Net spend; as juicy as it gets and yet somehow still as dry as a bone. Numbers, for the most part, are boring. Some of you may disagree with that statement, but as much as you might protest, you know deep down that we’re correct. It’s why this article is written in the Roman alphabet and not, say, binary code.
But sometimes numbers have their uses. In the case of net spends, they can paint a picture of where a side might have gone wrong over the course of a campaign, or indeed, where they may have gone right. In 2022/23, Premier League clubs have spent more money than ever before. Taken holistically, the 20 teams that make up the top flight have forked out a combined £2.8 billion this season. That’s approximately somewhere between the GDP of Liberia and Guyana.
But how do the figures actually break down, and just how much bigger is Chelsea’s net spend compared to everybody else? We’ve pored over all of the top flight’s incoming and outgoing transfer fees and then ranked the division from highest profit to biggest loss. Check out the findings below...
1. Brighton & Hove Albion - +£72.3m
The undisputed kings of buying cheap and selling for exorbitant profit, Brighton have once again made a mint this season. Marc Cucurella, Yves Bissouma, and Leandro Trossard all brought in big transfer fees, and with queues forming round the block for a number of current Albion stars, don’t be surprised to see the Seagulls top the net spend table again next term.
2. Leicester City - +£29.4m
Leicester’s lofty ranking is ultimately down to two things; they sold Wesley Fofana for an absolute bomb, and they have barely invested anything in the transfer market since the end of last season. Ultimately, that frugality could come back to bite them, with relegation looming large.
3. Everton - +£22.3m
Everton’s management of their finances in the transfer market have been infamously poor in recent years, which in turn has led to a real lack of funds when they need them most. The hope will be that avoiding relegation can lead to fresh investment in the summer.
4. Manchester City - +£10.3m
It is quite remarkable that in a season during which they signed the likes of Erling Haaland, Kalvin Phillips, and Manuel Akanji, City have still somehow turned a profit in the transfer market. The departures of Raheem Sterling, Gabriel Jesus, and Oleksandr Zinchenko are largely to thank for that mind-boggling feat.