Premier League Signing of the Summer Named by Man United Legend – but it’s a City Player

Manchester United legend Paul Scholes has named his Premier League Signing of the Summer – and it is NOT one of the five players bought by his former club.

United splashed out £232.4 million on Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens during the summer window, while the overall transfer spend by all Premier League clubs combined hit £3.2 BILLION.

However, it was a player United tried and failed to land who Scholes believes was the pick of the summer deals.

Paul Scholes names his Premier League Signing of the Summer

Scholes believes that Manchester City made the Signing of the Summer when they bought Italian goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma from Paris Saint-Germain for £26m.

Donnarumma, already capped 74 times by Italy despite being just 26, helped PSG win the UEFA Champions League last season. That was his 10th trophy in four years with the Paris giants.

He has also previously won the Yashin Trophy, which is given to the world’s best goalkeeper at the Ballon d’Or awards, back in 2021.

News that Donnarumma was up for sale at PSG this summer came as a shock to many. It also firmly gained the attention of both Manchester clubs.

United fancied him as a replacement for Andre Onana after the Cameroonian had fallen out of favour under Ruben Amorim.

However, City won this particular transfer battle, with United instead signing Senne Lammens, who chose Old Trafford despite the best efforts of Aston Villa.

Speaking less than two days after the transfer window shut, Scholes wrote on Instagram: “Donnarumma for £26m surely has to be signing of the window… obviously apart from the 14 Salford City have signed.”

The second half of that message was clearly a joke. Scholes is no longer a part-owner at Salford, but he — along with former United teammates Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville — is still involved in the running of the club.

Scholes impressed by Gianluigi Donnarumma

Scholes has also spoken highly of Donnarumma in the past.

Speaking earlier this summer when United were still thought to be in with a chance of signing the Italian, Scholes said of Donnarumma: “I love the keeper, I think he’s brilliant and I’d have him at United tomorrow, today, whenever.

“For £40m (how much PSG were said to be hoping for at the time), he’s unbelievable.”

However, Scholes also pointed out one area in which Donnarumma is not overly strong. Scholes questioned whether Donnarumma was good enough with his feet to suit the style of play demanded by City boss Pep Guardiola.

“For Pep, you’ve got to almost be able to play in central midfield as a goalkeeper,” Scholes quipped.

“I think that’s the reason [Luis] Enrique is getting rid of him at PSG, because he’s not great with his feet. I just don’t see him as a City goalkeeper.”

While Donnarumma won Scholes’ vote as the best signing from the summer window, the Italian was far from the most expensive transfer in the Premier League.

Liverpool bought Alexander Isak from Newcastle on deadline day for a British record fee of £125m.

The reigning champions also splashed out in excess of £100m on Florian Wirtz.

Top 10 most expensive Premier League signings of summer 2025

1. Alexander Isak (Newcastle United to Liverpool) – £125m
2. Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool) – £100m rising to £116m
3. Hugo Ekitike (Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool) – £69m rising to £79m with add-ons
4. Benjamin Sesko (RB Leipzig to Manchester United) – £66.2m rising to £73.4m with add-ons
5. Bryan Mbeumo (Brentford to Manchester United) – £65m rising to £71m with add-ons
6. Victor Osimhen (Napoli to Galatasaray) – £64.8m
7. Nick Woltemade (Stuttgart to Newcastle United) – £64.7m rising to £69m with add-ons
8. Matheus Cunha (Wolves to Manchester United) – £62.5m
9. Luis Diaz (Liverpool to Bayern Munich) – £60.5m rising to £64.8m with add-ons
10. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace to Arsenal) – £60m rising to £67.5m with add-ons