From Keane to Haaland: The greatest signings made by reigning Premier League champions

Teams are often told to strengthen from a position of strength, but who are the best-ever signings made by reigning Premier League champions?

Arsenal have made a statement this summer withthe signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United. After ending the club's 22-year wait for a league crown in 2026, the North Londoners have landed one of the Premier League's best box-to-box midfielders.

Following the high-profile purchase of Guimaraes, we looked back at some of the best Premier League signings made by reigning champions.

Roy Keane - Manchester United (1993)

Manchester United ended a 26-year wait for a top-flight league title after winning the inaugural Premier League title in 1992/93. Sir Alex Ferguson made only one addition to his title-winning team that summer, breaking the British transfer record to sign Roy Keane from relegated Nottingham Forest.

The Irishman proved worth every penny, becoming one of the most influential captains and footballers of the Premier League era. Across 12 years at Old Trafford, Keane won seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups, and the Champions League.

Ruud van Nistelrooy - Manchester United (2001)

Manchester United celebrated winning a third consecutive Premier League title in 2001 by breaking the British transfer record twice in the same summer.

The first of those deals sawRuud van Nistelrooy arrive from PSV Eindhoven, a year after a serious knee injury prevented a transfer to Old Trafford.

Van Nistelrooy was named PFA Player of the Year in his debut season after scoring 36 goals in 49 games across all competitions. His five-season spell saw the Dutchman net 150 goals in just 219 appearances for United, winning the Premier League, FA Cup and League Cup.

Fellow record recruit Juan Sebastien Veron did not have quite the same impact...

Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United (2003)

Manchester United wasted no time in signing their twinkle-toed tormentor, after Sporting Lisbon teenagerCristiano Ronaldo ran riot in a 2003 pre-season friendly between the teams.

The champions agreed a £12m deal to sign the winger after his devastating display, the start of an ascent for Ronaldo that would see him become one of the all-time greats.

"The first game that I played against Manchester United was an unbelievable game. It was the perfect night, the perfect night,"Ronaldo reflected in 2016.

"After the game some of my team-mates said: 'Listen, you're going to go to Manchester, trust me!'

"Sir Alex Ferguson was there, and [they said] he wants to speak with you. I go to the dressing room, he introduced me to the players For me, I was a little bit shy. And Sir Alex Ferguson said to me: 'Listen, I want you now.'

"Everything came so fast, and two days after I speak to the coach and they take me to England, and I was in Manchester, and I signed."

Ronaldo spent six seasons in the Premier League, scoring 118 goals in 298 games. He was named PFA Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008, with the latter year earning Ronaldo his first Ballon d'Or, after a 42-goal campaign for the Premier League and Champions League winners.

Ronaldo departed for Real Madrid in 2009 for a world-record £80m, concluding one of the besttransfers of the Premier League era.

Ashley Cole - Chelsea (2006)

Chelsea challenged Arsenal for the status of London's biggest club following Roman Abramovich's takeover of the club in the early noughties. Successive Premier League titles for the Blues were followed by a raid on the Gunners to sign Ashley Cole in 2006.

A deal was struck on transfer deadline day that saw Cole head to Stamford Bridge for £5m plus William Gallas. Eight seasons at Chelsea saw Cole win eight major honours and cement his status as, arguably, the best left-back of the Premier League era.

Erling Haaland - Manchester City (2022)

Manchester City secured the hottest property in European football after signing Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund.

The Norwegian signed on the dotted line and immediately took the Premier League champions to another level. Haaland's first season saw him score a Premier League record 36 goals, and 52 across all competitions as the Cityzens won a league, FA Cup, and Champions League treble.

He's hardly stopped scoring since, with 162 goals in just 198 games for the club.