Signings and outgoings: AFC Bournemouth’s 2024-25 transfer review so far
The Cherries have made five signings in this summer window, totalling a spend of £57m.
After a busy first summer of signings for owner Bill Foley and a record points total in the Premier League for Andoni Iraola‘s side in 2023-24, AFC Bournemouth have had a somewhat slow window so far.
Bill Foley promised a ‘very busy’ window and also said that Cherries fans should be ‘very interested in some of the players we bring in.’
Since then, the club have added three new players to the squad, alongside the permanent signings of two of last season’s loan players.
However, as the Premier League draws closer, the noise for 19-goal season scorer Dominic Solanke‘s future seems to be becoming louder, while the future of defensive starlet Illia Zabarnyi has been tied down.
In a busy two transfer windows last season, the Cherries signed 11 players including the additions of Luis Sinisterra and Enes Ünal on loan.
Sinisterra joined on deadline day of the summer window after an impressive previous season at Leeds United.
The wideman recorded four goals and three assists in 27 appearances in his first campaign wearing red and black.
Sinisterra averaged 0.52 goal involvements, 6.37 dribbles and 2.47 key passes per 90 minutes, placing him above 90% of players in the Premier League last season.
This form was enough to extend the Colombian’s stay on the south coast for the long term as the 25-year-old this summer completed a £20m move to the club.
Additionally, Bournemouth decided to add to their attacking ranks in January by adding a back-up striker and partner for Solanke.
It was deadline day movement for the Cherries once again, with Getafe striker Ünal the subject of interest.
A deal was struck as the Turkish international joined Iraola’s side on loan for the rest of the season, with a mandatory fee also agreed in the deal depending on the striker’s performance.
Ünal ended up making 16 Premier League appearances for Bournemouth, scoring two goals while also assisting twice.
Similarly to Sinisterra, the form of the 27-year-old was enough to secure a permanent move as the Cherries confirmed the signing of Ünal in a €16.50m deal.
Despite being a somewhat slow-starting window when looking at big additions to the first-team squad, Bournemouth have made several shrewd and smart signings for the future.
The Cherries‘ first signing of the summer was young goalkeeper Alex Paulsen, who joined the club for a fee of €1m plus add-ons from A-League side Wellington Phoenix.
Paulsen, who also had reported interest from Liverpool and Chelsea, had a fantastic breakthrough season in the A-League.
The Kiwi keeper made 29 appearances and was named the league’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Footballer of the Year, and the Fans’ Player of the Year.
The 21-year-old was also named as an All-Star after claiming 12 clean sheets to his name, as well as saving three out of the five penalties that he had faced and a save percentage of 81%.
On paper, the signing of Paulsen seems to be a real coup for the club of a very talented young player who could be involved with the first team shortly.
