Jump directly to the content

ARSENAL and Manchester United have both been named amongst the top 10 worst clubs at transfers.

Six Premier League teams feature in the top 10 after new research from into transfers.

Arsenal are one of six Premier League clubs in the 10 worst teams at transfers after a huge loss on Nicolas Pepe
9
Arsenal are one of six Premier League clubs in the 10 worst teams at transfers after a huge loss on Nicolas PepeCredit: Getty
Barcelona rank as the worst at transfers, having spent over £1billion on the likes of Philippe Coutinho
9
Barcelona rank as the worst at transfers, having spent over £1billion on the likes of Philippe CoutinhoCredit: Getty

Clubs have been ranked based on transfers between 2014 and 2023, with their fees spent and received calculated into a total profit or loss.

Fortunately for Arsenal and United fans, they do not rank top amongst the clubs with the worst transfer records.

Instead, Spanish giants Barcelona have the biggest loss on deals during the period in question.

Barca spent over £1billion on the likes of Philippe Coutinho, Ousmane Dembele and Antoine Griezmann between 2014 and 2023.

READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS

The trio were signed for a combined £330million, only to have since been sold for a total of £77m.

Overall, the Spanish champions only received £524million in fees to give a transfer loss of £540million.

Chelsea were the only other club in the top 10 to spend over £1billion, with Todd Boehly's free-spending Blues ranked second.

Since his takeover in 2022, the club have not held back in the transfer market, but have failed to recoup their large fees, leaving a loss of £413million.

FREE BETS - BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES

Romelu Lukaku is one of three players Chelsea have spent over £95million on
9
Romelu Lukaku is one of three players Chelsea have spent over £95million onCredit: Getty

Amongst those brought in during the research period, Enzo Fernandez, Moises Caicedo and Romelu Lukaku were all signed for over £95million each.

Arsenal rank third, with former club record signing Nicolas Pepe amongst their big money flops across the last decade.

Pepe scored 27 goals in 112 appearances for the club before joining Trabzonspor on a free transfer in September.

The Gunners have lost £373million on transfers, seeing them finish just ahead of Paris Saint-Germain.

Neymar's £198million move to the French capital in 2017 remains the world transfer record.

However, PSG failed to recoup half of that amount when he left for Al-Hilal last summer.

United complete the top five, with their £85.5million signing of Antony in 2022 contributing to a £280million loss on transfers.

PSG failed to recoup half of the world record £198million fee spent on Neymar in 2017
9
PSG failed to recoup half of the world record £198million fee spent on Neymar in 2017Credit: PA:Press Association
Antony's £85.5million move to Manchester United sees them into the top five
9
Antony's £85.5million move to Manchester United sees them into the top fiveCredit: EPA

The Brazilian has come under fire for his performances since joining the Red Devils after arriving for the second biggest fee in the club's history.

Paul Pogba remains United's record signing, though, but left for free in 2022 at a loss of £90million.

Aston Villa, Everton and Liverpool also appear in the top 10, along with Italy's AC Milan and Juventus.

Although Villa spent just £313million from 2014 to 2023, the club recouped only £94million according to CIES.

A majority of that figure comes from Jack Grealish's then British record move to Manchester City in 2021.

In contrast, Juventus' transfer expenditure fell just short of £900million, but their incoming fees of over £700million see the Old Lady only ranking as high as 10.

Everton are eighth after big losses on Yannick Bolasie, Davy Klaasen and Yerry Mina, despite profits on both Lukaku and Richarlison.

Yannick Bolasie is one of a number of players Everton suffered big losses on
9
Yannick Bolasie is one of a number of players Everton suffered big losses onCredit: PA:Empics Sport
Lille's capture and sale of Victor Osimhen helps them rank as the best club at transfers
9
Lille's capture and sale of Victor Osimhen helps them rank as the best club at transfersCredit: AFP

City rivals Liverpool are a place below in ninth after spending £82million less.

However, the Reds have only sold three players for over £50million, despite breaking their transfer record twice since 2018.

As for the best clubs at transfers, French side Lille are ranked first.

Thanks in part to the sale of Pepe to Arsenal in 2019, Lille have made £330million in profit on transfers since 2014.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

Victor Osimhen and Sven Botman have also been sold for large profits during that period.

Ajax and RB Salzburg complete the top three, with no English clubs featuring in the top 10 best clubs at transfers.

9
9
Topics