot-kick in the penalty shoot-out.
But he has scored twice in recent weeks, in the 3-1 defeat against Brentford on 27 September and in the 2-0 win against Sunderland seven days later.
Nick Woltemade (Newcastle United)
No player in the Premier League this season has scored as many headed goals as he has in 70 Bundesliga matches.
2025-26 statistics of the Premier League. Games played: 4. Minutes played: 305. Goals: 3. Assists: 0. Shots on target: 3. Chances created: 2.
Eddie Howe has signed 23-year-old German striker Nick Woltemade after Alexander Isak made it clear he wanted to move from Newcastle to Liverpool.
The 6ft 6in (1.98m) striker joined in a club record deal worth up to £69 million and has already made an impact.
He scored the only goal in the 1-0 win against Wolves on his debut and also scored against Arsenal, Union St-Gilloise and Nottingham Forest in the Champions League.
