Is Money the Key to Footballing Glory?
The Premier League due to massive influx from broadcasting money has seen its financial position been strengthened over the last years compared to other European Leagues. Does this increased financial power manifest itself in spending and how sustainable is this trend for competitiveness in the future?
Manchester United’s 2023-2024 squad holds the dubious distinction of being both the most expensive in Europe but the club finished bottom in a Champions League group with FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray and is only 6th in the Premier League. Miles away from the title race and struggling against Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa for a Champions League spot. The question then arises, how far can money bring you towards winning trophies.
Let’s dissect the situation. According to CIES Football Observatory, United’s squad boasts a whopping €1.15 billion price tag, surpassing Chelsea (€1.134 billion) and Manchester City (€1.042 billion). However, both Manchester United and Chelsea are struggling heavily this season, highlighting the uncertain relationship between financial power and on-field results.
As we see the top 30 clubs in Europe based on the transfer costs of their squads we can see many premier league teams that are underperforming. Everton are 14th of the world in terms of transfer spending on their squad but sit in 18th place currently in the Premier League(although a 10 point ban did not help) but even then they would have been mid-table at most. They are ahead in spending compared to italian champions Napoli, Spanish champions FC Barcelona and Champions League finalist Inter Milan.
| 1 | Manchester United | €1.15 billion |
| 2 | Chelsea | c1.134 billion |
| 3 | Manchester City | €1.042 billion |
| 4 | Paris Saint-Germain | €1 billion |
| 5 | Arsenal | €836 million |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | €829 million |
| 7 | Liverpool | €770 million |
| 8 | Real Madrid | €708 million |
| 9 | Newcastle | €661 million |
| 10 | West Ham | €505 million |
| 11 | Aston Villa | €486 million |
| 12 | Bayern Munich | €481 million |
| 13 | Juventus | €473 million |
| 14 | Everton | €418 million |
| 15 | RB Leipzig | €399 million |
| 16 | Napoli | €392 million |
| 17 | Atletico Madrid | €387 million |
| 18 | Al Hilal | €382 million |
| 19 | Barcelona | €375 million |
| 20 | Nottingham Forest | €365 million |
| 21 | Monaco | €364 million |
| 22 | Wolves | €363 million |
| 23 | Borussia Dortmund | €348 million |
| 24 | Bournemouth | €344 million |
| 25 | AC Milan | €332 million |
| 26 | Leicester City | €281 million |
| 27 | Bayer Leverkusen | €275 million |
| 28 | Crystal Palace | €274 million |
| 29 | Inter Milan | €255 million |
| 30 | Fulham | €245 million |
This exorbitant spending reflects a broader trend within the Premier League and Europe. English clubs racked up a staggering €764 million of the combined €3.2 billion pre-tax losses recorded by European clubs in 2022. This raises concerns about financial sustainability and a potential distortion of the competitive landscape, where financial might seems to trump tactical brilliance and player development. In times where also the super league is discussed, it is good to see that spending money is not everything for now. However, if the financial disparity between English clubs and other European clubs continues to exist, long term implications for competitiveness could be serious.
Should financial regulations be implemented to create a more level playing field? Or should the free market dictate success, potentially creating a super-league of select financially-dominant clubs? This topic requires careful consideration from governing bodies, clubs, and fans alike and will likely remain a topic on the agenda of football governing bodies in the coming years.