Agents Survey: Donnarumma is the best deal of Summer, while Sesko is the worst

Recently, The Athletic released its 2025 Agent Survey, which analyzed this record-breaking summer transfer window. The survey invited 20 agents.

Over the past month or so, The Athletic asked 20 agents to answer a series of questions on the back of the summer’s transfer activity, predominantly looking at the Premier League. We wanted to know their thoughts on the best and worst deals, which Premier League clubs had the most to smile about after the window closed, and which three teams appear doomed to relegation.

So, which £52million winger has joined “completely the wrong club”? Who cost “peanuts” but has made City title contenders again? And why is the £63.4m that Arsenal paid Sporting CP for Viktor Gyokores the best deal of the summer 2025 transfer window… and also the worst?

Which was the best deal of the window?

“Donnarumma. I also thought about Jack Grealish. I know he’s a loan and you pay a lot for his wages, but you’re not paying a (transfer) fee for a player of that calibre who has obviously got the bit between his teeth. But I think Donnarumma really pushes City back in the title mix. He will save them points this season. So he’s the best signing, especially given what they paid for him.”

That answer captures the two most popular responses, with almost half the agents torn between Gianluigi Donnarumma, Manchester City’s new No 1, and a rejuvenated Grealish, who switched from City to Everton on a season-long loan and already has four assists and a goal to his name.

“Everton have signed a player who they’ve got no right to sign in normal circumstances, and I’d suggest that has given them the room to do Tyler Dibling (signed for an initial £35million from Southampton) as well. I think it’s a clever deal for that reason,” said another agent, explaining why he chose Grealish.

With Donnarumma, it was a combination of the Italian’s talent, his age (26 years old) and the fee (£25.9million) that led to him polling the most votes.

“So much money is spent on other positions, but I still think the goalkeeper is undervalued,” said one agent. “I think Donnarumma is one of the best goalkeepers in the world, if not the best. So to pick him up for peanuts, just because Paris Saint-Germain want to play in a different style, is very impressive.”

“He might not be the best with his feet,” added another agent, “but he’s the best shot-stopper in the world and that was probably what City needed.”

The only other player to poll more than one vote was Viktor Gyokeres, who was described by two agents as a striker who gives Arsenal “something they’ve been missing”.

Elsewhere, there were mentions for, among others, Eberechi Eze (“In this Arsenal team, he’ll be outstanding”), Xavi Simons (“A good season and he’ll be worth a fortune”), Joao Pedro (“Great value considering age his and what other forwards have gone for) and Alexander Isak (“He will transform Liverpool's attack for years and help to replace Mohamed Salah”).

Which was the worst deal of the window?

The fact that Donnarumma came top for the previous question is directly linked to some of the responses here.

James Trafford, who rejoined City in July after two seasons with Burnley to replace Ederson but was relegated to second-choice in the wake of Donnarumma’s deadline-day arrival, was cited by three agents as the worst deal of the window.

“I just feel it was the wrong move," said one. "Trafford would have played every week for Burnley, or he could have gone to Newcastle and played week in and week out there. Instead, he’s now sitting on City’s bench, and he’s behind the best goalkeeper in the world.”

A bad deal for Trafford’s career was viewed as a bad one for City, too. “Spending £40million on a goalkeeper to replace him weeks later?” questioned another agent.

Ultimately, though, it was Benjamin Sesko’s £73.6million (with add-ons) move to Manchester United from RB Leipzig that drew the most criticism. “Way too much money and much too soon,” said an agent.

“They were pressurised into making that signing,” claimed another.

“A lot of money for not much of a pedigree,” was the view of a third.

Other deals flagged included Jamie Gittens from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea (“Completely the wrong club for him”), Dango Ouattara from Bournemouth to Brentford (“Stinks of desperation to pay £42million for someone who doesn’t begin to fill the gaps left by the players they’ve sold”), Wissa from Brentford to Newcastle (“A lot of money for a 29-year-old who was way down the preference list”), and that man who seems to be footballing Marmite, Gyokeres (“The Premier League is about pace and sharpness, and I’m not sure he’s that”).

Isak's £125million transfer to Anfield also came under the microscope. “Because of what Liverpool paid for him, but also in terms of the culture of the football club,” said an agent. “Eddie Howe, the Newcastle manager, is a good human being and handled that with as much dignity as he could. For me, (the way Isak behaved) goes away from Liverpool's core principles — it's always been about the club, not an individual, at Liverpool.”