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#3 Barcelona - €1.98 billion
Barcelona have become emblematic of the profligacy that has plagued the footballing world in recent times. The financial troubles that they've run into are so severe that they've had to let go of Lionel Messi despite him wanting to stay at the club.
Barcelona have spent recklessly in the transfer window. They more or less wasted all the proceeds from Neymar's sale. The Catalans spent €135 million each on Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele. Both players have done little to justify their price tags.
They spent €120 million to sign Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid. Other big-money signings include Neymar Jr. (€88.2 million), Frenkie De Jong (€86 million), Luis Suarez (€81.72 million) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (€69.5 million).
Some of their other big money flops include Miralem Pjanic (€60 million), Malcom (€41 million) and Andre Gomes (€37 million).
#2 Manchester City - €2.24 billion
Pep Guardiola gets a lot of credit for turning Manchester City into a juggernaut of sorts. But that hasn't come about purely due to his coaching credentials. The City Football Group has backed him lavishly in the transfer market to get Pep the personnel he needs to ensure success.
City broke their transfer record this summer to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa for €117 million. But the reigning Premier League champions have made good use of the money available to them. They've recruited in an educated manner and have benefitted from it.
Kevin De Bruyne is their second most expensive signing at €76 million. City's other expensive signings are Ruben Dias (€68 million), Riyad Mahrez (€67 million), Joao Cancelo (€65 million), Aymeric Laporte (€63 million) and Raheem Sterling (€63 million).
Players like Rodri, Benjamin Mendy, John Stones, Kyle Walker, Leroy Sane and Bernardo Silva have cost Manchester City more than €50 million each.
#1 Chelsea - €2.34 billion
That's right. No club has spent more money in the transfer window than Chelsea since a certain Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003. The Blues have been one of the most successful Premier League clubs over the past two decades and their financial pull has gone a long way towards it.
Chelsea have taken the trial and error route and while some of their big money signings have worked out, a few have flopped really bad. Chelsea broke their transfer record this summer by signing Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan for a whopping €115 million.
Last summer, they broke their transfer record to sign Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen for €80 million. Kepa Arizzabalaga could yet find salvation but for now he is considered an expensive flop having arrived at the club on a deal worth €80 million.
Other big money signings include Alvaro Morata (€66 million), Christian Pulisic (€64 million), Fernando Torres (58.5 million), Jorginho (€57 million), Timo Werner (€53 million) and Ben Chilwell (€50.02 million). They've also signed 19 players for sums between €30 million and €50 million each.
