Transfers by numbers

A quick case study into the transfer dealings within the Premier League since it’s conception in 1992.

It may come as no surprise which team comes in with the biggest investment in playing staff. Taken over in 2004 by the Russian businessman Roman Abramovich, Chelsea have spent an incredible £1,060.949.000 in the transfer market.

Even after selling £415,275.000 worth of talent, their deficit still comes in at a staggering£645,674.000 loss in the market.

Their success during the Premier League era mildly supports the wealth of investment made, winning 3 Premier League titles, six FA Cups and four League Cups. The club has taken part in all twenty three seasons since the birth of the Premier League.

Coming in second, and again not too surprisingly, is Manchester City. Their ability to spend big is due to the club being bought by multi-billionaire Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahyan back in 2008.

The current expenditure is a whooping £893,880,000, mostly spent over the last seven years making their total the highest in recorded history of the sport over such a short time frame. A mere £262,453.000 recouped on sales outlines the massive hit they have taken in the market giving a budget spend of £631,427.000.

The world record investment has not brought the equivalent success on the field, winning just two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and one League Cup since 1992, playing in eighteen of the twenty three Premier League seasons.

The third ranked highest outlay on players goes to arguably the countries most successful team in the modern era; Manchester United.

Owned by United States businessman Malcolm Glazer, who brought the club in 2003, the club has seen a turnover of £759,350.000 spent on playing staff. Their sales of £360,040.000 give them a total balance of £399,310.000 in the red.

But it is on the playing field where the club has strived and cut through and above the rest of the country winning thirteen Premier League Titles, four FA Cups and four League Cups. The club has been in all twenty three seasons of the Premier League.

A club that hasn’t managed to repeat the glory of the pre-Premier League era isLiverpool. They are currently owned by a United States businessman John William Henry II, who took control of the club in October 2010.

The club have invested £767,305.000 in an attempt to rekindle the form of the 80s, recouping £441,090.000 in player sales. All this activity has still landed the club with the 4th biggest deficit in the country with not much to show in the way of achievements.

A seizable £326,215.000 is the burden of expense without landing a single Premier League title during the club’s twenty three year participation in the competition. The club has however hauled an impressive three FA Cups and a further four League Cups during this period.

The fifth ranked club in terms of deficit might be a surprise to learn. Of all the clubs in the Premier League era, no club has spent as much at a loss with nearly no return in silverware than Aston Villa.

Owned by the third United States businessman in this list thus far, on the 14th of August 2006, Randy Lerner was confirmed as the club’s owner. The club have released £359.290.000 for the staff to compile the squads of players. Sales of £139,225.000 have created a gulf negative margin of £220,065.000.

With a return for the substantial investment, a solitary League Cup trophy, is as much as the club has been able to muster, competing in all twenty three seasons.

Next up is the club, Tottenham Hotspur, chaired by a man who is rumoured to be one of the most fierce negotiators in the game. Owned since 2001 by English businessman Joe Lewis, whose ‘right hand man’ is responsible for the running of club; Daniel Levy.

This claim appears to be backed up by the club’s transfer dealings. While a hefty £605,200.000 has been spent on bringing players to the club, the sales side of the transfer market is what puts the club in sixth place. An impressive £448,717.000 has been recouped giving a spending loss of £156,482.500.

Although the finances make for good reading, on the field doesn’t paint the same rosy picture, having landed just two League Cups during the club’s twenty three year inclusion in the Premier League.

North London rivals, and in the eyes of many, the more successful of the two clubs,Arsenal make an appearance at number seven in the list. The majority shareholder of the club is another businessman from the United States; Stan Kroenke, who since 2007 has held the majority share in the club.

Investing £531,565.000 in bringing players to the club, compared to the other teams that regularly compete for Champions League places, is a substantially lower figure. £403,374.000 in sales puts the club’s loss at a mere £125,191.000 in the red.

Showed more so on the pitch, the club have three Premier League titles, six FA Cups and one League Cup collected during their twenty three years in the Premier League.

The first club of the list, of which is yet to register a single trophy during the Premier League era, is Newcastle United. Under the control of only the second English businessman in the list, Mike Ashley, since 2007, the club have spent big for nothing in return.

£441,745.000 in outgoings, recovering an impressive £300,025.000 puts the club at a loss of £111,720.000.

The club has spent twenty one of the twenty three years in the competition without winning a single trophy.

Over achievers or tightly run, Everton have cause for celebration. Owned by the club itself, without individual investment as with all of the other clubs in the list, the club can feel relatively satisfied with the way it is being run.

A modest £304,745.500 has been spent bringing in new talent to the club, making light of such outlay by a sales figure of £246,886.000. The club is by far the lowest in the list with respect to deficit monies giving a total negative figure of just £57,859.500.

The club has participated in all twenty three seasons of the Premier League, winning one FA Cup along the way.