With the 2009/10 Premier League season coming to a close the race for the title has gone down to the wire, with both Manchester United and Chelsea slugging it out for the most coveted prize in English football. The last Champions League place also produced a gripping finale, with Spurs grabbing the valuable berth.

But in a season that saw Spain, and particularly Real Madrid, making all the big signings how have the Premier League’s 2009/10 transfers faired?

Here are the best 10 signings made by England’s elite teams this season:

1) Carlos Tevez (Manchester United to Manchester City; £25M)

The Argentinian hitman has had a remarkable season for the Eastlands club, bagging 29 goals including two against his former team Manchester United. Although Manchester City missed out on Champions League football at the death, they would not have come so close without Tevez. It is a sign of his quality that a summer move to Real Madrid has been rumoured. 2009/10 has been a good year for the 26-year-old.

2) Thomas Vermaelen (Ajax to Arsenal; £10M)

The Belgian centre back has enjoyed a solid first season at the Emirates Stadium following his switch from Dutch club Ajax. The 24-year-old scored a bullet header on his Gunners debut against Everton, and has proven himself to be a sturdy no-nonsense defender which has made him a firm fans’ favourite.

3) Joe Hart (Manchester City to Birmingham City; season-long loan)

23-year-old stopper Hart has been an ever present between the sticks at St Andrew’s this season and has helped Birmingham establish themselves comfortably in mid-table. His performances have been so good that there is a suggestion that he will be Fabio Capello’s number one at the World Cup in South Africa this summer.

4) Aruna Dindane (RC Lens to Portsmouth; season-long loan)

Despite Portsmouth’s financial difficulties and relegation from the top flight, they have two of the signings of the season with number one being the Ivorian striker. Dindane has scored goals in his first season in English football and helped the south coast club to the final of the FA Cup. While he is unlikely to return to Fratton Park on a permanent basis he has certainly opened the door to a potential move to another Premier League club.


5) Kevin Prince-Boateng (Tottenham Hotspur to Portsmouth; £4M)

The German international midfielder is the second Portsmouth player on the top 10 list of 2009/10 Premier League transfers. In a season which has seen so much misery for the club’s fans Boateng’s eye-catching performances have offered some moments of happiness, especially his goal against former club Spurs which dumped the White Hart Lane side out of the FA Cup. Another player likely to leave the team in summer, he is rumoured to be attracting the interest of Spurs and several clubs on the continent.



6) Darren Bent (Tottenham Hotspur to Sunderland; £10M)

The former Ipswich Town forward joined Sunderland in controversial circumstances at the start of the season, when he accused Spurs chairman Daniel Levy of holding up his move to the Stadium of Light on Twitter. Bent apologised for his statement and completed his move to Wearside where he has been in red hot form scoring 24 Premier League goals so far this season, and forcing his way into Fabio Capello’s England plans for the World Cup.

7) Antonio Valencia (Wigan Athletic to Manchester United; £16M)

When Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid in the summer for a world record fee of £80M, Sir Alex Ferguson moved quickly to replace the Portuguese winger with a player in a similar mould. Ecuadorian international Valencia had been a revelation since arriving in the Premier League and showed the potential to become world class. He has scored five goals this season and has provided support to Wayne Rooney from the wing.



8) Richard Dunne (Manchester City to Aston Villa; £3M)

The former Manchester City captain moved from Eastlands to ensure first team football after several big name signings arrived at the club, including Joleon Lescott and Kolo Toure. Since arriving at Villa Park, Dunne has been an ever present at the heart of the defence and showed his reliability time and time again, helping the Midlands club to the League Cup final and an FA Cup semi-final.


 
9) Damien Duff (Newcastle United to Fulham; undisclosed fee)

Duff’s career has taken in many highs and lows since moving from Blackburn Rovers in 2003: He has won the Premier League title with Chelsea and suffered relegation with Newcastle United in 2009. The Irishman linked up with his old Blackburn boss Roy Hodgson at Fulham for an undisclosed fee before the 2009 transfer window closed and has been an integral part of Fulham’s march to the Europa League final.


 
10) Kolo Toure (Arsenal to Manchester City; £13M)

The former Gunners centre back joined the Manchester City revolution in the summer and was named the club’s captain by ex-boss Mark Hughes. He has become a firm fan favourite and a key player. Toure will feature heavily in City’s drive for Champions League football next season.

 

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