'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The investment in transfer market holds major importance in the strategies of any club, solely for the fact that it is the best and the fastest way to improve a squad. The summer and winter transfer markets are also a major source of income for many clubs
The CIES Football Observatory recently released a report that looks at squad recruitment costs — the total amount forked out by clubs to assemble their current teams — of 98 clubs from Europe's top 5 leagues.
The English Premier League teams have invested an average of €291 million in the transfer market, followed by La Liga (€131million). The remaining average figures are notched by Serie A (€124 million), Bundesliga (€113 million) and Ligue 1(€97 million).
Let's find out the ten clubs that have spent the most on their current squads.
#10 Everton (€365 million)
Everton is the most surprising addition to this list. They trumped German champions Bayern Munich by a minimal margin of €2 million and a host of other big clubs like Tottenham, AC Milan and Atletico Madrid to make it to the top 10.
Everton has spent a fortune of €365 million in assembling their strongest side in recent years. However, they were subject to criticism after a sloppy start to the season saw the team lying in the relegation zone.
Survival master Sam Allardyce's appointment as the head honcho has improved matters; they are currently 9th in the league and aiming for qualification to the UEFA Europa League.
Everton signed Icelandic midfielder Gylfi Sigurdsson(€49.40m) for a club record fee. The next in line is winger Yannick Bolasie(€28.90m). Centre-back Michael Keane and promising young keeper Jordan Pickford cost €28.50 million apiece.
#9 Arsenal (€403 million)
Trumping Everton by a mile are Arsenal, who have made substantial investments in the transfer market in recent years. The acquisitions of the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang prove that the Gunners are trying their best to stay in line with Premier League bigshots Chelsea and the Manchester clubs.
Arsenal has spent a fortune of €403 million in assembling their current squad.
Arsene Wenger's men have been pretty much successful when it comes to domestic competitions like the Carabao Cup and the FA Cup. However, their cabinet has been empty when it comes to league & continental titles. Consistency is a major reason as to why they have failed to lay their hands on the Premier League trophy.
Arsenal's transfer activity has been impressive in contrast to what it was a decade ago. Their record signing is the latest January acquisition and Gabonese hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (€63.75m), followed by French forward Alexandre Lacazette(€53m) and German maestro Mesut Ozil(€47m).
#8 Juventus (€448 million)
Italian champions Juventus have reinstated themselves as top dogs in Italy following Antonio Conte's revolutionary reign at the start of the decade. The Old Lady's wise transfer policy has been a stellar factor behind their revival as Italy's best club.
The results have been highly impressive in comparison to the money they have forked out on reinforcements. They have dominated in Italy, winning six consecutive league titles and a couple of domestic cups but they have been a tad bit unlucky in the Champions League, losing two finals in the last 3 years.
Argentine striker Gonzalo Higuain(€90m) is their record signing followed by legendary shot-stopper Gianluigi Buffon (€52.88m). The third place is contested by Paolo Dybala and Federico Bernardeschi who cost €40 million apiece.
#7 Liverpool (€461 million)
Liverpool's acquisition of quality players and appointment of a world-class manager like Jurgen Klopp shows how hell-bent they are on finding their long-lost glory. The Kop have made significant transfers and their newly formed triplet of Mohammed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane has oozed out some really exhilarating brand of football.
In terms of silverware, the Merseysiders haven't had any major success; they won the English League Cup in 2012, their only trophy in this decade. The Champions League, the Premier League, and the FA Cup have eluded them for over a decade now.
Virgil Van Dijk(€78.80m) is their record signing. Naby Keita (€75m) is the second most expensive player on the team, but he is yet to join the club from RB Leipzig. The sensational Mohammed Salah (€42m) and Senegalese speedster Sadio Mane(€41.20m) are their costliest signings after Van Dijk respectively.
#6 Real Madrid (€497 million)
It feels a tad bit weird to see Real Madrid so low on a list based on the financial aspect of the sport. But that doesn't mean that Los Blancos have fallen short of the financial might they are known for.
Zinedine Zidane's appointment has seen a decrease in Real Madrid's participation in the transfer windows, but an impressive rise in the number of trophies that they have won, especially the Champions League (3 UCL titles in last 4 years).
A club that breaks transfer records more often than not, Los Merengues' squad recruitment cost could see a rise, considering their rumoured pursuits for players like Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, David De Gea and many more.
Welsh wizard Gareth Bale (€101m) is their most expensive signing, followed by the legendary all-time leading goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo(€94m). The likes of and James Rodriguez(€75m) and Vinicius Junior(€45m) are in line behind the Portuguese forward, but their loans make Karim Benzema(€35m) the third expensive player in the squad as of now.
#5 Chelsea (€592 million)
Chelsea's story is similar to clubs like Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain.
It is now one of the biggest footballing institutions in the world and this is thanks to Russian billionaire Roman Abrahamovic, whose injection of cash was key to their success.
The Londoners have been consistent big spenders in the transfer market and their efforts have paid healthy dividends in terms of silverware. Although, expecting another Champions League title certainly won't be too much to ask from their talented squad.
Their latest high-profile signing Alvaro Morata (€66m) is the club's most expensive signing, with Tiemoue Bakayoko (€40m). Belgian striker Michy Batshuyayi (€39m) commanded a higher fee than the Englishman, but his loan to Borussia Dortmund is the reason why Danny Drinkwater(€37.90m) is the third most expensive player in the squad right now.
#4 Barcelona (€725 million)
Frankly speaking, it's weird to see Barcelona ahead of Real Madrid, that too by miles. No doubt La Blaugrana possess financial power, but it's their arch-rivals who have usually spearheaded such lists.
Being the third richest club in the world, Barcelona has forked out a sum of €725 million.
They are a fine example of ideologies need to change with time, seeing that investment in established talent is slowly gaining the upper hand over their age-old tradition of creating it.
La Masia hasn't produced players as much as it has done in the past; an alarming sign that the club's principle values and traditions are in danger.
Trophies have never been scarce at the Nou Camp and successful endeavours for winning silverware doesn't look any closer to coming to a halt. After all, a club that boasts the most valuable squad of over a billion according to market values ought to keep winning, don't you think?
Philippe Coutinho (€120m), their latest marquee signing is also their record arrival. He is followed by Frenchman Ousmane Dembele (€105m) and Uruguayan marksman Luis Suarez(€81.72m).
#3 Manchester United (€747 million)
Manchester United's transfer market participation has increased considerably since they broke the British transfer record for Angel Di Maria in 2014. Since then, they have made a couple of expensive signings and it seems that spending cash has gained an equal importance alongside youth development in the squad's building.
They have just edged Spanish giants FC Barcelona, despite the latter's heavy spending activity in January.
The money spent, however, hasn't delivered the expected results. Of course United have won trophies, but the Premier League and the Champions League titles have eluded them for quite a time now.
United broke the world transfer record when they signed Paul Pogba (€105m) in 2016. He is still their most expensive acquisition, albeit no longer the most expensive footballer. He is followed by new signing Romelu Lukaku (€84.70m) and French wide man Anthony Martial(€60m).
#2 Paris Saint Germain (€805 million)
It feels strange to see French champions Paris Saint Germain miss out on the top spot despite having spent a jaw-dropping amount of cash to acquire the services of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe from Barcelona and Monaco respectively.
Let's not forget that the French wonder kid is a loanee and PSG will definitely be no.1 once they sign him on a permanent basis.
Nasser Al Khelaifi's takeover of the club in 2011 has seen them become one of the transfer market's premier spenders, competing with the likes of moneybags Real Madrid and Manchester United. They currently boast the second most expensive squad worth €805 million.
Since Khelaifi's takeover, the club has won an astonishing 16 domestic trophies including the league and knock-out cup titles. They have utterly dominated France, albeit a Champions League title is still mandatory for them to be considered as one of the world beaters in the sport.
Brazilian star Neymar(€222m) is the most expensive signing, followed by the club's all-time leading goalscorer Edinson Cavani(€64.50m) and Argentine playmaker Angel Di Maria(€63m).
#1 Manchester City (€878 million)
Sheikh Mansour's takeover of Manchester City in 2008 is perhaps the most crucial factor why the Citizens have established themselves as one of the powerhouses in Europe.
The mad amount of money he has spent over the last few years has elevated the club amongst the very best footballing institutions in world football at the moment.
Manchester City has spent a whopping sum of €878 million, becoming the highest-spending club on player inquisitions. They also boast the most expensive defence of all time.
Say whatever you want, the club has certainly started winning trophies and is a fine argument to the dictum 'Money can't buy everything'; financial wealth been instrumental enough in helping them win silverware.
Manchester City's record signing is the in-form Kevin De Bruyne(€76m), followed by new signing Aymeric Laporte(€65m) and Englishman Raheem Sterling(€62.5m).
All Transfer Values Courtesy: Transfermarkt
