The effects of the corona pandemic on professional football can be clearly seen in the global transfer market. Very few clubs have enough money these days, and the winter transfer window that has just ended has left a surprising number of top clubs largely unused. The development of the past few years actually went in a different direction.
The top international clubs fought a veritable arms race on the transfer market. They used the high income from the Champions League and sponsorship to set themselves apart from the national competition. The sports researchers from the Swiss institute CIES have now evaluated transfer data from the last five years that illustrate this arms race. Since 2016, 20 clubs from the five major leagues in Europe have spent over 500 million euros on new players.
ManCity has the biggest shortfall
FC Barcelona and Manchester City shoot the bird. Both broke the one billion euro barrier. Barca spent 1.17 billion euros on new professionals, but at least received 700 million euros for Neymar and Co. The transfer balance of -471 million euros literally torpedoed ManCity. The Sheikh Club therefore paid 1.006 billion euros for its transfers, but only sold to the value of 375 million euros. The negative transfer balance of 631 million euros represents the highest deficit in the study.
Money does not guarantee success
The sponsors of ManCity have not yet been able to secure the Champions League triumph with all this investment. At least the Skyblues won two Premier League titles during this period. Local rivals Manchester United spent 586 million euros more than they earned and can only shine with a Europa League title and a victory in the League Cup. FC Bayern shows that there is another way. The German record champion is only in 21st place in terms of expenditure, but is still enthroned as a quintuple winner over Europe’s football nobility.
These clubs have spent the most on transfers since 2016
(Information via CIES)
1. FC Barcelona 1.17 billion euros
2. Manchester City € 1.006 billion
3. Juventus 999 million euros
4. Chelsea € 968 million
5. Paris Saint-Germain 854 million euros
6. Manchester United € 832 million
7. Atletico Madrid 715 million euros
8. Everton FC € 701 million
9. Inter Milan 664 million euros
10. Real Madrid 661 million euros
…
14. Borussia Dortmund 582 million euros
21. FC Bayern 472 million euros
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