Football’s Worst Spenders

Lille are the best spenders in Football, with a spending score of 8.58/10

We’ve looked at the percentage difference between market value and purchase value, net transfer balance, and average league position to determine the best spenders in Europe’s top five leagues and Saudi Arabia. 

LOSC Lille - 8.58/10 spending score

In top spot is LOSC Lille, as the French outfit has generated a spending score of 8.58 out of 10. Generated by not only savvy transfer acumen but also respectable finishes within the Ligue 1 table - a statement solidified by their fourth place finish at the end of the 2023/24 season.

With Champions League football being the prize during the current campaign, this has no doubt help boost their coffers and with an influx of European money also being earned, this had help push them top of this rather unique league table.

Atalanta - 8.11/10 spending score

In second place is Atalanta, as the Italian outfit has generated a spending score of 8.11. Last season's Europa League winners have been mixing it with Europe's elite as a consequence of their success in Dublin nearly 12 months ago and with the ability to sell players at a large profit after buying them on the cheap, the books in Bergamo are rather balanced right now.

Barcelona - 8.08/10 spending score

Completing our top three is Barcelona and although their financial woes have been well reported over the past couple of years, the Catalan giants have managed to somehow generate a spending score of 8.08 - one that is undoubtedly helped by impressive league placings over the past five years.

Then again, the Camp Nou outfit are one of four clubs to be worth more than €1 billion in terms of market value and when this is offset against their ability to produe academy stars from La Masia, it has helped boost their current spending score.

Compared to Europe’s top five leagues and Saudi Arabia, Al-Qadsiah comes out on top as the worst spenders

Using the same data, we’ve revealed the worst spenders in Europe’s top five leagues and Saudi Arabia. 

Al-Qadsiah - 1.71/10 spending score

Propping up the spending score table are Al-Qadsiah with just 1.71 out of 10. The Saudi Pro outfit have a net transfer balance of -€84.50m since the start of the 2020/21 season and although that may make for eye-watering reading to you or I, to those in the mega rich world of Saudi Arabian football, such loss is a mere drop in the ocean.

Nottingham Forest - 1.89/10 spending score

Nottingham Forest find themselves sitting second bottom in the table but fans of the club may argue that they have gamed the system perfectly. Flirting with relegation out of the Premier League during the 2023/24 season, Nuno Espirito Santo's men are on the verge of Champions League qualification at the end of this. 

The City Ground outfit have generated a net transfer balance of -€262.54m since the start of the 2020/21, but considering that was a spell that has also seen them play in League One and the Championship, can this really be construed as bad business?

Parma - 1.92/10 spending score

Our top three is completed by Parma with a spending score of 1.92. The Serie A outfit have generated a net transfer balance of -€170.01m since the start of 2020/21 season having spent €210.16m on players in and only generating €40.15m in return.

Not only that, but the Italian side have also generated an average league position of 22.80 during that spell, which also highlights how much money they have had to spend to not only get back into the Italian top tier but also do their best to stay there.

Al-Riyadh increased the value of its squad more than any other team, with its team worth 13,000% more than it was bought for

A player’s market value can change due to a number of factors, and one of the biggest reasons that a player’s estimated value changes is due to performance. That’s why we’ve looked at the difference between a team's purchase value and market value to see which teams have increased their squad’s value the most. 

Al-Riyadh - 13,000% difference between market and purchase values

Top of the list and by some considerable distance is Al-Riyadh. The club which is based within the captial city of Saudi Arabia has a squad which has only spent €0.15m transfers since the start of the 2020/21. However, the squad is currently valued at €19.65m, which has subsequently created such a wide disparity between the two metrics.

VfL Bochum  - 3,581.2% difference between market and purchase values

Second on the list is VFL Bochum, with a difference between purchase value and market value of 3,581.2%. VFL Bochum are one of the oldest football clubs in the world, founded in 1848. Bochum gained promotion to the Bundesliga in 2021 after an 11-year stint in Germany’s second tier. Bochum’s squad was purchased for just over €1 million and is now valued at almost €55 million. 

Le Havre AC - 3,328.9% difference between market and purchase values

Sitting third in the table is Le Havre, with a difference between purchase value and market value of 3,328.9%. Le Havre have a reputation for developing young talent, with Dimitri Payet, Riyad Mahrez, and N’golo Kante all playing for the club during the early stages of their careers. The French team paid just under €2 million for a squad valued at €65.15 million.

Al-Hilal’s squad value is 54.2% lower than its purchase value, the biggest decrease in Saudi Arabia and Europe’s top five leagues

We wanted to know which clubs overpaid for their squad. That’s why we’ve looked at market and purchase values to reveal the teams with the biggest decrease. 

Al-Hilal SFC  -54.2% difference between market and purchase values

The club with the biggest decrease between purchase value and market value is Al-Hilal, with a 54.2% decrease. Largely thanks to the 2023 summer transfer window, when Al-Hilal spent €350 million on eight different players. The most expensive transfer Al-Hilal made was Neymar Jr at €90 million and when it comes to transfer flops, the capture of the Brazilian might have to be one of the biggest of all-time.

Al-Nassr SFC -45.9% difference between purchase value and market value

Sitting second in the table when it comes to negative difference is Al-Nassr. The current home of icon Cristiano Ronalo generated a -45.9% difference between purchase value and market value. Having spent €324.92m since the start of the 2020/21 season - with a large bulk of that coming since 2023, the club's financial stature is only €175.68m by comparison. Then again, with oil money to burn and players such as Ronaldo on their books, the Al-Nassr owners will not be too concerned.

Al-Ittihad Club -36.6% difference between market and purchase values

Completing the Saudi top three is Al-Ittihad, whose squad is worth 36.6% less than its purchase value. The Saudi Arabian title holders made some thrifty transfers, signing N’golo Kante and Karim Benzema on a free transfer from Chelsea and Real Madrid, respectively. However, the club still spent €120 million on players, including the €46.7 million transfer of Fabinho from Liverpool. 

Chelsea has the biggest net transfer balance over the last five years in Europe’s top five leagues and Saudi Arabia, at -€947.36 million

We’ve looked at the transfer fees of arrivals and departures of those in Europe’s top five leagues and Saudi Arabia, to reveal the clubs with the biggest net transfer balance. 

Chelsea - -€947.36 million net transfer balance over the last five seasons

Chelsea takes the top spot with a net spend of -€947.36 million. Despite earning just over €788.2 million from transfers away from the club, the London club have spent over €1.7 billion in the last five years. In the summer of 2023, Chelsea acquired Moisés Caicedo for more than €100 million and since Todd Boehly took ownership of the club, there has been an almost unstoppable amount of largesse from the West London outfit.

Manchester United - -€683.24 million net transfer balance over the last five seasons

In second place is Manchester United with a net spend of -€683.24 million over the last five years. Manchester United have spent just over €900 million on transfers in the last five seasons, recouping just €235 million back in sales. United’s biggest transfer in that timeframe was for Antony, who cost the club €95 million but the Brazilian is another poster boy for waste is he is currently plying his trade on loan at Real Betis.

Although United seem to be flying the flag for waste, Sir Jim Ratcliffe is doing his very best to trim the fat and over the next couple of years, do not be suprised to see that negative transfer balance shrink considerably.

Paris SG - -€583.62 million net transfer balance over the last five seasons

Sitting third in this list and breaking the stranglehold that the Premier League club are French giants Paris SG. The almost perennial Ligue 1 champions have spent just under €1bn since the start of the 2020/21 season, recouping just over €410m in the process.

However, it must be noted that the true superstar era is over at the Parc des Princes and with the trio of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi having all moved on, the next generation may finally be the one that leads them to Champions League success.

Lille has spent €242 million less than they’ve earned, the lowest net transfer balance in Europe’s top five leagues and Saudi Arabia

Below, we reveal the clubs with the lowest net transfer balance in Europe’s top five leagues and Saudi Arabia. 

LOSC Lille - €242.65 million net transfer balance over the last five seasons

LOSC Lille takes the top spot with a net spend of €242.65 million over the last five seasons. Lille are the only side to have beaten Paris Saint-Germain to a Ligue 1 title in the last five seasons. Lille’s transfer record, which boasts almost €400 million in player sales whilst spending just €154.95 million, makes this feat even better. Nicolas Pepe and Victor Osimhen were the two most expensive sales in the last five years, who left the club for a combined €155 million.

Valencia - €164.10 million net transfer balance over the last five seasons

In second place is Valencia with a net transfer balance of nearly €165m in the coffers. However, this does not necessarily give the La Liga outfit reason to celebrate. The reason for such a surplus, is because of the refusal of owner Peter Lim to spend any money and although the squad has generated just under €205m since 2020, it has only spent just over €40m in comparison.

Eintracht Frankfurt - €124.08 million net transfer balance over the last five seasons

Completing our top three is Eintracht Frankfurt and with the German giants having generated an income of €341.03m since the start of 2020/21, it is a period that has also seen the Bundesliga outfit win the Europa League final back in 2022. 

In additon to that European glory at the expense of Rangers, Eintracht Frankfurt have found value for money and after generating transfer expenditure of €216.95m in the same period, they are one of only four clubs to have a transfer balance of over €100m - honourable mention to Atalanta in fourth with €116.80m

How does Saudi Arabia’s spending compare to Europe’s top five leagues?

Many clubs in Saudi Arabia spent the 2023 summer investing in their teams, spending just over €1 billion to attract some of Europe’s best players and then contiuning the big spending the following summer - even if the pace did slow down slightly. That’s why we wanted to know how their spending compared to Europe’s top five leagues.

Al-Qadsiah - 1.71 spending score when compared to Europe’s top five leagues

Saudi Arabia’s worst spenders are Al-Qadisah which considering they ranked in the top 3 overall when it comes to worst spenders will be of little surprise to those reading this article. With a net transfer balance of -€84.50m over the past five years and an average league position of 17.40, these two factors have certainly worked against them when it comes to the transfer score.

Al-Riyadh- 2.15 spending score when compared to Europe’s top five leagues

Al-Riyadh find themselves second when it comes to worst spenders, although it must also be noted the purchase value of the club currently stands at just €0.15m and therefore, their low score in relation to their European counterparts can largely be described by inactivity rather than wasting considerable sums of money.

Al-Ahli - 2.27 spending score when compared to Europe’s top five leagues

Saudi Arabia’s third worst spenders are Al-Ahli, with a spending score of 2.27 out of 10 when compared to Europe’s top five leagues. Al-Ahli spent €184 million over the summer of 2023, as they signed the likes of Roberto Firmino on a free transfer from Liverpool and Spanish midfielder Gabri Veiga, currently valued as the one of most valuable players in the Saudi Pro league.