Transfer Watch: Ranking the Premier League's club-record summer signings

A total of 13 Premier League teams broke their transfer records over the summer. Here, WhoScored.com assesses how each of those performers are faring in their new surroundings… 

Borja Baston – Swansea (6.14) 

Borja Baston was a club-record acquisition from Atletico Madrid over the summer, yet has to date struggled to transfer his fine La Liga form to the Premier League. The 24-year-old has just one goal to his name from 12 top-flight outings to help return a WhoScored rating of just 6.14. Borja hasn’t been helped by injury, having arrived with a muscle complaint, while managerial upheaval hasn’t helped him adjust to the rigours of Premier League football. Currently behind compatriot Fernando Llorente in the pecking order, Borja will hope for a strong second half to the season in Swansea’s pursuit of survival. 

Andre Ayew – West Ham (6.24) 

Swansea were understandably reluctant to sell Andre Ayew to West Ham, even if the Ghanaian’s £20m switch to the London Stadium hasn’t gone according to plan. The Hammers’ quest for a striker is well documented and while Ayew isn’t an out-and-out goalscorer, the 27-year-old remains a strong attacking threat. Ayew, though, was unlucky to sustain a calf injury on the opening weekend of the season, forcing him to miss 10 weeks of the campaign, restricting him to just six league starts. Now with Ghana for the Africa Cup of Nations, supporters are hoping he can find some scoring form to take back to England to add to his solitary goal under Slaven Bilic. 

Ryan Mason – Hull (6.29) 

Marco Silva got off to a winning start in the Premier League with a 3-1 win over Bournemouth last weekend, which bodes well for the coming months. Hull may well occupy a relegation spot, but the Portuguese manager’s influence certainly benefitted the team. Hull need all the help they can get to stave off the drop considering their paper thin squad, which was made all the slimmer by the sale of Jake Livermore on Friday. It only increases the pressure on summer arrival and club-record signing Ryan Mason, who at long last lived up to his billing against the Cherries. A WhoScored rating of 7.15 was his best in a Hull shirt following his arrival from Tottenham, but for the fee paid, the team would expect much better than an average of 6.29 in England’s top tier this term. 

Jordon Ibe – Bournemouth (6.49) 

“I still feel there’s a lot of potential in there, but obviously he’s got to fulfil that when he gets chances,” Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe said of Jordon Ibe earlier this month and it’s fair to say the young wing wizard has failed to live up to his price tag following his big money switch to the Vitality Stadium. Indeed, the 21-year-old is yet to contribute to a goal on the back of his arrival and has since lost his place in the XI having failed to start a league game since the 2-1 loss to Sunderland in early November. That being said, he’s still an effective performer when he gets the ball at his feet, with 3.5 successful dribbles per 90 better than any other Bournemouth player to register more than five Premier League appearance this season, to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘dribbling’.  

Didier Ndong – Sunderland (6.53) 

It’s not often that teams break their club-record fee to sign a holding midfielder, but Sunderland did just that to bring Didier Ndong to the Stadium of Light. Currently on international duty with Africa Cup of Nations hosts Gabon, it’s fair to say the Black Cats are missing his combative approach in the middle of the park with the 22-year-old averaging the third most tackles per game (1.9) of all Sunderland players, while their four Premier League wins this season have all come with Ndong in the starting XI. There remains room for improvement for the youngster, who has slowly adapted to the English top-flight, with a modest WhoScored rating of 6.53. 

Jeff Hendrick – Burnley (6.56) 

Jeff Hendrick may have struggled for a starting spot upon his arrival, but has since established himself as a first team regular under Sean Dyche. The Burnley boss strengthened sufficiently in the middle of the park over the summer, securing the services of Steven Defour and Hendrick, with the latter providing an injection of energy in the middle of the park. Very much a jack of all trades and a master of none though, 24-year-old Hendrick is averaging a modest 0.8 dribbles, 0.5 key passes, 1.2 shots and 1.4 interceptions per game to help return a WhoScored rating of 6.56. 

Nacer Chadli – West Brom (6.59) 

West Brom broke their transfer record fee for a second successive summer with the signing of Nacer Chadli and it looked like a match made in heaven for both parties early on. The Belgian scored four goals and registered a further two assists in his first four Premier League appearances, but has failed to contribute in front of goal since mid-October. A knee injury limited his impact somewhat, forced to miss a month of action, yet his form has tailed off upon his return to regular first team action. 

Isaac Success – Watford (6.62) 

Isaac Success has been unlucky with injuries following his arrival at Watford, so much so that seven of his eight Premier League appearances have come from the bench. Despite a lack of game time, however, the young Nigerian has put in a number of commendable cameo showings where required. 4.6 successful dribbles per 90 is better than any other Watford player to make more than one Premier League appearance this season. All Success needs is a consistent run of first team action to prove his worth, but a WhoScored rating of 6.62 is certainly notable given his lack of starts in England. 

Moussa Sissoko – Tottenham (6.62) 

Tottenham completed the club-record signing of Moussa Sissoko in the dying embers of the summer transfer window in a move that certainly raised eyebrows across England. The Frenchman enjoyed a fine Euro 2016 for France, but his consistency in the Premier League has routinely been called into question. A spell on the sidelines through suspension and Mauricio Pochettino publicly questioning his desire looks to have kicked Sissoko into gear a little. The 27-year-old has since performed commendably when called on – more often than not from the bench – but three assists in his last seven competitive showings for Tottenham suggests Pochettino is beginning to get the best out of the big money summer arrival. 

Islam Slimani – Leicester (6.83) 

Leicester thrice broke their club-record signing over the summer, with Islam Slimani usurping first Nampalys Mendy and then Ahmed Musa as the Foxes’ record capture. The Algerian, who is currently representing his country in the Africa Cup of Nations, has enjoyed a solid if unspectacular start having scored five goals and registered a further three assists in England’s top tier this term. Four of his five league goals have been headers, the third best return in the Premier League to reinforce a statistically calculated WhoScored strength of ‘headed attempts’. Leicester remain a much more potent attacking threat when Slimani starts, noted in that they have averaged 1.45 goals per game when he starts compared to just 0.8 in the games he does not, so his return to club duties can't come soon enough. 

Sofiane Boufal – Southampton (7.03) 

At the turn of 2016, Sofiane Boufal was a highly sought after player, with the winger on the radar of a number of Europe’s top teams. While the Moroccan, who is missing the Africa Cup of Nations through injury, has struggled to make an immediate impact for Southampton, again due to injury, the 23-year-old remains a tricky player to stop for any opponent, with an average of 3.9 successful dribbles per game the fourth best in the Premier League this season. Having signed crocked, it’s taken some time for Boufal to get up to speed for Saints, while his latest problem will have only hindered his settling in period. A fully fit and on fire Boufal, though, has the ability to take the Premier League by storm. 

Christian Benteke – Crystal Palace (7.33) 

It hasn’t been the easiest of starts for Sam Allardyce as Crystal Palace manager. Indeed, the 2-1 FA Cup replay win over Bolton was his first victory as Eagles boss and he will hope the win kickstarts a good run of form, starting with a must-win welcome of Everton at the weekend. Allardyce is lucky to be able to call on Christian Benteke in the final third but certainly hasn't seen the best of the Belgian, with the former England manager a keen admirer of the striker. Palace have looked to play to the frontman’s strengths as an average of 9.3 aerial duels won per game – the most in the Premier League – suggests. With eight league goals to his name also, Benteke has gained a WhoScored rating of 7.33 for the Eagles. 

Paul Pogba – Manchester United (7.72) 

The world record transfer also tops this list. Paul Pogba may have endured a nightmare showing in Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the weekend, but the France star has been a fine performer in recent months as his WhoScored rating (7.72) highlights. He ranks top for accurate through balls (9) and second for accurate passes (1223) in the Premier League this season, while 2.7 successful dribbles, 1.9 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game are all commendable returns. His aforementioned rating ranks among the top five Premier League players so far as he routinely controls proceedings for United in the middle of the park.