Top five highest-spending clubs in 2021 summer transfer window

These teams broke the bank to add strength and depth to their squads.

The summer transfer window has come to its conclusion and it saw some frantic action by the clubs. It provided the best opportunity for respective football teams to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season. There were several high-profile moves which resulted in in hefty transfer fees.

The elite clubs in Europe were not afraid to flex their financial muscles even in a pandemic-affected market. The Premier League clubs in particular were dominant in terms of spending. The popularity and the financial might of the league remains on top without a challenge from other European leagues.

While there were many world-class free transfers in the summer window, some players cost their new employers a fortune. Here are the five highest-spending clubs in the summer transfer window of 2021.

5. RB Leipzig - €107.6 million

RB Leipzig were the fifth highest spenders in the transfer window. The Bundesliga runners-up in 2020-21 season brought several new faces to their ranks. Some high-profile arrivals included the likes of Andre Silva (€23 million), Angelino (€18 million) and Ilaix Moriba (€16 million).

However, there was a need to bring in players after a lot of departures. The club sold players like Dayot Upamecano, Ibrahima Konate and Marcel Sabitzer. Overall, the club ended up making a profit of €4.38 million in terms of net expenditure.

4. Chelsea - €120 million

The Blues were very ambitious in the transfer market. The London-based club had a successful campaign last term after winning the UEFA Champions League. One of the areas the outfit wanted to strengthen was the striker’s position. Therefore, they decided to bring Romelu Lukaku back from Inter Milan.

The Belgian striker has returned to the Stamford Bridge for a second stint with the club. This deal cost Chelsea a whopping €115 million. The remaining amount came from paying for the loan deal to bring Saul Niguez to the Premier League. This made them one of the highest spending clubs of the window.

3. Manchester City - €127.5 million

Manchester City have been amongst the highest-spending clubs for a decade. The reigning Premier League champions were rather quiet in the summer transfer window. However, they still managed to spend a whopping €127.5 million on arrivals at the club.

The Cityzens welcomed Jack Grealish to the club after paying a club and British transfer record fee of €117.5 million. Signing Kayky, a young winger from Brazil, cost the club another €10 million. Their overall net expenditure stood at -€88.7 million.

2. Manchester United - €140 million

Manchester United spent a total of €140 million on incoming transfers in the summer window. This makes them the second-biggest spenders in the Premier League and Europe. The Red Devils took the world by storm as they brought Cristiano Ronaldo back to the club after 12 years. They paid Juventus €15 million to recruit the Portuguese.

Furthermore, Raphael Varane also joined the Red Devils for a fee in the region of €35 million. MUFC also finally got their desired signing in Jadon Sancho who arrived from Borussia Dortmund in a €85 million move. This was an efficient and impressive window for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s men, who are one of the highest-spending clubs in the summer window. 

1. Arsenal - €165.6 million

Arsenal had a disappointing 2020-21 season, finishing at the eighth spot in the standings. The club decided to back their manager Mikel Arteta and made quite a few signings in the summer. Their overall spending reached €165.6 million, making them the highest-spenders in the summer transfer window. 

The Gunners have signed players like Ben White (€58.5 m), Martin Odegaard (€35 million), Aaron Ramsdale (€28.00 million), Takehiro Tomiyasu (€18.60 million), Albert Sambi Lokonga (€17.5 million) and Nuno Tavares (€8 million). However, the Gunners have started their league campaign with three defeats in as many games, without scoring a goal. 

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