Chelsea have spent a ridiculous amount of money since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took charge of the club a little more than two years ago.
The big-spending Blues have shattered transfer records with a questionable recruitment drive that appears to lack philosophy from the outside. With rumours Chelsea are far from done before the summer slams shut for business, we’ve looked at how the West Londoners compare to the rest of Europe.
Europe’s highest-spending clubs since Todd Boehly took charge at Chelsea:
5. Arsenal – €498m
Arsenal kick-off a Premier League dominated top five for spending since summer 2022.
The North London side have backed head coach Mikel Arteta to the tune of €498m, including the arrivals of Riccardo Calafiori and David Raya this summer.
Arsenal’s investment appears well spent to date, with the Gunners returning to the Champions League after a long absence and securing back-to-back runners-up finishes in the Premier League. Hopes will be high that the club can end a 21-year wait for Premier League success in 2024/25.
4. Manchester United – €550m
Manchester United rank fourth for spending in the past two years, investing €550m into their squad.
It’s been a decade of decline for the Red Devils since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson, with fortunes spent and squandered in search of an elusive Premier League title.
After period of mediocrity, including an eighth-place finish in 2023/24, changes in the ownership and boardroom could bode well for a return to former glories.
3. Tottenham – €573m
Tottenham are the third-highest spenders in Europe across the last two seasons with €573m spent on new additions.
The North London side completed the signing of Dominic Solanke this week for a fee that could rise to a club-record £65m (€75.9m). Archie Gray (€41m) is another expensive recruit from this summer’s window as Ange Postecoglou looks to shape a squad capable of challenging England’s top teams.
We are delighted to announce the signing of Dominic Solanke from Bournemouth.
Welcome to Tottenham, Dominic! ????
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 10, 2024
2. Paris Saint-Germain – €721m
Paris Saint-Germain break up the Premier League dominance of this list with €721m spent on signings since 2022.
The French champions have been regular big spenders since their Qatari-backed takeover in 2011 and are responsible for the two most expensive transfers of all time, having signed Neymar (£198m) and Kylian Mbappe (£163m).
PSG are in the process of rebuild after losing Mbappe to Real Madrid and have signed emerging stars Joao Neves and Willian Pacho for a combined €100m this summer.
João Neves becomes the 7th most expensive teenager in history ✍️???????? pic.twitter.com/FDpDlY2E9h
— LiveScore (@livescore) August 6, 2024
1. Chelsea – €1.22bn
Far and away the leading spenders across Europe’s top five leagues, Chelsea have spent a whopping €1.22bn on players in just over two years.
The Blues have twice broken the British transfer record to sign Enzo Fernandez (£106m) and Moises Caicedo (£115m), while their £450m+ spending spree last summer set a new world record for a single window.
Just six months earlier, Chelsea had set a new milestone for money spent in a January window with £320m of new recruits.
The current Chelsea squad… ???? pic.twitter.com/PC7sNtINYr
— CFC-Blues (@CFCBlues_com) August 6, 2024
Despite the staggering sums and surplus of players at Stamford Bridge, the Blues keep buying. Pedro Neto looks set to be next through the door after a €63m fee was agreed with Wolves.
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See more – Chelsea’s most expensive academy player sales
