The Premier League’s financial power is evident in its massive transfer spending over the last five years. Since the 2021–22 season, clubs have invested heavily to gain a competitive edge, with Manchester United leading the net spend charts, followed closely by Arsenal and Chelsea. While traditional “big six” sides dominate the list, clubs like Newcastle, West Ham and Nottingham Forest also show ambitious investment. Overall, these figures highlight the EPL’s economic strength, rising competition, and the growing pressure on clubs to balance success with financial sustainability.
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Premier League Clubs Net Spend: Top 10 Highest Spenders Since 2022

Summary
The English top-flight is lauded globally as the best football league in the world for many reasons. Globally recognised for its high intensity, superstar players, world-class coaches, and the league is home to some of the world's biggest clubs. Not only that, EPL clubs are by far the biggest spenders when it comes to transfers – it reflects on Premier League clubs net spend sheet as well.
As we welcome the 2026 winter transfer window, let's analyse which are the top clubs from the English league to have gone overboard with spending over the last few years. Combining all 20 clubs have spent a substantial £3 billion on acquisitions and outgoings in the 2025 summer. Far ahead compared to any other top leagues in Europe and the world.
Liverpool and Arsenal did some record-breaking transfers, followed by Chelsea and Man United have been the most aggressive in their investments. Sunderland, for example, had a big spend after promotion in the 2025-26 season with the desire to stay in the top tier. While Tottenham were ambitious in rebuilding under Thomas Frank, they spent £174.3 million in the summer.
This article aims to identify the net spend top 10 Premier League clubs since the 2021-2022 season in depth.
Net Spending of Premier League Clubs: How Much Each Club Spent Since 2022?
After considering transfer expenditure, transfer incomes, and financial activities of the English clubs since the 2021-22 campaign. Below are the top 10 net spends of Premier League clubs till the 2025-26 season.
| Rank | Club | Transfer expenditure (£) | Transfer income (£) | Net spend (£) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Crystal Palace | £333.01m | £155.07m | £177.93m |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | £581.88m | £261.69m | £320.19m |
| 8 | Manchester City | £862.58m | £521.13m | £341.47m |
| 7 | West Ham United | £667.24m | £299.54m | £367.66m |
| 6 | Newcastle United | £697.16m | £278.82m | £418.38m |
| 5 | Liverpool | £805.56m | £378.01m | £427.59m |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | £803.11m | £285.41m | £517.70m |
| 3 | Chelsea | £1.573bn | £924.50m | £648.70m |
| 2 | Arsenal | £852.50m | £188.76m | £663.74m |
| 1 | Manchester United | £940.00m | £249.65m | £690.35m |
Note: Figures are converted from euros to pounds based on the current exchange rate as of 7th January 2026 and may vary.
Net Spending of Premier League Clubs since 2022: Which Clubs have Spent the Most?
This article highlights the economic strength of the English Premier League clubs while discussing the increasing competition and pressure for financial stability. Already aware of the fact, these clubs are the biggest money movers in the market. Let's understand the top 10 Premier League spending by club based on net spending in recent history. Have they been able to work with positive net spending by relying on high-profile player sales?
10. Crystal Palace (£177m)

In the 2024-25 season, the London outfit Crystal Palace have enjoyed the most successful campaign ever, winning their first English FA Cup and Community Shield under Oliver Glasner. 10th on the list of the highest net spending of Premier League clubs, they have been making significant transfers in the past few windows. With over 300 million pounds invested in squad reinforcements.
The acquisition of players like Michael Olise, Marc Guéhi, and Jean-Philippe Mateta has delivered big time for the Eagles. Not only that, Palace have generated over £155 million from outgoings since the 2021-22 season. Though they hardly spend as much as the ‘top sixes’ of the English Premier League, their consistent and sensible recruitment has helped them make value-for-money transfers altogether.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Expenditure | £333.01m |
| Income | £155.07m |
| Net spend | £177.93m |
9 Nottingham Forest (£320m)

Next on the Premier League clubs net spend list with the highest grossing at 9th is Nottingham Forest, registering over £320 million of net spend in the last few years. Navigating through a busy schedule and managerial changes in the 2025-26 season, the Trickey Trees have shown the desire to compete against top clubs. The club invested a huge 580 million in reinventing their team, and made use of players in their prime.
Forest's transfer policy has served to strengthen their depth, which has been value-additive names like Elliot Anderson, Omar Hutchinson, and Morgan Gibbs White. In terms of departures, Anthony Elanga, Danilo, and Brennan Johanson were the big sales that at least got part of their money back. Under a permanent manager, Forest must ensure a proper recruitment plan to overcome financial hiccups that seem to cause odd balancing sheets.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| expenditure | £581.88m |
| income | £261.69m |
| Net spend | £320.19m |
8. Manchester City (£341m)

Pep Guardiola's Manchester City continues to dominate while using the least net spend, with a total of £341 million, despite being hyperactive in the transfer markets. The Premier League giants have been charged with financial fair play (FFP) rules breaches, only spent £173 million in the summer of 2025. Since 2021, Splashing over 800 million on the signing of Erling Haaland, Josko Gvardiol, Jack Grealish, Omar Marmoush, and Cherki recently.
And, the Cityzens have generated £521 million from outgoings of Julian Alvarez, who moved to Atletico Madrid for £81 million approx, Cole Palmer left for Chelsea, and Gabriel Jesus joined Arsenal subsequently. The club made £341 million in net merchandise sales, revenues from targeted sales. Now with careful signing and squad revamp, Guardiola has a perfect squad to keep them alive in title races after a sub-standard 2024-25 season.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| expenditure | £862.58m |
| income | £521.13m |
| Net spend | £341.47m |
7. West Ham United (£367m)

Struggling in the league, sitting at the bottom of the points table, West Ham United has incurred a net expenditure of £367.66m on player acquisitions and layoffs. The signing of players such as Lucas Paqueta, Max Kilman & Mohamed Kudus have been prominent names on the list of arrivals, taking their expenditure to £667 million. However, the departure of English star midfielder Declan Rice has left a void in the Hammers' team.
Meanwhile, they have accumulated nearly 300 million from player sales, which includes Rice's record deal worth £105m and Kudus's £50m compensation to join Tottenham. Recently, they have been reluctant to invest in quality players, only keeping up a satisfactory level of competitiveness. While keeping their balance sheets in check, they maintain a net spend of crossing the 350 million mark. West Ham sits 7th in the list of the highest Premier League clubs net spend.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Expenditure | £667.24m |
| Income | £299.54m |
| Net spend | £367.66m |
6. Newcastle United (£418M)

Newcastle United lifted its first-ever major trophy since 1955, winning the EFL Carabao Cup in the 2024-25 season. In the past few years, the Magpies have spent an enormous 700 million pounds on transfers following Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) taking the ownership charge in 2021. Alexander Isak, Nick Woltemade, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordan, Harvy Barnes and Bruno Gumereus have moved to St James Park, keeping a strategy policy of quality over quantity.
In sixth place in terms of Premier League clubs net spend, Newcastle have made smart investments, but their income from players is comparatively lower, only £278 million since the 2021-22 season. Last summer, after a long saga, Isak joined Liverpool to become the Premier League's most expensive transfer, worth a whopping £130million in total. Eliito Anderson and Yankuba Minteh's sales combined brought £60million, as their net balance ranges around £418 million in total.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| expenditure | £697.16m |
| income | £278.82m |
| Net spend | £418.38m |
5. Liverpool (£427m)

The English champions had a hectic summer transfer window, breaking the bank for a significant sum of £450million following a couple of record signings of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike as the club's most expensive transfers. Yet, they have managed their finances quite well, selling players Luis Dias to Bayern Munich, and Darwin Nunez joined the Saudi Pro League, recouping their spending in the transfer market.
Interestingly, the level of spending for Liverpool is fully compliant with FFP rules but still enables the team to belong to the elite Premier League; therefore, Liverpool is an example of sustainable success. Under Jurgen Klopp's era, the Reds made value-for-money signings who were more suited to the project and playing style, players like Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai. Moreover, they have relied on youth prospects being incorporated into the first team.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| expenditure | £805.56m |
| income | £378.01m |
| Net spend | £427.59m |
4. Tottenham Hotspur (£517m)

Tottenham Hotspur has a net spend of £517.70m, putting them in the fourth position when it comes to Premier League clubs net spend since the 2021-22 season. Last summer, with Thomas Frank at the helm as new manager, the North London side spent £174.3m on transfers, securing Mohamed Kudus and Xavi Simons. In the recent past, they have actively made recruitments from Dominic Solanke, Richarlison, to Mickey Van de Van etc.
Though, Spurs lost their talisman, Harry Kane, to Bayern Munich for a big sum of money, the club also gained the much-needed fluidity in economic circuits. If other receipts, including the sale of Harry Kane, delivered £178.6 million, then the spending shows how diligently Tottenham aimed at retaining Premier League and European football competitiveness. Their transfer stratergy did brought new life to the club provide reliability for a top-four regular with the potential for trophies.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Transfer expenditure | £803.11m |
| Transfer income | £285.41m |
| Net spend | £517.70m |
3. Chelsea (£648m)

You cannot ignore Chelsea in regard to the spending spree on transfers. The Blues are the only English clubs to spend over a billion pounds and accumulated just £924m in return from outgoings. Since Todd Boehly took the club's matter into their own hand after Roman Abramovich's regime. They have spent over £1.5 billion, which has made them the world’s biggest spenders. Chelsea bought Enzo Fernández, Moises Caicedo, and Mykhailo Mudryk on long-term deals.
Nevertheless, Chelsea’s recruitment policy delivered success on the pitch, with UEFA Europa Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup triumphs in the USA. The West London club have accumulated struggled £924.50m after selling surplus to their requirements to balance their books. Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, and Noni Madueke were recently traded out for profits, to register £648.70m net expenditure. The Blues have done commendable work among all Premier League clubs net spend.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Transfer expenditure | £1.573bn |
| Transfer income | £924.50m |
| Net spend | £648.70m |
2.Arsenal (£663m)

Arsenal ranks second in Premier League spending by club, £663.74m net in transfers, which shows the change the club has gone through under Mikel Arteta. Last summer, Arsenal spent a total of £263m on the new player’s acquisitions to improve the ranks, with Eberech Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi being the main ones. Arsenal continues to challenge for titles and European silverware, boasting near perfect squad.
Since the 2021-22 season, it's worth noting that they have made £188.76m from sales while giving out £852.50m on arrivals in total. The dual objectives of Arsenal’s model of development are to sustain over the long term while remaining a powerhouse, but certainly, there is a strong imperative to win the major trophies. The club currently has the right squad on which it can build to maintain to fulfill their objective of clinching the English Premier League trophy in the 2025-26 season.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Transfer expenditure | £852.50m |
| Transfer income | £188.76m |
| Net spend | £663.74m |
1. Manchester United (£690m)

The first on the list of the highest Premier League clubs net spend is Manchester United, with a substantial net spend of £690.35m, showing their spending spree to be the team of the old days over the past few seasons. Under the supervision of Portugese head coach Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils splashed £228.5m on incomings to take their total expense upto £940.00m overall. However, none of their signings have made the mark as expected.
Manchester United's spending at this club has been reckless, when the total income is merely £249.65m, clearly a lack of planning in making money from trades. These investments have not paid off consistently, and thus, Amorim was recently sacked following a fallout with top brass. The club's failure to have a strong source of income for outgoings has worsened their net spending in the entire league bearing more than half a million loss since 2021.
| Category | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Transfer expenditure | £940.00m |
| Transfer income | £249.65m |
| Net spend | £690.35m |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which Premier League club has the highest net spend since 2022?+
A. Man United has the highest net spend since 2022 with £690.35m.
2. How does Manchester United's net spend compare to Chelsea?+
A. Manchester United's net spending of £690.35m is higher compared to Chelsea's net spending of £648.70m.
3. Which club recorded the highest profit in net spend?+
A. No club have made a profit among the top 10 highest spenders in the EPL.
4. Which Premier League club has the lowest net spend since 2022 in the list?
+
4. Which Premier League club has the lowest net spend since 2022 in the list?
A. Crystal Palace has the lowest net spend on the list with £177.93m
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Edited by- Ashu Ranjeet
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