Who do you think is Premiership signing of the season?

Last summer saw Premiership teams once again splashing the cash to try and sign players who could help them achieve their goals, this post I will give you my candidates for signing of the season and I will also give you who I think is the signing of the season. Seeing as we're only in March I won't be including anyone bought in January 2012 because some either haven't been able to get going yet or others (ahem, Pogrebnyak) have started off fantastically but time hasn't told whether they will be consistent yet.

I will start off with probably the biggest transfer of last year (for both the club and money-wise) which is Man City's eventual signing of Sergio Aguero from Atletico Madrid. The 23-year-old Argentine striker had been shining in La Liga for years and had been Atletico's main man since Fernando Torres departed for the Premiership in 2007. He moved for bluer pastures last summer for a reported £38 million and despite the hefty transfer fee, Aguero seems to be well on his way to repaying the transfer fee and Mancini's faith in paying that much for the clinical Argentine. With the addition of Aguero to the forward line which boasted names such as Mario Balotelli, Edin Dzeko and Carlos Tevez, people were wondering whether would Aguero not only get playing time, but whether he would be happy and if he would start banging in the goals but he has answered all those questions by being one of City's most consistent starters and scoring 21 goals in 37 appearances so far this season. His style of play has suited and complimented the powerhouse partners he has played with upfront and his understanding with David Silva and Samir Nasri has blossomed so far and they are a trio which all Premiership teams fear when they come up against them. Due to his diminutive yet stocky build he has drawn comparisons to international and club team-mate Carlos Tevez but City fans will be hoping there won't be such off-the-field problems with their new striking hero. But at the moment for Aguero and City so far is so good.

Next I will move on to the second most expensive player on my list and that is Chelsea play-maker Juan Mata who swapped Valencia for Chelsea in the summer transfer window for a fee believed to be in the region of £23 million. The 23-year-old winger/attacking midfielder has given the Chelsea front-line a bit of flair and consistency which it has been somewhat lacking this year as their forwards have dipped in and out of form. Mata has been a mainstay in the Chelsea team and he has often been their go to man for creativity, assists and goals this season. Mata's impact in the Chelsea team has been undoubted after grabbing 10 goals and 13 assists in 35 games, he has been a consistently good performer in the Chelsea team and he's needed to be after the dips in form of Fernando Torres and Didier Drogba. He has been an instant hit at Stamford Bridge with the Chelsea fans and so far has been the only positive of Andre Villas-Boas' reign for some. The unrest in the Chelsea dressing room has been for all to see with John Terry's racism row and Frank Lampard's dropping from the first team onto the bench and subsequent poor form on the pitch, but Mata has maintained his professionalism and good form despite all the goings on at Chelsea and no doubt he will be a recognizable star in the Chelsea team for many years to come.

The Tottenham goalkeeping spot has been criticised heavily since Heurelho Gomes' howlers in between the sticks and Spurs fans were crying out for a replacement despite a few good performances from the Brazilian. Harry Redknapp turned to the veteran Brad Friedel and many Spurs fans were wondering what on earth 'Arry was doing but his signing of the American has been vindicated after a string of top performances and point-saving stops. He has carried on his Blackburn consistency for the Lilywhites of North London and has been a regular in the Tottenham team and seems to have strengthened the Tottenham back four single-handedly with his commanding box presence and excellent reflex stops. After signing for Spurs on a free transfer after his Blackburn contract ran out, Friedel carried on his run of most consecutive appearances in the Premiership and this has made him a key player in Tottenham's push for Champions League football. He has kept 8 clean sheets so far this season (the second highest in the Premiership) and has only conceded 20 goals in 28 games, he also has a save percentage of 78% which is the third highest of first-team goalkeepers behind Joe Hart and Mark Schwarzer.

Michel Vorm is the second and final goalkeeper on the list, Swansea signed him for £1.5 million from FC Utrecht in Holland and in his first appearance, which was a 4 - 0 loss to Man City, despite conceding four goals he made 11 saves which was higher than any goalkeeper had made in the Premiership in 2010-2011. He has kept 11 clean sheets and is second behind Joe Hart in the race for the golden glove, he has conceded 23 goals so far this season and his form is one of the reasons behind Swansea's excellent maiden season in the Premiership. He has made the second most saves in the Premiership, behind Wolves 'keeper Wayne Hennessey and has a save percentage of 76%. Due to his inexperience in the Premiership and it being Swansea's first season ever in the Premier League and the amount of clean sheets he has kept I think Vorm has been a better signing than that of Brad Friedel for Spurs.

Having had some controversy on his arrival in England, Demba Ba had reportedly signed for Stoke City then made a last minute u-turn to sign for now relegated West Ham. In the summer he then traded London for the North-West and moved to Newcastle on a free transfer. This season has proved very fruitful for Demba Ba as he has a record which boasts 16 goals in 26 games. The beginning of the season was Ba's most successful period so far in a Newcastle shirt, getting 8 goals and maintaining Newcastle's 11 game unbeaten run which saw them get to third in the league. As he departed for the African Cup of Nations with 15 goals, second in the race for the golden boot behind Robin Van Persie, he also was included in ESPN's best 11 for the first half of the season and he also won the Premier League's player of the month for December 2011. After the sale of Andy Carroll for £35 million to Liverpool in January 2011, Newcastle needed a replacement and some backup in their front-line which was looking quite bare. Ba was bought in the summer to bolster Newcastle's front-line and has seemingly made the starting spot his own and with the signing of Senegalese countryman Papiss Cisse it seems Ba has a capable striking partner which he can feed off.

My final shortlist candidate is Liverpool left-back Jose Enrique, the Spanish left-back moved from Newcastle to Merseyside in the summer for £5 million and has proved to be Kenny Dalglish's best summer signing so far after his consistent good displays in the Liverpool back four. Enrique has been voted best summer signing by Liverpool fans with 74.5% of votes ahead of Craig Bellamy and Charlie Adam and was also included in ESPN's best 11 in the first half of the season. During his time at Newcastle, Enrique was a somewhat under-rated figure in the Newcastle first-team and now it seems that a move to Liverpool was the springboard that Enrique's reputation needed for his career and international chances with Spain. He also played a part in Liverpool winning their first trophy since 2006 when the won the Carling Cup final against Cardiff on penalties. Enrique is known for not only his defensive sturdiness and reliability but his ability going forward. With his good dribbling, crossing and pace he has often ventured forward to claim assists and has been a surprise cog in the Liverpool machinery. Even though Liverpool have under-performed this season considering the money they've spent, Enrique has been a consistent and reliable outlet at full-back and his efforts have more than paid off his modest transfer fee.

After much deliberation (with myself) I believe that Newcastle have landed signing of the season with their free transfer capture of Demba Ba. Not only does it show value for money with his goals offering a substantial return but Ba's overall play has also contributed to Newcastle over-achieving so far this season and still being within reaching distance of a Europa League spot.

Who is your signing of the season so far?