Chelsea FC have emerged as the most expensively assembled squad in world football heading into the 2025/26 season, with its team built at a transfer cost exceeding €1.1 billion, according to industry estimates.
They are narrowly ahead of Manchester City FC, who also cross the €1 billion threshold, placing both Premier League giants in a category of their own when it comes to squad-building investment.
Years of aggressive recruitment and squad reshaping have pushed both clubs to the top of the global spending hierarchy.
According to a post obtained from Planet Football’s website on Saturday, these are the clubs with the most expensive net spend on players in the 2025/2026 season.
Chelsea FC – €1.18bn
Manchester City FC – €1.1bn
Liverpool FC – €990.4m
Manchester United FC – €947.5m
Arsenal FC – €924.1m
Tottenham Hotspur FC – €870.2m
Paris Saint-Germain FC – €822.5m
Newcastle United FC – €724.5m
Real Madrid CF – €710m
Juventus FC – €523.3m
The rankings are based on Transfermarkt’s estimates of total transfer fees paid to assemble current squads.
Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.
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