The 552nd CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post ranks the teams worldwide having invested the most on transfer fees (including add-ons, regardless of effective payment) to sign the players currently in their squads. Liverpool FC (€1.226 billion) has moved up three places compared with the same date last year and now tops the table, replacing Chelsea FC.
Six English clubs occupy the top six places, whilst Real Madrid has overtaken Paris Saint-Germain among teams from other countries. The Post also presents the net transfer spending for both the current calendar year and the last ten transfer windows. For 2026, the values stretch from +€207 million for Paris St-Germain to -€287m for Al-Hilal SFC. Over the last five years, from +€337 million for LOSC Lille to -€873m for Al-Hilal SFC again.
In terms of transfer expenditure only, five English clubs are at the top of the table for both 2026 (Manchester City, Tottenham, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Newcastle) and the last five-year period (Chelsea, Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool and Manchester United). Brighton & Hove is the only Premier League club with a positive net transfer balance over the last ten transfer windows (+€33m).
Transfer fees to sign current first team players
Date: 09/09/2026. Million €, with add-ons regardless of actual payment.