The 2023 summer transfer window was another testament to the teams’ financial muscle across the world, with billions spent in acquiring the services of coveted stalwarts.
The Premier League clubs, once again, dominated the list. The TOI Sports Desk brings you a list of the 5 clubs which spent the most, across the top leagues in Europe:
1. Chelsea (€464.1m)
(AP Photo)
In its first full season under the ownership of Todd Boehly, Chelsea failed to qualify for the Champions League through a top-four finish in the Premier League last season. Many termed the catastrophe as a managerial mishap, with Boehly sacking and hiring the bosses at will.
Heading into the 2023/24 season, the Londoners required alternatives. And Boehly thought that adding more players to the ranks would initiate momentum. What came next was an overflow of summer arrivals with massive economic baggage.
Chelsea made Moisés Caicedo one of the most expensive signings of the 2023 summer transfer window, with the arrival of the Ecuadorian costing Chelsea a figure of around €116m. They spent around €62m, €60m, €47m, and €45m on the acquisitions of Roméo Lavia, Christopher Nkunku, Cole Palmer, and Axel Disasi, respectively. On the other hand, the transfers of Nicolas Jackson, Lesley Ugochukwu, Robert Sánchez, Djordje Petrovic, Deivid Washington, and Ângelo did appear to be much cheaper compared to the big-money boys.
Overall, the Blues spent a whopping €464.1m.
2. Paris Saint-Germain (€349.5m)
(AFP Photo)
Paris Saint-Germain’s dream of keeping a star-studded front three took a massive blow in the summer transfer window, with Lionel Messi packing his bags and then joining Inter Miami and PSG giving their nod to Al Hilal’s €90m offer for Neymar. Kylian Mbappé was close to parting ways too, but as the transfer deadline ended without drawing an end to the long-standing Mbappé saga, the 24-year-old Frenchman stayed put, having reportedly taken a cut in his loyalty bonus.
The aforementioned departures, nevertheless, put Nasser Al-Khelaifi’s purchasing power to another noteworthy test. A total of eight transfers, barring the free signings, saw the Parisien side shelling out €349.50m by the end of the 2023 summer transfer window.
Besides free transfers of Milan Škriniar and Marco Asensio, PSG brought in the likes of Randal Kolo Muani (€95m), Manuel Ugarte (€60m), Ousmane Dembélé (€50m), Lucas Hernández (€45m), and Bradley Barcola (€45m) for big bucks.
Overall, PSG spent approximately €349.5m.
3. Tottenham Hotspur (€248.6m)
(Reuters Photo)
In a transfer window that ensured the exit of Tottenham Hotspur’s most dedicated marksman over the years—Harry Kane, newly-hired manager Ange Postecoglou was allotted adequate funds to bulk up the collective strength of the squad. Breaking the bank for the sake of a complete revamp, the Lilywhites ended up spending €248.6m this time.
Although James Maddison, who joined the London-based side for a transfer fee of around €46.3m, has proved to be their most influential incoming player of the summer so far, Spurs splashed €55m on the signing of Brennan Johnson from Nottingham Forest.
The North London club confirmed the signatures of defenders Pedro Porro and Micky van de Ven for a transfer fee of €40m each, while Dejan Kulusevski signed a permanent deal at the Premier League club, with Spurs paying €30m to Juventus as part of the agreement. Guglielmo Vicario (€20m), Alejo Véliz (€15m), and Ashley Phillips (€2.3m) all went for a transfer fee under the €25m-mark.
Overall, Tottenham Hotspur spent €248.6m.
4. Manchester City (€241.1m)
(Reuters Photo)
Manchester City, led by the masterful tactician Pep Guardiola, clinched the most elusive set of silverware, a treble with the cherry on top – the UEFA Champions League trophy that had eluded the grasp of the ex-Bayern Munich manager at City for years. Despite engraving their names in the history book, followed by a season-opening triumph in the UEFA Super Cup this time, the Cityzens felt the need to add more bodies.
Their summer began with the signing of Mateo Kovačić from Chelsea, who could not rebuff City’s €29.1m offer for the German midfielder. Emerging Belgian star, Jérémy Doku left Stade Rennais to move to the blue half of Manchester for a transfer fee of around €60m. Parting ways with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Matheus Nunes followed suit for about the same price tag.
A massive coup was registered at the latter stage of the summer transfer window, with Guardiola’s side landing Joško Gvardiol for a transfer fee of around €90m, stretching Man City’s tally to €241.1m.
Overall, Manchester City spent €241.1m.
5. Arsenal (€234.94m)
Beating the likes of RB Leipzig (€152.5m), Newcastle United (€153.2m), Bayern Munich (€155m), Liverpool (€172m), and Manchester United (€206.7m) in terms of spending this summer, Arsenal seemed determined to bridge the gap with the defending Premier League champions Manchester City and iron out the chinks in their armour by bolstering their roster.
They did not spend heavily across all departments but got what had been deemed the need of the hour heading into another fresh season. Jurrien Timber joined the Gunners for a transfer fee of €40m. Once touted to be the future at Stamford Bridge, Kai Havertz moved from the west side of London to the South end in a deal worth €75m.
Leaving a rich pedigree behind him at West Ham United, holding midfielder Declan Rice made the switch to Arsenal, becoming the most expensive signing of the 2023 summer transfer window.
The nature of the transfer was colossal enough to send the Gunners’ gross transfer tally up to €234.94m.