Which club is the best-selling in Europe?
Christopher Nkunku arrived at Stamford Bridge in the summer of 2023 with high expectations on his shoulders. The French forward had just finished as the Bundesliga’s top goalscorer, recording 58 goals and 29 assists over two seasons with RB Leipzig. However, his first season in England was marred by injuries, limiting him to just 439 minutes in the Premier League. Although his fitness improved the following season, Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca largely overlooked him, confining most of his playtime to cup competitions.
Fast forward two years, Njunku has departed the west London club for a fee significantly lower than the €60 million Chelsea initially paid. On Saturday, he signed a five-year contract with AC Milan for an estimated €37 million. Despite the reduced transfer fee, this sale contributes to Chelsea’s robust player sale earnings this summer, pushing the total income to over €300 million.
Chelsea’s Player Sales Income Surpasses €300 Million
Should the Nkunku transfer finalise at €37 million, Chelsea’s overall income for player sales this summer would reach €313.5 million. This transaction would rank as the club’s second-largest sale of the transfer window, following the €56 million transfer of Noni Madueke to Arsenal. This also means that Chelsea’s net spending this summer stands at a positive figure, having spent €279.7 million on new signings. Moreover, this sale solidifies Chelsea’s position as the club with the highest income from player sales this summer.
As illustrated, following Nkunku’s sale, Chelsea (€313.5 million) will significantly outpace second-placed Bournemouth (€237.1 million) in terms of player sales this summer. Since Todd Boehly took charge in 2022, the club has been exceptionally active in the transfer market, investing over €1 billion in new players. While this aggressive strategy has had mixed results for some signings, one undeniable strength has been their ability to secure substantial fees for their players, regardless of their on-field performances.
