The Premier League Clubs That Spent the Most and the Least in the 2024 Summer Transfer Window
Six clubs ended the transfer window with a positive balance. The biggest spenders in the Premier League splashed out $265 million on signings. Pedro Neto, at $62m, was the most expensive.
The 2024 summer transfer window was relatively low-key compared to the two previous ones. But one thing all three had in common was the club who topped the list of spenders – Chelsea led the way in 2022 with a total expenditure of $665.2 million in 2022 and $441.5 million the following year.
This summer, the Blues have also spent more than anyone else, with a total of $265 million laid out on strengthening the squad.
That figure includes the additions of Mike Penders and Aaron Anselmino, signed for $22 million and $18.2 million respectively before being loaned back to their original clubs, but not including Omari Kellyman ($24.3M), who was signed from Aston Villa for the reserve team.
Movement in and out of Chelsea
Although manager Enzo Maresca had to go to great lengths to select the players who were in his plans for this season from a pool of more than 40 that Chelsea had registered with the first team, and the club waited until the last day of the transfer market to offload those who were not even training with the squad, at Stamford Bridge they have managed to ensure that, on this occasion, the balance of accounts is not so negative.
Selling Angelo Gabriel to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, for $25.3 million meant that Chelsea have raised just over $200 million from 24 departures between sales, loans and players who were at the end of their contracts.
Even so, Chelsea’s squad remains overcrowded. Pedro Neto, at $62 million from Wolves, was the most expensive signing of the summer in west London. The return of João Félix, for another $57.3m, and the loan with obligation to buy of Jadon Sancho have also left a mark on the Blues’ coffers. Along with these, another eight players also arrived: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall ($38.6m), Filip Jørgensen ($27m), Mike Penders ($22m), Aarón Anselmino ($18.2m), Renato Veiga ($15.4m), Caleb Wiley ($11m), Marc Guiu ($6.6m) and Tosin Adarabioyo (free).
City and Liverpool watch their purses
Brighton, with a total investment of $255.2 million, were not too far behind the Blues. The problem is that the London team as usual, ended up being the main agitators of the market. Although they ended up giving way, at the last minute, the likes of Raheem Sterling, Romelu Lukaku and Kepa Arrizabagala, in mid-August Chelsea had accumulated a combined total of 191 years in players’ contracts.
And the fact is that, since BlueCo took over the London team, with Todd Boehly at the helm, Chelsea has spent more on signings in the last five seasons than Everton in its entire history.
At the other end of the scale, it was surprising to see current champions Manchester City and title contenders Liverpool keeping their wallets tightly closed. Guardiola added Brazilian winger Sàvinho to his squad while new Reds manager Arne Slot had hoped to find a holding midfielder but just two additions were made, in other areas – forward Federico Chiesa and goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will stay put at Valencia on loan until the end of the season.
Arsenal strengthened with the arrivals of Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, David Raya and took Raheem Sterling on loan but otherwise, Arteta spent where necessary with the Gunners the ninth in the list.
