Premier League: Debutants that impressed

• The Premier League saw a handful of debutants put on strong debut performances on the first weekend of games.
• We have looked into newcomers who made an impact as the 2023–24 Premier League season got began.
• Here are the debutants that impressed in the first game week.

On the first weekend of games, a handful of debutants put on strong debut performances, giving Premier League fans their first looks at new acquisitions.

We have looked into newcomers who made an impact as the 2023–24 Premier League season got began, from goalscoring debuts to displays of shot-stopping ability and more.

Here are the debutants that impressed in the first game week.

Sandro Tonali

Sandro Tonali scored against Aston Villa. Photo/talkSPORT

With a crushing victory over Aston Villa at St. James’ Park, Newcastle’s new season got off to the best possible start. Newcastle won 5-1 in a one-sided match that was advertised as a match between two clubs looking to shock the entrenched elite.

Sandro Tonali, making his debut, scored the game’s first goal for Eddie Howe’s team within six minutes after coming to meet Anthony Gordon’s cross and score.

Tonali made an early impact on his Magpies debut after joining from AC Milan for an estimated £55 million earlier this summer.

Tonali, who was composed while in possession and had plenty of energy, frequently blew past defenders to create issues in the final third. The 23-year-old immediately strikes us as a wonderful match for this team since his skills seem to be designed for the demands Howe makes on his midfield. The Newcastle supporters welcomed their Italian import right away, and they have been singing his praises ever since.

After marking his debut performance with a trip to a North East Wetherspoons, he is certain to have climbed even more in their opinions.

Andre Onana

Andre Onana.Photo/The Athletic

Erik ten Hag ought to be concerned about his team’s flimsy defense after their opening-weekend performance, but Andre Onana‘s excellent showing enabled Manchester United escape with a victory over Wolves.

Ten Hag was eager to reunite with the keeper he had previously worked with at Ajax, and the Cameroonian international joined in a £47.2 million transfer from Inter Milan over the summer.

Onana, who is just the sixth African goalkeeper in Premier League history, made six stops, five of which came from close range, to deny Wolves from scoring at Old Trafford.

The 27-year-old was lucky to avoid conceding a penalty after colliding with two Wolves players in the penalty area in stoppage time, ensuring that his debut resulted in a clean sheet and three points for his new team.

Nicolas Jackson

Nicolas Jackson is the second signing Mauricio Pochettino has made since he took charge at the end of the 2022-23 season. Photo/ Chelsea Football Club.

There were many reasons to be optimistic after Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool to start the season. The west Londoners were unfortunate not to win the game.

Nicolas Jackson, a summer transfer from Villarreal who made his Chelsea debut as the line leader, followed up an impressive preseason with a superb performance at Stamford Bridge.

The 21-year-old’s power and mobility caused problems for the Liverpool defense, and on one rushing surge in the second half, Jackson headed directly towards goal and forced Alisson to make a fantastic stop.

Jackson is still developing, and he missed a terrific opportunity while well-positioned, but there is enough in his overall game to be hopeful. He seems to have the character and presence that Chelsea has been missing in the last third for a while, and, more importantly, he should continue to improve.

Simon Adingra

Simon Adingra appears to be the most recent potential talent to be discovered by Brighton.

The Ivorian winger made an impression while on loan at Union Saint-Gilloise in Belgium this past season, and after a successful preseason, Roberto De Zerbi has included him in his plans for the next campaign.

On the first weekend, Adingra made his Premier League debut off the bench and scored to open his Albion account. He did this by taking advantage of a defensive blunder by Luton’s Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu.

In just 26 league starts in Belgium’s Pro League last season, the 21-year-old recorded 20 goals and assists. Brighton will be hoping that Adingra can develop into a consistent goal threat as he adjusts to the Premier League’s standards.