Ranking the Top 20 Clubs
As the demands on modern footballers continue to rise, clubs often find themselves needing to invest more in their squads during transfer windows. The league season is a long journey, not a sprint, and those competing in European tournaments may play over 60 matches in a single season. While individual talents frequently steal the spotlight, it’s the depth of the squad that often secures the trophies.
Nonetheless, Premier League fans are always eager to establish the strongest starting XIs to compare their team’s strength with rival clubs as they prepare for the upcoming season. Key matchups can greatly influence title races, which often hinge on minimal margins; star players can sway the outcome in favor of one club or another. So, which teams have the most valuable starting XI as we head into this Premier League season? Let’s examine the rankings.
It’s no surprise that the clubs typically vying for the Premier League title rank at the top. However, their order differs from the list based solely on squad market value. For instance, while Manchester City has the highest overall squad value at €1.35 billion, Pep Guardiola’s most valuable starting XI ranks second behind Arsenal. Despite having a squad valued at €30 million less than City’s, Mikel Arteta’s strongest XI is worth €28 million more than that of his former mentor.
Similarly, Chelsea is third in terms of squad value (€1.17 billion), but their most valuable starting XI comes in fourth at €615 million, which is over €100 million less than Liverpool’s strongest XI valued at €718 million. This contrast exists despite Liverpool’s squad being €130 million less valuable than Chelsea’s. Furthermore, Newcastle, possessing the seventh-highest squad value in the league, has the fifth-most valuable starting XI, indicating a focus on quality over quantity for Eddie Howe’s team.
To grasp these variations in market value between squads and their respective starting XIs, we can assemble a starting XI featuring the most valuable players for each position. The chart above illustrates that Arsenal dominates with six players in the most valuable Premier League XI, including David Raya, Gabriel, William Saliba, Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, and Bukayo Saka. Manchester City follows with three players: Josko Gvardiol, Rodri, and Erling Haaland, while Liverpool and Chelsea contribute one player each with Florian Wirtz and Cole Palmer, respectively.
The debate over whether the market value of a team’s top XI or their overall squad is more crucial for claiming league titles and cup wins remains ongoing. However, it’s evident that among England’s top clubs, some are inclined to recruit more elite players, while others opt for a strategy that combines star quality with depth. By next May, we may find clarity on which approach proves more effective in securing a Premier League title.
