Which teams spent the most on transfers this summer?
Robin Bairner
- 2 Sept 2023 12:04 BST
- 8 min read
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.
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.
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 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.
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).
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.
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
| Club | Amount 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 |
