REVEALED: Arsenal flop among best rated new signings across Europe’s top leagues

The first international break of the season provides us with the ideal opportunity to take stock of the season so far and how all the summer signings have settled into their new teams. Based on players to have made at least three starts in one of Europe’s top five leagues this season, here is the best rated XI comprised of summer signings alone, whether on loan or permanent.

Goalkeeper: Zack Steffen (Fortuna Dusseldorf) - 7.41 rating

Zack Steffen has been immense for Bundesliga side Fortuna Dusseldorf since joining on a season-long loan deal from Premier League champions Manchester City. In fact, no goalkeeper has made more saves than Steffen (19) in Europe’s top five leagues this season, despite the fact the Premier League has played an extra game than the Bundesliga. Steffen also earned the WhoScored Man of the Match award on his debut for Fortuna Dusseldorf, a 3-1 win away to Werder Bremen.

Right-back: Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich) - 7.59 rating

Benjamin Pavard has made a seamless transition into the Bayern Munich first-team following his summer arrival from Stuttgart. The 2018 World Cup winner has slotted in at right-back and allowed Bayern to push Joshua Kimmich into central midfield, as he does for the German national team. Pavard turned in his best performance for Bayern in their final match before the break, with a goal and an assist in a WhoScored Man of the Match display against Metz.

Centre-back: Harry Maguire (Manchester United) - 7.19 rating

Harry Maguire hasn’t had the same transformative effect on Manchester United’s defence as Virgil van Dijk did at Liverpool just yet but the 26-year-old has made a thoroughly encouraging start to life at Old Trafford. The Red Devils broke the world transfer record for a defender to sign Maguire and he shone on debut against Chelsea in a 4-0 win for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side. He carries a presence on the pitch and that will only benefit United going forward.

Centre-back: Tyrone Mings (Aston Villa) - 7.22 rating

Those outside of Aston Villa scoffed at the club’s decision to commit as much as £26.5m into signing Tyrone Mings on a permanent deal but the 26-year-old has earned his first ever England call-up after just four Premier League matches for the club. Those connected with Villa knew the importance of getting Mings this summer after he played an integral part in their promotion push during a loan spell last term. Mings is the sixth highest WhoScored rated centre-back in the Premier League this season

Left-back: Sergio Reguilon (Sevilla) - 7.38 rating

Real Madrid’s loss is certainly Sevilla’s gain this season after signing Sergio Reguilon on loan for the campaign. Reguilon enjoyed a dream debut for the Spanish side with a goal and an assist in a WhoScored Man of the Match display against Espanyol. The 22-year-old hasn’t necessarily been tested defensively but going forward he has been a hub of creativity, both completing 1.7 shots and key pass per game, as well as 2 dribbles per game.

Right wing: Zinedine Ferhat (Nimes) - 7.60 rating

It was going to take a monumental effort for Nimes for replace Teji Savanier over the summer and few may have expected his beckon of creativity to come from free signing Zinedine Ferhat. Signed from Le Havre, the 26-year-old has played a direct hand in three goals in the first four matches of the summer (one goal, two assists). Despite playing on the wing, the 26-year-old has impressively won 15 of the 20 aerial duels he has contested in Ligue 1 this season.

Central midfield: Nabil Fekir (Real Betis) - 7.67 rating

Nabil Fekir’s decision to leave Lyon for Real Betis certainly raised eyebrows over the summer but it has certainly been fun so far this season. And the good times don’t look like ending any time soon. Fekir failed to score on his Betis debut but followed up with goals against Barcelona and Leganes. Furthermore, the 26-year-old has completed more dribbles than any other player in LaLiga this season (13) and has an impressive success rate of 76.5%.

Central midfield: Joan Jordan (Sevilla) - 7.62 rating

Joan Jordan was perhaps one of the unheralded stars of the 2018/19 LaLiga campaign but his performances for Eibar still transpired into a summer move to Sevilla and he has hit the ground running for his new team. Jordan ranks fourth for the most accurate passes in the opposition half in LaLiga this season (132), while only Toni Kroos (six) has created more goalscoring chances from set-pieces than the 25-year-old (five).

Left wing: Denis Suarez (Celta Vigo) - 7.61 rating

Denis Suarez was a huge disappointment on loan at Arsenal during the second half of last season after failing to overcome injury to make any impression in the Premier League. The 25-year-old worked on his fitness over the summer and has made a sublime start for the season back at former club Celta Vigo. Suarez has played a direct hand in two goals in three games (one goal, one assist), while ranking second for the most dribbles completed in LaLiga (11). 

Striker: Antoine Griezmann (Barcelona) - 7.68 rating

Antoine Griezmann’s move to Barcelona has been a year in the making and he has already shown the future is bright once Luis Suarez is eventually moved on. Griezmann struggled to make a real impact on his debut after being slung out wide but thrived in his second game when asked to play through in the middle in Suarez’s absence. The France international was the WhoScored Player of the Week in Europe’s top five leagues after playing a direct hand in three goals (two goals, one assist) in Barcelona’s 5-2 win over Real Betis.

Striker: Sebastien Haller (West Ham) - 7.96 rating

Missing out on Maxi Gomez proved a blessing in disguise for West Ham, as the Hammers instead made Sebastien Haller their club-record signing and the 25-year-old has been thoroughly impressive in his first three games. Haller has scored three times in as many appearances and has showed tremendous hold-up play for the likes of Felipe Anderson and Manuel Lanzini to thrive off. Furthermore, only two players are winning more aerial duels per Premier League game than Haller (5.7) this season.