Top 20 Transfer Profits
Premier League clubs are tasked with being more strategic than ever in the transfer market. Beyond the challenge of selecting the right players to enhance their squads in the short term, many of England’s top clubs must also consider the long-term potential of their signings to capitalize on significant resale profits. With UEFA’s financial fair play regulations and the Premier League’s own profit and sustainability guidelines, English teams face increased pressure to optimize their earnings from player sales. Which clubs excel in acquiring players at low costs and selling them for substantial returns? Let’s find out.
The table above showcases the top 20 largest transfer profits in English football history, featuring some familiar names. Unsurprisingly, Philippe Coutinho’s €135 million transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona in the 2017/18 season stands as the most lucrative deal involving an English club. Liverpool purchased the Brazilian midfielder from Inter for just €13 million in 2012, resulting in an impressive €122 million profit within five years.
Barcelona and Real Madrid’s Impact
Interestingly, many of the top deals involving English clubs making significant profits pertain to players sold to Barcelona and their La Liga rivals, Real Madrid. Five of the ten largest profits recorded by English clubs were the result of transfers to these Spanish giants. Notably, Madrid’s latest acquisition, Dean Huijsen, entered the top 20 after Bournemouth gained €42.9 million from his sale this summer for €62.5 million.
Coutinho and Huijsen are joined in the rankings by Gareth Bale, Eden Hazard, and Cristiano Ronaldo, each of whom generated substantial profits for their respective Premier League clubs following their moves to Madrid. Additionally, Luis Suárez’s transfer to Barcelona in 2014 allowed Liverpool to accrue an impressive €177 million profit from dealings with their Spanish rival over a mere three seasons.
The Premium of the Premier League
However, the highest profits in the Premier League result from transactions involving two of its clubs. The second most profitable transfer in English football history is Moisés Caicedo’s move to Chelsea, netting Brighton €87.8 million. Leicester City also features prominently in the top ranks with Harry Maguire’s transfer to Manchester United yielding €73.3 million and Riyad Mahrez’s shift to Manchester City producing €67.3 million in profit. Collectively, these two clubs account for six entries in the top 20. In fact, adding Wesley Fofana’s transfer to Chelsea, Leicester amassed an astonishing €186 million profit from just three players.
Additionally, John Stones and Romelu Lukaku’s moves from Everton to Manchester City and Chelsea, respectively, resulted in a combined profit of €101.4 million, while Southampton earned €70 million from Virgil Van Dijk’s sale. Bournemouth also benefited from Dominic Solanke’s sale to Tottenham, generating €43.1 million in profit. The evidence clearly indicates a hierarchy within the Premier League, where the “Big Six” clubs frequently invest heavily in players who have excelled at mid-table or recently-promoted teams.
