Around this time last year, clubs in the Premier League were just getting started on their search for new signings that would propel them to the next level.
There were a lot of great deals made, and a significant number of players who made their debuts and helped make their teams, as well as the league, a better place. However, not all of them were able to find that one exceptional player.
The following, according to 90min, is a list of the best free-agent signings made by each team during the 2021/22 season.
1. Arsenal – Martin Odegaard
Fee: £30m
Appearances: 40
Stats: 7 goals, 5 assists
2. Aston Villa – Phillipe Coutinho
Fee: Loan, £17m purchase
Appearances: 19
Stats: 5 goals, 3 assists
3. Brentford – Kristoffer Ajer
Fee: £13.5m
Appearances: 28
Stats: 7 clean sheets
4. Brighton – Marc Cucurella
Fee: £15m
Appearances: 38
Stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, 10 clean sheets
5. Burnley – Maxwel Cornet
Fee: £12.85m
Appearances: 28
Stats: 9 goals, 2 assists
6. Chelsea – Saul Niguez
Fee: Loan
Appearances: 23
Stats: 1 goal
7. Crystal Palace – Marc Guehi
Fee: £18m
Appearances: 42
Stats: 11 clean sheets, 4 goals
8. Everton – Demarai Gray
Fee: £1.7m
Appearances: 39
Stats: 6 goals, 5 assists
9. Leeds United – Dan James
Fee: £25m
Appearances: 35
Stats: 4 goals, 5 assists
10. Leicester City – Ademola Lookman
Fee: Loan
Appearances: 42
Stats: 8 goals, 5 assists
11. Liverpool – Luis Diaz
Fee: £37m
Appearances: 26
Stats: 6 goals, 5 assists
12. Manchester City – Jack Grealish
Fee: £100m
Appearances: 39
Stats: 6 goals, 4 assists
13. Manchester United – Cristiano Ronaldo
Fee: £13m
Appearances: 38
Stats: 24 goals, 3 assists
14. Newcastle United – Bruno Guimaraes
Fee: £40m
Appearances: 15
Stats: 5 goals, 1 assist
15. Norwich – Milot Rashica
Fee: £9.4m
Appearances: 35
Stats: 2 goals, 2 assists
16. Southampton – Tino Livramento
Fee: £5m
Appearances: 32
Stats: 1 goal, 2 assists, 8 clean sheets
17. Tottenham – Dejan Kulusevski
Fee: Loan with £30m obligation
Appearances: 20
Stats: 5 goals, 8 assists
18. Watford – Emmanuel Dennis
Fee: £3m
Appearances: 35
Stats: 10 goals, 6 assists
19. West Ham – Kurt Zouma
Fee: £29.8,
Appearances: 32
Stats: 1 goal, 1 assist, 7 clean sheets
20. Wolves – Jose Sa
Fee: £6.8m
Appearances: 37
Stats: 11 clean sheets