The 6 most efficient teams in the transfer market

Christian Eriksen was recently acquired while Gareth Bale was sold to Real Madrid

The study of the transfer window and the money spent by clubs is perhaps best accomplished by evaluating the efficiency. Over the past 5 years, transfer windowshave seen a lot of activity with a large amount of money being splashed out on players whose buy-out clauses keep increasing as every season passes by.Professional transfers are regulated by a complex set of regulations established by thegoverning bodies.We take a look at the most efficient teamswith respect to the net expenditurefor the clubs after player sales and buys have been taken into consideration.Note: Only the past 5 transfer windows have been considered.

#6 Tottenham Hotspur

Christian Eriksen was recently acquired while Gareth Bale was sold to Real Madrid

Tottenham Hotspur have long been known to be a selling club, as most of the big name players have been sold to big clubs who came in with huge offers. In spite of this, they are also known to promote youngsters from the academy, and also are capable of some shrewd buys, which enhance the team’s performance.

Their dealings in the transfer market have made them one of the most efficient clubs around. They have a net profit of close to £40,000,000 in the past 5 seasons, having gained a good amount of profits with the players that they’ve sold.

In the year Gareth Bale was sold to Real Madrid, a profit of £9,800,000 was gained, in spite of them spending £103,700,000 on the signing of new players. It can be said conclusively that Tottenham are one of the most productive teams in the transfer market.

Transfer history in the past 5 seasons

SeasonMoney Spent (€)Money Received(€)Net Gain/Loss(€)
2010/201126.10 m2.94 mNet Loss = 23.91 m
2011/20129.45 m43.25 mNet Gain = 33.98 m
2012/201373.25 m67.78 mNet Loss = 5.94 m
2013/2014121.88 m128.90 mNet Gain = 07.02 m
2014/201541.84 m42.65 mNet Gain = 981 k
Net = 12.11 m

#5 Borussia Dortmund

Mario Gotze was a key player in Klopp’s side but was later sold to Bayern Munich

In Jurgen Klopp, Dortmund have the perfect manager for them. Limited budgets do not seem to be an issue as Dortmund still can be counted as one of the top teams in Europe. The Stuttgart native’s ideas have worked well as he’s led Dortmund to two Bundesliga crowns, a DFB-Pokal Cup Winner’s Cup, and a runners-up recognition in the 2013 Champions League final in his time.

Keeping this in mind, it is hard to believe how shrewd and wise Dortmund have been in the transfer market. They are known for producing academy stalwarts, and also develop many young players – Lewandowski, Reus, Gotze to mention a few.

Taking into consideration the past 5 seasons, Dortmund’s transfer activity has been fairly limited though efficient. Profits have been garnered throughout, as from the sales of Gotze and Lewandowski in consecutive seasons, while recruiting has been mostly done in the form of free transfers, academy promotions, and a few not-too-big name signings here and there. All in all, it can be said, by maximizing the efficiency, a club like Dortmund has not failed to flourish.

Transfer history in the past 5 seasons
SeasonMoney Spent(€)Money Received(€)Net Gain/Loss(€)
2010/20115.25m4.30mNet Loss = 995k
2011/201211.50m12.14mNet Gain = 964k
2012/201326.65m34mNet Gain = 07.935m
2013/201452.60m47.18mNet Loss = 05.42m
2014/201566.10m4.80mNet Loss = 61.930m
Net = -59.446m

#4 Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone’s astute mind when it comes to transfers has helped bring in players like David Villa

In the recent few years, the rise of Atletico Madrid as a powerhouse in Spanish football has been noticed by one and all. Having a limited budget as well as a manager who thinks wisely, they are redefining the way pundits and fans look at pragmatic soccer.

Despite losing players each and every year, Simeone has found a way to rebuild his squad each and every season. When it comes to gaining profits for the players once bought, Atletico Madrid seem to be the most capable team in that.

In the 2013/2014 season alone, Madrid earned a reported profit of around €43,6m by offloading big name players such as Falcao, Demichelis and bringing in able replacements like David Villa for just €5.1m. When you accumulate the statistics, from the past 5 years, close to £101,500,000 has been made in profits. If one might see this figure, he would never imagine the success Atletico have achieved in the last few years.

Transfer history in the past 5 seasons
SeasonMoney Spent (€)Money Received (€)Net Gain/Loss (€)
2010/201134.05m23.9mNet Loss = 10.91m
2011/201284.2m85.35mNet Gain = 1.15m
2012/20134.5m19.35mNet Gain = 14.985m
2013/201436m79.6mNet Gain = 43.6m
2014/2015117.6m88mNet Loss = 29.6m
Net = 19.23m

#3 FC Porto

Falcao was just one of the big name players sold by Porto

FC Porto aren’t even the best-supported team in their own country, they only play in the second biggest city in Portugal, and yet European presence has eluded teams with five times the population in the containing area, and many, many times the income.

FC Porto have a recipe to maximise their economic circumstances for the benefit of the club. The three sold centre-backs Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, and Bruno Alves were acquired for just over €2 million, and left for €82 million.

In the past 5 years, FC Porto have made more money in selling players than the prize money that they have received for playing in the Champions League. Although, they do incur losses if they do not qualify for the Champions League, the future looks interesting for FC Porto’s transfer model.

Transfer history in the past 5 seasons
SeasonMoney Spent (€)Money Received (€)Net Gain/Loss (€ )
2010/201140m38.78mNet Loss = 1.22m
2011/201244.69m46.8mNet Gain = 02.11m
2012/201312.9m75.09mNet Gain = 62.91m
2013/201436.42m79.3mNet Gain = 42.98m
2014/201543.30m91.7mNet Gain = 48.4m
Net = 155.18m

#2 Valencia

David Villa
David Villa, David Silva and Juan Mata – the former stars of Valencia

Valencia have been the perennial dark horses in the La Liga for many years now. Year in, year out, they have always been close to the top 4, and they regularly keep producing top quality talent that enable them to play at a high level.

Their transfer history has a reading shows a lot of money gained by selling players such as David Villa, David Silva, Juan Mata and others who have been rated as some of the top players in Europe.

Efficiency has also been a key, this money has been used to decrease the massive debt that had been put on the club since 2010. A new ownership enhances a prospect of a brighter future for this team, having the third highest number of supporters in Spain.

Transfer history in the past 5 seasons
Season Money Spent (£)Money Received (£)Net Gain/Loss (£)
2010/201124.51m74.23mNet Gain = 49.72m
2011/201229.92m28.95mNet Loss = 970k
2012/201320.42m26.40mNet Gain = 5.80m
2013/201418.50m41.89mNet Gain = 23.39m
2014/201560.10m46.16m

Net Loss = 13.94m

Net = 64m

#1 Benfica

Benfica's Argentinian forward Angel Di Maria proved to be a star at Real Madrid.

Benfica is one of the Big Three clubs in Portugal, along with its long-standing rivals Sporting CP and Porto, who have never been relegated from the Portuguese League since its establishment in 1934. They have a strong youth setup which can boast of players such as the Portuguese legend Eusebio and Angel Di Maria, two of the many who have graduated from the academy.

Financial trouble led to turmoil in the club during the 90s when success eluded them. The new millennium led to rebuilding years where they have been regularly competing for the Portuguese title and spots for Europe.

Readings from their transfer record show that they’ve been fairly efficient, making large amount of profits during specific seasons, which have either been splashed out on new players or increasing the capacity of their stadium. The club has been praised for its transfer policy in recent years.

Transfer history in the past 5 seasons
SeasonMoney Spent (£)Money Received (£)Net Gain/Loss (£)
2010/201132.41m77.42mNet Gain = 45.01m
2011/201226.80m36.25mNet Gain = 9.45m
2012/201322.88m67.08mNet Gain = 44.20m
2013/201434.23m34.85mNet Gain = 62k
2014/201533.88m87.47mNet Gain = 53.59m
Net = 152.87m

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