Football News

How does Chelsea’s transfer spend compare to Europe’s top five leagues?

By Andrew Francis

Published: 12:31, 2 February 2023

Much has been made of Chelsea’s business in the January transfer window in recent days, with the west London club spending big money on multiple players but how does their transfer spend compare to the rest of Europe?

No less than eight players have joined the Todd Boehly revolution at Stamford Bridge over the past month or so and the weight of expectation will now be on the shoulders of Graham Potter to turn things around and get his talented squad performing to expectations. 

The Blues had a busy summer, spending £251.09million on the likes of Wesley Fofana, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly but they’ve eclipsed that total in the winter transfer window with Boehly sanctioning several more big money signings, including the British record signing of Enzo Fernandez for more than £100m.

New arrivals at the Bridge

15 players have come through the doors of Chelsea since the beginning of the summer transfer window, with eight of those costing £30m or more.

Chelsea Signings since June 10 2022

Player Signed From Fee
Enzo Fernandez Benfica £106.8m
Wesley Fofana Leicester City £71.5m
Mykhaylo Mudryk Shakhtar Donetsk £62.1m
Marc Cucurella Brighton £58.08m
Raheem Sterling Man City £50m
Benoît Badiashile Monaco £32.7m
Kalidou Koulibaly Napoli £33.8m
Noni Madueke PSV £30.7m
Malo Gusto Lyon £26.3m
Carney Chukwuemeka Aston Villa £16m
Andrey Santos Vasco de Gama £13m
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Barcelona £10.6m
David Fofana Molde £10.6m
Gabriel Slonina Chicago Fire £8
Joao Felix Atletico Madrid Loan

Potter now has some incredible depth at his disposal and the pressure is on for the Englishman to oversee Chelsea’s climb from 10th in the table. It hasn’t been smooth sailing this season for the side this season, with just eight wins from their 20 Premier League games this season.

There are ten points between Chelsea and Manchester United, currently in fourth place, and that deficit might prove too much to overturn this season. The Blues remain in the Champions League however, although a tricky tie against Borussia Dortmund awaits them in the last 16.

Chelsea’s squad depth

How does Chelsea’s shopping spree compare?

It’s been a relatively quiet transfer window around Europe, with most clubs feeling the pinch when it comes to finances. Indeed, the amount spent by Chelsea alone eclipses all of the other signings made by clubs in mainland Europe put together.

Whilst the Premier League remains a financial powerhouse, Chelsea have accounted for 39% of the total spent in the Premier League in the winter transfer window.

Chelsea’s spending compared to the rest of Europe*

Rest of Premier League £430.05m
Chelsea £282.20m
Bundesliga £57.03m
La Liga £29.09m
Ligue 1 £109.41m
Serie A £17.343m

*Disclosed Fees only

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