Barcelona, Chelsea, and Arsenal recorded the most losses through player transfers in world football over the last decade, based on newly released research.
CIES Football Observatory looked at non-academy players signed and sold from 2014 to 2023.
Spanish giants Barcelona recorded the biggest loss, estimated to be about €631 million, while French side Lille generated the most profit - €386 million.
Premier League clubs are not left out in the research prepared by CIES Football Observatory, with 6 teams from the English top-flight division featuring amongst the top 10 for losses.
Chelsea and Arsenal recorded the most losses in the Premier League, sitting 2nd and 3rd on the list respectively, while Manchester United are 5th, Aston Villa 7th and Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton in 8th and 9th.
The research dishes out the top 50 clubs for both losses and profit, with Brentford 26th and Brighton 29th being the two Premier League sides in the top 50 in terms of profit.
Stoke City, who aren't in the Premier League, have also recorded huge losses over the years in review, and they are ranked 16th on the log.
The research often shows major losses being due to big signings exiting clubs for ridiculously less prices than they were signed. It also takes into consideration players, who contributed to these losses.
Meanwhile, Chinese Super League clubs and Saudi Pro League clubs also feature in the list for losses, with Saudi Arabian teams Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad included following huge spending in the summer of 2023.
Several stars moved to these two leagues in the past decade, including; John Mikel Obi - Tianjin Teda, China, and Neymar - Al Hilal - Saudi Arabia to mention a few.
Barcelona spent in excess of €1.2 billion and received €613 million with the report looking closely at the deal for Philippe Coutinho.
Coutinho signed from Liverpool for €135 million in 2018 before leaving for Aston Villa for €20 million. The Brazilian has since joined Al-Duhail on loan.
The Blaugarana side also signed Ousmane Dembele for €135 million before he was sold for €50 million in the summer of 2023 to Paris St-Germain.
Chelsea recorded a loss of €482 million after signing players like Christian Pulisic for €64 million in 2019, before selling him to Italian giants AC Milan for €20m last year.
The Blues also signed Jorginho for €57 million in 2018 but was then sold for €11.3 million to Arsenal.
Following the sale of the club to Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea have also spent about €1.2 billion, including signing Moses Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez for above €100 million each.
They have also received €730 million following sales of certain players, including; Mason Mount to Manchester United for €64.2 million.
Arsenal witnessed a deficit of €436 million after signing players such as Nicolas Pepe for €80 million before he exited North London after four years on a free transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor.
Manchester City and Bayern Munich, who recorded losses of €59 million and €61 million respectively “have the best balances among the most competitive teams” based on the report.
Lille gained an astronomical profit of €386 million following the sales of players such as striker Victor Osimhen, who they signed for €22.4 million and then sold to Napoli for €75 million.
Sven Botman moved to Newcastle United for €37 million from Lille, who signed him on July 31, 2020, for a fee of €8 million.
Ajax sit closely behind Lille with player trades reading a positive balance of €317 million, having sold players like; Antony to Manchester United for €95 million, who they signed for a fee of €15.8 million.
CIES Football Observatory looked at non-academy players signed and sold from 2014 to 2023.
Spanish giants Barcelona recorded the biggest loss, estimated to be about €631 million, while French side Lille generated the most profit - €386 million.
Premier League clubs are not left out in the research prepared by CIES Football Observatory, with 6 teams from the English top-flight division featuring amongst the top 10 for losses.
Chelsea and Arsenal recorded the most losses in the Premier League, sitting 2nd and 3rd on the list respectively, while Manchester United are 5th, Aston Villa 7th and Merseyside rivals Liverpool and Everton in 8th and 9th.
The research dishes out the top 50 clubs for both losses and profit, with Brentford 26th and Brighton 29th being the two Premier League sides in the top 50 in terms of profit.
Stoke City, who aren't in the Premier League, have also recorded huge losses over the years in review, and they are ranked 16th on the log.
The research often shows major losses being due to big signings exiting clubs for ridiculously less prices than they were signed. It also takes into consideration players, who contributed to these losses.
Meanwhile, Chinese Super League clubs and Saudi Pro League clubs also feature in the list for losses, with Saudi Arabian teams Al-Nassr, Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, and Al-Ittihad included following huge spending in the summer of 2023.
Several stars moved to these two leagues in the past decade, including; John Mikel Obi - Tianjin Teda, China, and Neymar - Al Hilal - Saudi Arabia to mention a few.
Barcelona spent in excess of €1.2 billion and received €613 million with the report looking closely at the deal for Philippe Coutinho.
Coutinho signed from Liverpool for €135 million in 2018 before leaving for Aston Villa for €20 million. The Brazilian has since joined Al-Duhail on loan.
The Blaugarana side also signed Ousmane Dembele for €135 million before he was sold for €50 million in the summer of 2023 to Paris St-Germain.
Chelsea recorded a loss of €482 million after signing players like Christian Pulisic for €64 million in 2019, before selling him to Italian giants AC Milan for €20m last year.
The Blues also signed Jorginho for €57 million in 2018 but was then sold for €11.3 million to Arsenal.
Following the sale of the club to Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea have also spent about €1.2 billion, including signing Moses Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez for above €100 million each.
They have also received €730 million following sales of certain players, including; Mason Mount to Manchester United for €64.2 million.
Arsenal witnessed a deficit of €436 million after signing players such as Nicolas Pepe for €80 million before he exited North London after four years on a free transfer to Turkish club Trabzonspor.
Manchester City and Bayern Munich, who recorded losses of €59 million and €61 million respectively “have the best balances among the most competitive teams” based on the report.
Lille gained an astronomical profit of €386 million following the sales of players such as striker Victor Osimhen, who they signed for €22.4 million and then sold to Napoli for €75 million.
Sven Botman moved to Newcastle United for €37 million from Lille, who signed him on July 31, 2020, for a fee of €8 million.
Ajax sit closely behind Lille with player trades reading a positive balance of €317 million, having sold players like; Antony to Manchester United for €95 million, who they signed for a fee of €15.8 million.