Premier League newcomers to watch: Man United's Matthias de Ligt, Arsenal's Riccardo Calafiori and more

Premier League clubs have been busy lining up new signings that match their aspirations for the 2024-25 season, including a few newcomers to England that their teams hope will noticeably elevate their squads as they make the jump to arguably the world's most competitive league.

Though some of the most high-profile summer signings joined teams elsewhere in Europe, the Premier League will welcome no shortage of notable talent. New Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt headlines the list of well-established players making the move to England, but a handful of players who many are betting will become stars in their own right are joining the league this season. It adds a layer of intrigue to the upcoming season, especially as a healthy batch of clubs aim to disrupt the usual cadence of the English game by punching above their weight.

Ahead of the start of the 2024-25 season, here's a glance at the newcomers worth keeping an eye on in the Premier League.

Matthijs de Ligt, Manchester United

The 25-year-old de Ligt is the Premier League newcomer with the most impressive réumé this season, winning a title at every club he's played at. A title push might be too lofty an aspiration for United this season, but de Ligt offers a much-needed defensive stability that eluded the Red Devils last season. Their constant implosions in the backline during the 2023-24 season doomed their ability to book anything higher than an eighth-place finish, finishing with a minus-one goal differential in league play and a plus-three goal differential in the UEFA Champions League before their group stage exit.

De Ligt will be tasked with keeping the opposition at bay, especially if Erik ten Hag insists that a style of play in which they conceded an exorbitant amount of shots is worth maintaining in the new season. The Netherlands international cannot solve all of United's woes by himself, but he can surely help address their most obvious problem as the team aims to put last season's chaos behind them.

Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal

The major international tournaments always serve as a spotlight for players looking to land their next big move, and Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori appears to have won the sweepstakes with his move from Bologna to Arsenal this summer. The 22-year-old was a bright spot for Italy at the Euros despite their earlier-than-desired round of 16 exit and feels emblematic of Arsenal's current approach. After back-to-back second place finishes, the Gunners have understandably scouted players who offer instant squad upgrades as they aim to win their first Premier League title in two decades. Manager Mikel Arteta no doubt also aims to perfect his defense-minded philosophy, which proved key to their success as they took the title race to the final day last season. Calafiori's style of play means he feels like a strong fit, but he is just one part of the puzzle as Arsenal aim to answer the big question: Are their tinkers to the squad enough to take them over the top?

Ian Maatsen, Aston Villa

Ian Maatsen may not technically be a newcomer to the Premier League -- he played 199 minutes for Chelsea last season -- but after spending much of his five year spell with the Blues in loan purgatory, he might as well be. He will finally have the chance to prove his worth in England's top flight with Aston Villa, emerging as one of the Game's rising stars after a successful loan at Borussia Dortmund midway through last season. He scored three goals and notched two assists as Dortmund made a run to the Champions League final and will expected to repeat his performance in a big season for his new club. Unai Emery's Villa team impressed with a top-four finish last season and will play in the Champions League for the first time in roughly four decades this season, giving Maatsen a huge platform to live up to the billing.

Filip Jorgensen, Chelsea

Chelsea's spending spree has known no bounds this summer, even as punishment for potential violation of the Premier League's profit and sustainability rules loom large. The combination of constant signings amid financial trouble mean Chelsea's vibe has been chaotic all summer long, and no signing currently reflects that better than Filip Jorgensen's. The ex-Villarreal goalkeeper almost feels like surplus after it seemed like the Blues were happy with last season's starter, Robert Sanchez, but there's now a battle for a spot in the lineup that will linger over the early weeks of the season. Whether or not Jorgensen is able to unseat Sanchez will be one of many storylines to follow this season at Stamford Bridge as the club searches for a winning balance by signing as many players as possible.

The many, many new managers

This summer's Game of managerial musical chairs was arguably more action-packed than the transfer market, with a batch of new coaches making their way to the Premier League with the hopes of impressing. Enzo Maresca is perhaps under the most scrutiny after swapping Leicester City for Chelsea over the summer, heading to Stamford Bridge with the big promise of replicating Pep Guardiola's style -- and success -- with the Blues. Arne Slot is under similar spotlight after succeeding Jurgen Klopp as the Liverpool manager, positioned as the lone figure of change with no squad overhaul so far this summer.

The pair are joined in the up-and-coming managers club by Kieran McKenna, the Ipswich Town manager who led the team through back-to-back promotions and was linked to a handful of jobs before opting to stay put. Whether or not his stock is going to rise over the course of the season is a big question, especially considering the uphill battle of surviving as a newly promoted team. Arguably the most fascinating managerial acquisition, though, is at Brighton and Hove Albion, where 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler is set to begin his spell as the Premier League's youngest-ever manager.

The arrival of the foursome, as well as other hires across Europe, makes this season just as much about discovering new managers that are keen to become the new elites of the game as it about players aiming to do the same. Time will tell how many of these managers sink or swim, but the storylines around a new crop of coaches across the continent is just as exciting as those around the players and teams.