Top 10 highest spending clubs in the previous decade

These teams are widely-known for breaking the bank to sign the most talented players available.

Football transfers have not just been major news over the course of decades, but have left their imprint on economics, societal transformation and more. Club football, thus, has transformed into a different behemoth over the last decade. It has seen the rapid influx of money from middle-eastern countries and oligarchs from across the globe.

In a recently published report, FIFA has revealed the Top 30 clubs in the world in terms of transfer fees. These 30 clubs spent a total of $22.8 billion on incoming transfers in the last decade, 47% of the global total. Here, we take a look at the top 10 highest spending clubs in the previous decade:

10. Tottenham Hotspur

Daniel Levy isn’t the favourite person for football fans across the globe. But, he is certainly adored by Spurs fans who have seen him spend on transfers whenever the club has needed them. Tottenham, over the years, have brought in Tanguy Ndombele, Davinson Sanchez, Steven Bergwin and Sergio Reguilon among others, making them one of the highest spending clubs. These are talented youngsters who can take the club forward.

9. Juventus

The Old Lady has been knocking at the door of the Champions League for years now and this has been made possible by signing brilliant players from all over the world. From bringing Cristiano Ronaldo (€100m) to signing Matthijs de Ligt from Ajax (€75m), Juventus have consistently spent big on transfers bringing established players to their club.

8. Arsenal

Another club that could shock a few given its state of affairs, but the powers at Arsenal have continued to spend big bucks on transfers whenever the manager has asked for it. Nicolas Pepe, their record signing (€79m), was signed in 2019. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was Arsene Wenger’s last signing for the club and is currently the captain at Emirates Stadium.  

7. Manchester United

A list of transfers without Manchester United on it? No way!

Paul Pogba arrived amidst much fanfare from Juventus in 2016, making it the then costliest transfer in the Premier League for €105m. Harry Maguire, the costliest defender in the world, currently captains the club. Meanwhile, Romelu Lukaku, their third biggest signing ever, has moved on to Chelsea after a stint with Inter Milan.

6. Atlético Madrid

Diego Simeone doesn’t look like one to spend on transfers a lot, but the man has silently got who he has wanted over the last decade. The transfer of immensely-talented Joao Felix from Benfica to Atletico Madrid was the costliest in the club's history ( €113m). The signings of Thomas Lemar, Diego Costa, Antoine Griezmann also prove that Atletico spend big when they want to.

5. Real Madrid

The perennial heavyweights of European football stand fifth. With Eden Hazard walking in for €116m and Gareth Bale for €101m, Real have done their fair share of deals, with Florentino Perez still at the helm of the club and managing finances well. Fair to say, they’re set to break the market again, with Kylian Mbappe on their radar!    

4. Paris Saint-Germain

PSG, by their standards and things they’ve pulled off in the transfer market, would be disappointed to stand fourth in the list of highest spending clubs! The top two costliest transfers in the history of football are held by PSG, with Brazilian Neymar (€222m) and French Kylian Mbappe( €180m). Will PSG top this list in the next decade?

3. FC Barcelona

Given Barcelona’s current state of affairs, the club’s debt stands at $1.6 billion, this might be a shocker for some. The club did well in the forward department earlier in the decade, bringing Luis Suarez, Neymar and Ousmane Dembele to Camp Nou. However, Phillipe Coutinho from Liverpool for €145m remains their costliest signing so far.

2. Chelsea

Chelsea weren't on a spree in the last decade, until the last couple years. From making Kepa Arrizabalaga the costliest goalkeeper in the world, bringing Romelu Lukaku back ‘home’ and signing world-class talents in Kai Havertz and Christian Pulisic, Roman Abramovich has never shied away from spending the moolah.

1. Manchester City

Wasn’t a shock, was it? Signing Jack Grealish for an unprecedented £100m to make it the costliest signing in the history of the Premier League, Manchester City have yet again shown why they’re the financial kings of England. In their defeat against Tottenham in the Premier League 2021-22 season opener, City set a new record for fielding the ‘costliest Premier League XI’ of all-time!

Five clubs from England, three from Spain and one each from France and Italy make up the top 10. Who do you think will top the list in the next decade? Let us know in the comments section.

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