Which teams spent the most on transfers this summer?

Robin Bairner
Robin Bairner
  • 2 Sept 2023 12:04 BST
  • 8 min read
Chelsea
© ProShots

Chelsea have once again spent the most money on transfers so far this window, with the Blues splashing €464.1 million on new additions this window.

It comes after they topped the standings in the 2022 summer window after €294m was spent on new signings in Todd Boehly’s first transfer window as Chelsea owner.

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Furthermore, their spending for the entire 2022-23 season reached €612.5m after a ludicrous January window. That was over €350m more than Manchester United, who spent the second-highest amount of any club in world football last campaign.

MORE: Saudi Pro League summer transfers 2023: All the Done Deals

This summer, Chelsea have signed 13 players in total, with 11 of those arriving for a transfer fee; Alex Matos and Diego Moreira were signed on free transfers.

Romeo Lavia has joined Chelsea
© ProShots - Romeo Lavia has joined Chelsea

Moises Caicedo is the most expensive arrival so far, with Chelsea spending an initial €116m (£100m) to sign the Ecuador international from Brighton & Hove Albion. It’s likely that fee will rise to €133m (£115m) through easily achievable add-ons, making it a British record fee.

Romeo Lavia (€62.1m), Christopher Nkunku (€60m), Cole Palmer (€47m), Axel Disasi (€45m), Nicolas Jackson (€37m), Lesley Ugochukwu (€27m), Robert Sanchez (€23m), Djordje Petrovic (€16m), Deivid Washington (€16m) and Angelo Gabriel (€15m) have also arrived to bolster the Blues squad in a ludicrous summer of spending.

MORE: Premier League 2023/24 summer transfers: All the Done Deals

Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal have spent the second most on transfers this summer (€353.1m) in a window of change across world football. The Saudi Arabian club have been very active in the market and Brazilian superstar Neymar is their most high-profile addition.

The forward has arrived from Paris Saint-Germain for €90m after a summer of turmoil at the Parc des Princes that has also seen Lionel Messi depart.

Neymar is now an Al-Hilal player
© ProShots - Neymar is now an Al-Hilal player

Neymar is the most expensive player in Saudi Pro League history, a record he took off Malcom, the former Barcelona and Zenit star who has also joined Al-Hilal. He has arrived in the Middle East for €60m.

In addition, Al-Hilal have signed Ruben Neves for €55m, Aleksandar Mitrovic for €52.6m, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic for €40m, Kalidou Koulibaly for €23m, Bono for €21m and Hassan Tambakti for €11.5m.

Paris Saint-Germain spent the third-highest amount of any club during the 2023 summer transfer window, with their €95m purchase of Randal Kolo Muani on Deadline Day pushing them ahead of several teams.

The Parisians have also signed Manuel Ugarte (€60m), Ousmane Dembele (€50m), Lucas Hernandez (€45m), Hugo Ekitike (€28.5m), Kang-in Lee (€22m) and Xavi Simons (€4m).

Ousmane Dembele has joined PSG
© ProShots - Ousmane Dembele has joined PSG

Goncalo Ramos has joined on loan from Benfica and that move will be made permanent in 2024. In total, PSG have spent €346.5m on transfers this summer.

Tottenham (€193.6m) had the fourth-highest sumh thanks to their acquisitions of James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski, Guglielmo Vicario, Alejo Veliz and Ashley Phillips.

Manchester City are fifth with €241.1m spent on Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Jeremy Doku and Mateo Kovacic.

Arsenal are sixth on the list having spent €231.6m on Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber. Spanish goalkeeper David Raya has also arrived on loan from Brentford with a reported loan fee of €3.34m to be paid.

Manchester United spent the seventh most of any club in world football, despite only signing four players for a transfer fee.

Rasmus Hojlund (€75m), Mason Mount (€64.2m), Andre Onana (€52.5m) and Altay Bayindir (€5m) have all arrived at Old Trafford for big sums of money.

Sergio Reguilon and Sofyan Amrabat have joined the club on loan, while Jonny Evans has signed on a free transfer.

Mason Mount has joined Man Utd
© ProShots - Mason Mount has joined Man Utd

Al-Ahli are the second Saudi Pro League on this list having spent €181.7m on Gabri Veiga, Riyad Mahrez, Roger Ibanez, Allan Saint-Maximin, Merih Demiral, Edouard Mendy and Franck Kessie.

Liverpool had the ninth-highest spending of any club in the summer transfer window, having splashed €172m on Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.

Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr round out the top 10 after spending €60m on Otavio from Porto, which took their summer outlay to €165.1m.

The 10 biggest spenders

The biggest spenders of the 2023 summer transfer window

ClubAmount spent (€)
1. Chelsea€464.1m
2. Al-Hilal€353.1m
3. PSG€346.5m
4. Tottenham€248.6m
5. Man City€179.1m
6. Arsenal€231.6m
7. Man Utd€196.7m
8. Al-Ahli€181.7m
9. Liverpool€172m
10. Al-Nassr€165.1m

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