Top five clubs in Europe with most players out on loan

The new loan transfer regulations by FIFA will hit these clubs the hardest.

Sending players out on loan plays an important role for several clubs. It very often dictates their transfer strategy for any particular season. Loaning out players allows teams to make space for new arrivals, as they look to strengthen their squad. However, with FIFA introducing a new set of regulations for loan transfers, several clubs’ plans might take a huge hit.

FIFA recently announced that they will set new rules in place in regard to loan transfers. The regulations will see clubs being limited to a maximum of eight professionals loaned out and eight loaned in at any given time during a season. This will make several clubs' time difficult, as they have multiple players out on loan.

Here are the top five European clubs with most players out on loan right now.

5. Maccabi Tel Aviv (29)

Founded in 1906, Maccabi Tel Aviv are the oldest and most decorated club in the history of Israel. They are also the only team to have never been relegated from the country’s first division. Despite being the biggest club in Israel, Tel Aviv's transfer activities are predominantly based on loaning players.

This season saw 29 squad players go out of the club on loan. A lot of these players were young stars, looking to find regular game-time to kick-start their careers.

4. Sassuolo (29)

US Sassuolo secured promotion to the Serie A for the first time in the 2013-14 season. Since then, they have been one of the most consistent teams in the league. In recent years, the club have punched above their weight, finishing inside the top 10 despite their underdog status. With Sassuolo having a limited budget, loan deals play a huge role in their transfer strategy.

The 2021-22 season saw a total of 29 players leave on loan. One of the major departures was Manuel Locatelli, who joined Juventus. The 2019-20 season top scorer Francesco Caputo is on loan at Sampdoria.

3. Maccabi Haifa (30)

Maccabi Haifa are one of the biggest clubs in Israel. They are considered as one of the ‘Big Four’ teams in the country. The Haifa-based outfit have won the Israeli league title 13 times. They were the first club from the nation to qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage in the 2002-03 season.

The club saw 30 players depart on loan at the start of the season and most of them were youngsters who left in search of game-time.

2. Genoa (38)

Formed in 1893, Genoa are the oldest active Italian club. They have won the Serie A title nine times, with their most recent success coming in 1923-24. However, in recent years, the club have spent some time in the second and third divisions. This has seen them being unable to attract huge superstars and resulted in them relying on unproven players or loan deals.

The Liguria-based club saw a number of new arrivals on loan from other clubs, which resulted in 38 players departing the outfit, most of them to clubs in the first and second divisions of Italian football.

1. Atalanta (64)

Italian outfit Atalanta saw a record number of players leave on loan this season. A total of 64 players are currently out on loan. Some of the major departures from the club on loan deal were Christian Romero and Pierluigi Gollini. The two joined Premier League outfit Tottenham Hotspur, who have an option to buy the duo at the end of the campaign.

The Bergamo outfit were promoted to the Italian first division in 2010-11. In recent years, they have been one of the best clubs in the land, securing Champions League football for three consecutive years from the 2018-19 season onward.

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