With the January transfer window now open, we’ve analysed the Premier League’s summer spending to determine who has got the best value from their transfer outlay so far this season.
As teams look to bolster their ranks over the coming weeks, fans and owners alike need to know they will get a good return for their investments in the window.
But for many clubs, they have spent incredible sums of money for very little in return. Based on their summer spending, we’ve broken down how much each point this season has cost Premier League sides so far.
As many sources list different figures for the same transfers, we’ve taken stats from Transfermarkt.com for each club to provide a fair and consistent comparison.
Arsenal – £202 Million – 40 points – £5 million per point
First up is Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side. The Gunners spent around £200 million in the summer, with £105 million going on Declan Rice from West Ham.
They’ve so far picked up 40 points and sit fourth in the table after 20 games. That gives them a spend per point of about £5 million – not the worst but certainly not the best.
Aston Villa – £80 million – 42 points – £1.9 million per point
But one club who have certainly spent well are Aston Villa. Few would have expected Unai Emery’s men to be genuine title contenders, but here we are.
Villa are second in the table on 42 points, just three behind leaders Liverpool. Their £80 million spend in the summer gives them a figure of £1.9 million spent per point, the third-best value in the Premier League.
Bournemouth – £109 million – 25 points – £4.4 million per point
Bournemouth spent big in the summer by their own standards, tipping over the £100 million mark for incoming signings. With 25 points so far, they have improved in recent weeks and sit 12th in the table, ten points above the bottom three.
Their spend of £4.4 million per point earned has them mid-table for value this season, reflecting their position in the real table.
Brentford – £56 million – 19 points – £2.9 million per point
A side who have dipped in form recently, Brentford will be hoping for a better second half of the campaign. The Bees have slipped to 16th in the table, with 19 points from as many games.
They spent modestly in the summer though, with their £56 million expenditure equating to £2.9 million per point, the eighth-best value in the league.
Brighton – £84 million – 31 points – £2.7 million per point
Brighton are enjoying another strong season under Roberto De Zerbi. Their £100 million sale of Moises Caicedo to Chelsea meant the Seagulls actually turned a healthy profit from the summer window, though this comparison is only focused on spending.
With 31 points to show from their £84 million summer spend, it’s cost them £2.7 million per point this season. That gives Brighton the sixth-best value of any Premier League team.
Burnley – £96 million – 11 points – £8.7 million per point
Vincent Kompany’s Burnley have had a torrid time this season. They are only above the bottom of the table thanks to Sheffield United’s form being even worse.
With a £96 million summer spend on their return to the Premier League, they have just 11 points to date. At a cost of £8.7 million per point, they have the second-worst value of anyone.
Chelsea – £402 million – 28 points – £14.4 million per point
But even Burnley’s woeful value from their summer spend is nothing compared the Chelsea’s. Since new owner Todd Boehly arrived in 2022, they have splashed more than £1 billion on new arrivals.
Around £400 million of that was in the summer of 2023 alone. Yet despite their huge outlay, the Blues have just 28 points and sit tenth in the table.
Their cost of £14.4 million per point is the worst value in the league by a mile, almost twice as much as second-worst Burnley.
Crystal Palace – £33 million – 21 points – £1.6 million per point
Back at the other end of the value table are Crystal Palace. While it’s not been a great season so far for Roy Hodgson’s side, their £33 million spend in the summer is among the lowest of anybody.
With 21 points, the Eagles have paid £1.6 million for each of them so far. Only one team has a better value from their summer spending, meaning Palace are at least getting their money’s worth.
Everton – £32 million – 16 points – £2 million per point
Similarly to Palace, Everton spent very little in the summer. With questions surrounding their lavish spending in previous windows, and a ten-point deduction this season for breaching profit and sustainability regulations, the Toffees tightened their pursestrings.
They spent £32 million, the lowest of all but one Premier League clubs. As a result, despite picking up just 16 points, they have paid only £2 million per point and have the fourth-best value in the league.
Fulham – £59 million – 24 points – £2.5 million per point
One place worse off in the value charts are Fulham. Their £2.5 million per point comes after spending £59 million in the summer for a return of 24 points.
The West London club are currently 13th in the table and appear on course for a solid campaign, if a little dull.
Liverpool – £148 million – 45 points – £3.3 million per point
Top of the table with 45 points, few can argue Liverpool spent will in the summer. Their £148 million outlay bought them the likes of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai, completely rebuilding Jurgen Klopp’s midfield.
The Reds have 45 points to date, at a cost of £3.3 million each – the ninth-best value in the league.
Luton Town – £20 million – 15 points – £1.3 million per point
Unsurprisingly, nobody has spent less per point than Premier League newcomers, Luton Town. The Hatters returned to the top flight for the first time in 30 years this season, and the first time in the Premier League era.
Their record signing of former Wolves fullback Ryan Giles for £5 million took their total summer spend to £20 million. But with 15 points, their £1.3 million spent per point is the best value of any team.
Manchester City – £207 million – 40 points – £5.2 million per point
With the third-highest spend in the Premier League, Manchester City dropped more than £200 million in an effort to retain the title for a fourth straight season.
Pep Guardiola’s men have 40 points to show for it so far, at a cost of £5.2 million per point. City are third in the table but could close the gap with first-place Liverpool to two points if they win their game in hand.
Manchester United – £166 million – 31 points – £5.4 million per point
Moving across to the red side of Manchester, United spent £166 million in the summer. It’s been a disappointing season, with 31 points for Eric Ten Hag’s side to date.
The Red Devils are eighth in the table, having spent £5.4 million per point, the fourth-worst value in the Premier League.
Newcastle United – £132 million – 29 points – £4.5 million per point
Eddie Howe’s Newcastle haven’t lived up to last season’s form just yet, which took them to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
The Magpies spent £132 million in the summer and have 29 points thus far. At £4.5 million per point they have the ninth-worst value from their summer spending.
Nottingham Forest – £104 million – 20 points – £5.2 million per point
Nottingham Forest recently sacked former boss Steve Cooper, replacing him with Nuno Espirito Santo. In the summer, they spent £104 million.
But with just 20 points, Forest’s outlay has cost them £5.2 million per point, tied for sixth-worst value with Manchester City.
Sheffield United – £55 million – 9 points – £6.2 million per point
Despite picking up just nine points all season, Sheffield United only have the third-worst value from their summer spend. The Blades dropped £55 million as they finished second in the EFL Championship and earned promotion.
At £6.2 million per point, they have managed anything but good value from their investments.
Tottenham – £213 million – 39 points – £5.4 million per point
Spurs’ spending was only surpassed in the summer window by Chelsea. New boss Ange Postecoglou brought in the likes of James Maddison from Leicester and had to account for the loss of captain Harry Kane to Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
But their 39 points from £213 million spent has cost them £5.4 million per point. They are therefore tied with Manchester United for the fourth-worst value.
West Ham United – £118 million – 34 points – £3.5 million per point
West Ham have been enjoying a good season under David Moyes, and are into the Europa League knockouts. The Irons spent £118 million in the summer, and have picked up 34 points.
Their spending rate of £3.5 million per point is the tenth-best or 11th-worst, depending on how you like to view things.
Wolves – £81 million – 28 points – £2.9 million per point
Wolves are having another solid season, and are currently 11th in the Premier League table, with 28 points in 20 games.
After spending £81 million in the summer, it’s cost them £2.9 million per point – the seventh-best value in the league.
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