We take a look at five players who changed the early narrative around them this season with their performances.
Moving between clubs is not very easy, especially with the excitement and expectations that come with transfers.
Many fans expect a player to hit the ground running, a dream for both the player and the clubs. But this, obviously, is not usually the case as players may end up being flops for so many reasons.
Others manage to turn things around though and we will see a few who changed the early narrative around them this season.
1. Darwin Nunez
Darwin Nunez moved to Liverpool from Benfica for €85 million pounds, coinciding with Haaland’s move to Manchester City. Naturally, with both clubs being rivals, comparisons started being made.
Haaland kept barging through Premier League records, while Nunez was the butt of the jokes of Internet trolls.
Nunez has changed the narrative this season, netting 17 goal and recording 12 assists in all competitions.
Opta data named as the best strikers in the EPL this season whereas Haaland didn’t make the top 5.
2. Hojlund
Hojlund arrived from Atalanta to Manchester United in a €74 million deal. Many still consider it a huge outlay for a 20 year old who didn’t really do so much in Italy.
Being compared to Haaland didn’t help matters, especially because of the name and similar playing styles.
Hojlund failed to score in his first 14 games for Manchester United in the Premier League. The signs where there that he would be something special and so it turned out to be. He now has 7 premier league goals and has premier league defenders being more wary of his presence. Future star this one.
3. Kai Havertz
Many were left scratching their heads when Arsenal announced the £65 million deal to sign Harvetz from Chelsea.
He was labelled flop of the season after his first month in an Arsenal shirt and the critics where not far from the truth. His early season form was terrible if you’re trying to be nice. Fast forward a few months and he has already scored some very important goals for Arsenal. His intelligence has been key to how Arsenal dismantled opponents since the turn of 2024.
5 goal contributions in his last 5 games in the Premier League have temporarily snapped a muzzle on his gnarling critics.
4. Richarlison
The Brazilian is a player who knows how good he is and sometimes can be arrogant about it. His €60 million move to Tottenham to join Kane and Son sent shivers through the spine of many. Well, that’s where it all ended as he quickly became a Premier League meme. His showboating and failure to score a legitimate goal made him a premier league laughing stock.
It’s all changed this season though. He has recorded 14 goal contributions already this season compared to 6 in the last. That shiver in the spine of opposing fans when he moved to Tottenham is beginning to reappear.
5. Cole Palmer
Cole Palmer’s move from Manchester City to Chelsea flew under the radar of most. Even among the Chelsea fan base, it didn’t generate much excitement. It was just another one of the club’s many young signing and a Pep Guardiola reject.
Fast forward a few months and he already is their player of the season with 14 goals and 12 assists in all competitions.
