29 Jul, 2025
Out Of Context Football Manager brings you his best summer transfer windows so far. But not the obvious ones, we can all say Liverpool have had the best window. We take a look at some more under the radar windows that have been quietly excellent across England. Let’s see who made the cut…
The summer transfer window is the most exciting time of year for football fans. New signings, fresh hope, and that glorious dopamine hit when Fabrizio Romano drops a HERE WE GO for your club. But let’s be honest… not every window is created equal. Some clubs have just quietly smashed it.
I’ve gone through the deals so far and picked out the clubs who’ve done the best business, not just the obvious ones like Liverpool, who’ve chucked £300 million at their squad. This is about the smart operators. The under-the-radar success stories (there are a couple of exceptions).
The Hornets have gone about their business sensibly and effectively this summer under new boss Paulo Pezzolano (arguably the most Watford-sounding name in existence). The big headline is the arrival of Nestory Irankunda, the explosive Aussie winger from Adelaide United. He cost just under £4 million and is already being talked about as a future star. Electric pace, bags of flair, and already a senior international at just 18. But it’s not just about him. Hector Kyprianou was wanted by a bunch of Championship clubs after impressing for Peterborough, and getting him in early was smart. Then there’s the reactivation of the Pozzo Pipeline™. Vivaldo Semedo and Luca Kjerrumgaard have arrived from Udinese. It’s the first time in a while Watford fans have been genuinely optimistic going into a season. And for good reason.
Alright, this one hasn’t exactly flown under the radar, but it still needs talking about. Sunderland are on the verge of signing Granit Xhaka, which is absolutely mental for a newly promoted side. 300+ games at Arsenal and Leverkusen, a Europa League final captain, and now… possibly at the Stadium of Light. Even beyond that, Habib Diarra is a fantastic addition and looks like a natural replacement for Jobe Bellingham. Reinildo from Atletico Madrid and Simon Adingra from Brighton add pace and quality out wide. The only concern is age, the players they’ve brought in to help them survive have generally been pretty young e.g. Diarra and Sadiki. But before the window, I thought Sunderland would struggle badly. Now? They’ve got half a chance of survival, and worst case, they’ll be fun to watch.Birmingham CityAnother one that doesn’t quite fit the “under the radar” category but they haven’t spent mega money, and they’ve been brilliant. Kyogo Furuhashi is the headline act. He scored 27 goals in 36 games for Celtic last season and arrives with pedigree and movement that’ll terrify defenders. They’ve also brought in Tommy Doyle on loan from Wolves, Kanya Fujimoto from Gil Vicente, and Bright Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbahçe. That’s a brilliant bunch of players for competing at the top end of the Championship. And yes… I love the Japanese core they’re building.
Back in the Championship via the play-offs, Charlton have wasted no time getting deals done and they’ve focused on experience. Survival might still be a tough ask, but they’ve made it realistic. They’ve raided Luton for three seasoned players: Thomas Kaminski, Amari’i Bell and Reece Burke all arrive from a side that was in the Premier League just a year or two ago. That’s huge.They’ve also spent £3.5 million on League One’s golden boot winner, Charlie Kelman. Now that’s a statement transfer for a team that wants to survive. Let’s hope that League One goalscoring form translates to the Championship.
Didn’t think I’d be including Wrexham in a list of clubs going under the radar… but here we are. Despite the fanfare and documentary cameras, they finished well behind Birmingham in League One last season and needed to bulk up to make a dent in the Championship. And to be fair, they’ve gone about it smartly. Danny Ward, Ryan Hardie and Josh Windass have all come in for a combined £714k. That’s tidy business. Windass in particular feels like a steal, 13 goals and 5 assists in a team that went down last season. There’s clearly more money to spend, but they’ve started by adding reliable Championship experience. For a club with one of the biggest spotlights on them, they’re keeping things refreshingly grounded.
MK Dons have quietly pulled together a window that wouldn’t look out of place in League One and that’s kind of the point. They’ve signed Callum Paterson from Sheffield Wednesday and Nathaniel Mendez-Laing from Derby, both proper Championship-level players. If you’re bringing in lads from two divisions above, it’s a serious signal of intent. Then they added Aaron Collins, who scored 12 goals in League One last season. You’d fancy him to score even more now he’s dropped down. And with Paul Warne in the dugout, a man with a ridiculous promotion record, it’s hard to see them not being in the mix. It’s one of the strongest windows in League Two by a mile.
Steve Bruce is still managing. And what’s more… he’s building something solid. Blackpool were a bit chaotic last season. They scored goals, but also leaked a ridiculous 60 at the other end. So Brucey’s gone straight for the defence. They’ve picked up Fraser Horsfall (Stockport) and Michael Ihiekwe (Sheffield Wednesday). Both big, experienced defenders who know how to organise a backline. Fixing the defence is exactly what Blackpool needed. If they can fix the back, they’ll be right up there.
Another one that doesn’t quite fit the “under the radar” category but they haven’t spent mega money, and they’ve been brilliant. Kyogo Furuhashi is the headline act. He scored 27 goals in 36 games for Celtic last season and arrives with pedigree and movement that’ll terrify defenders. They’ve also brought in Tommy Doyle on loan from Wolves, Kanya Fujimoto from Gil Vicente, and Bright Osayi-Samuel from Fenerbahçe. That’s a brilliant bunch of players for competing at the top end of the Championship. And yes… I love the Japanese core they’re building.
Any clubs you think I’ve missed? Who’s had the smartest window? And what’s been your team’s best bit of business so far? Let me know in the comments.
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