The nine best new additions who will debut at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup

With the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup on the horizon, several teams have brought in fresh talent designed not just for long-term plans, but for immediate impact at the tournament in the United States.

The following nine signings and managerial appointments – all sealed since the end of the European season – are poised to influence the tournament from the opening match.

1. Tijjani Reijnders → Manchester City (£46.5m)

Tijjani Reijnders was Serie A’s Midfielder of the Year this past season and he arrives at Manchester City with genuine pedigree: 15 goals, five assists and an 87 per cent pass completion rate across 54 matches for AC Milan.

Pep Guardiola needed someone to reconstruct the midfield architecture after De Bruyne's departure. Reijnders brings a rare combination of technical intelligence and pressing endurance, able to dictate tempo and add goals from midfield.

His versatility means he can press high, shield the defence or make incisive late runs into the box. In City’s system, he could redefine how the team controls games.

2. Rayan Cherki → Manchester City (£36m)

French winger Rayan Cherki exploded in 2024-25 with 12 goals and 20 assists for Lyon, earning Ligue 1’s Best Dribbler accolade. The 21-year-old has been acquired for a relative bargain fee, too.

Having someone who can create chances in tight spaces is essential and Cherki’s arrival could be the creative spark City will lack after Kevin De Bruyne’s exit. His low centre of gravity and ability to take on defenders opens up new attacking dimensions, allowing City to exploit compact backlines.

3. Rayan Ait-Nouri → Manchester City (£36.3m)

Rayan Ait-Nouri was a solid Premier League performer for Wolves last season – 37 matches, four goals and seven assists. City have long needed a left-back who can defend and attack with equal aplomb and the Algeria international fits the bill.

Ait-Nouri’s athleticism, speed and crossing ability allow Guardiola flexibility on the left-hand side. He adds balance to the back four and his stamina and reliability make him a vital cog in a tournament where temperatures will be high and play will be intense.

4. Liam Delap → Chelsea (£30m)

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Liam Delap scored 12 Premier League goals with Ipswich, despite playing in a team who were ultimately relegated this past season. That form led to multiple suitors coveting his signature this summer, with Chelsea winning the battle to active the young striker’s £30 million release clause.

Chelsea’s strike force needed physicality and finishing edge. Delap brings both in abundance. His relationship with coach Enzo Maresca – his former youth coach at Manchester City – should make his integration seamless. He can hold up play, dominate aerially and occupy defenders, allowing pockets of space for support from midfield. In a tournament where finishing small chances matters, Delap could define Chelsea’s campaign.

5. Trent Alexander-Arnold → Real Madrid (Free transfer)

Trent Alexander-Arnold delivered 92 assists and 23 goals in 354 matches from right-back for Liverpool. Having exited his boyhood club as a free agent, Madrid paid a £10 million premium to get him on their books early so that he can debut at the Club World Cup.

Bringing in creative defenders in the world gives Madrid more tactical variety. Alexander-Arnold’s capacity to operate from deep or as an auxiliary midfield creator adds unpredictability to their build-up play. Plus, his crossing and vision directly threaten from set-piece scenarios, vital in a tournament where matches are often decided by fine margins. He fits the Xabi Alonso mould of an adaptable full-back who contributes significantly to attack.

6. Dean Huijsen → Real Madrid (£45 million)

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Young Dutch-born Spain international defender Dean Huijsen arrives at Madrid after a breakout Premier League campaign with Bournemouth and the pressure of a £45 million price tag.

Madrid needed defensive bolstering to support transitioning tactics under Alonso. Huijsen adds strength, technical quality and a physical presence at the back. At 20 years old, he’s raw but athletic and composed in possession – a defender who can handle duress. His long-term potential fits the club’s present and future planning.

7. Xabi Alonso → Real Madrid (Head Coach)

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Former Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso arrives fresh off a Bundesliga success with Bayer Leverkusen, replacing Carlo Ancelotti in the Madrid dugout in time for the Club World Cup.

Alonso brings precision, structure and tactical coherence. Early reports suggest the Spaniard may stray from the 3-4-3 set-up that helped him achieve Bundesliga glory with Leverkusen, instead opting for a 4-3-3 shape that will better suit Los Blancos’ star players. The Club World Cup offers him a stage to stamp his authority and begin imprinting his philosophy on the squad.

8. Jonathan Tah → Bayern Munich (Free Transfer)

Tah’s arrival on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen adds Bundesliga-experienced steel after injuries to Bayern’s central defenders. Vincent Kompany’s side needed leadership at the back for tournament resilience.

Tah’s physical presence and consistency fill a void left by injuries to Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae. His aerial presence offers defensive assurance and provides a set-piece weapon.

9. Simone Inzaghi → Al-Hilal (Head Coach)

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An experienced tactician with Serie A and Coppa Italia titles now entering his first Club World Cup, the capture of Simone Inzaghi from Champions League runners-up and fellow CWC participants Inter was a huge coup for Al-Hilal.

Inzaghi commands respect and carries tactical ingenuity into Al-Hilal’s dressing room. Under him, the Saudi side have blended star names such as Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic with real ambition. Inzaghi will be expected to match or outwit Europe’s finest. His appointment demonstrates Saudi football’s seriousness about global stage success.

Watch all 63 matches of the 2025 Club World Cup live on DAZN. More information and to sign up for a free account here.