Butterfly effect in the transfer market: Manchester United s signing of £62.5 million has boosted the Premier League s value

On June 2, 2025, when Manchester United announced the activation of Mattus Cunha's termination clause for £62.5 million, it looked just a deal aimed at improving the team's strength. However, this first fallen domino accidentally set an expensive tone for the Premier League forward market throughout the summer. The establishment of the benchmark

This deal by Manchester United quickly set a clear price benchmark for the Premier League's quasi-first-class strikers. In the next two months, a series of heavy trades were completed within this price range:

João Pedro → Chelsea (55 million pounds)

Mohamed Kudus → Tottenham (55 million pounds)

Anthony Ellanga → Newcastle (52 million pounds)

Noni Maduèk → Arsenal (48 million pounds)

When the parties at the negotiating table argue over millions of pounds, the simplest reference is similar transactions that have been completed in the market. And the Cunya deal became the reference system for all negotiations.

Brentford's conspiracy is fully reflected in Manchester United's own trade to introduce Brian Mbemo.

During the long negotiations, Brentford explicitly took Cunya as the benchmark, insisting that their Mbemo was more valuable. Although Mbemo's contract length is more favorable to Manchester United, the Bees' stance is extremely tough. In the end, Manchester United was forced to pay a total price of up to £71 million. It can be said that it was Manchester United who raised the price for itself.

The public voice of the Lisbon Chairman, Sporting Lisbon, has made more blunt use of this market rule. He publicly stated in June:

"I saw Cunya and Mbemo in the Premier League. In my opinion, they were not as good as Victor. Their transfer fee was about 75 million euros. So, I believe Victor can sell a lot of money." In the end, Arsenal signed Giokeres for a total price of about 63.7 million pounds, and the price was almost exactly the same as Cunya.

Liverpool's entry

When the market runs under the Cunya benchmark, Liverpool's entry once again broke through the ceiling. They signed Wilz for over 100 million pounds, establishing a huge net worth. Then he signed Ekitic for a price of up to 79 million British Poker, setting a new and higher benchmark for top potential new stars.

And this new benchmark will become the reference for Chelsea's next asking price for Nicholas Jackson and Leipzig of Sesco. The valuation in the football transfer market has always been complex and vague. But in the summer of 2025, this price chain that starts from Cunia, passes through Mbemo, Giokeres, and then to Ekitic seems extremely clear. And the source of all this began with Manchester United's eager signing in early June.