Net spend; as juicy as it gets and yet somehow still as dry as a bone. Numbers, for the most part, are boring. Some of you may disagree with that statement, but as much as you might protest, you know deep down that we’re correct. It’s why this article is written in the Roman alphabet and not, say, binary code.
But sometimes numbers have their uses. In the case of net spends, they can paint a picture of where a side might have gone wrong over the course of a campaign, or indeed, where they may have gone right. In 2022/23, Premier League clubs have spent more money than ever before. Taken holistically, the 20 teams that make up the top flight have forked out a combined £2.8 billion this season. That’s approximately somewhere between the GDP of Liberia and Guyana.
But how do the figures actually break down, and just how much bigger is Chelsea’s net spend compared to everybody else? We’ve pored over all of the top flight’s incoming and outgoing transfer fees and then ranked the division from highest profit to biggest loss. Check out the findings below...
9. Fulham - -£42.8m
Tipped to be scrapping it out in a relegation battle by many, Fulham have instead enjoyed a lovely campaign of mid-table comfort. In large part, that has been aided by some stellar recruitment, with Joao Palhinha’s arrival in particular looking like a masterstroke. | Getty Images
10. Liverpool - -£49.8m
Liverpool have a habit of making one big signing per transfer window. In the summer it was Darwin Nunez, and in January it was Cody Gakpo. Both have shown promise, but you get the feeling that if the Reds are to properly kick on next term, something of a rebuild may be required in the coming months. | Getty Images
11. Bournemouth - -£73.1m
Bournemouth had a very quiet summer, but they put their foot down somewhat in January with a smattering of new additions. Those arrivals have paid dividends, with the Cherries slowly dragging themselves up the table, and it is worth pointing out their net spend is skewed somewhat by the fact that they haven’t received a single transfer fee for any departing player this season. | Getty Images
12. Wolverhampton Wanderers - -£100.5m
Wolves spent big on Matheus Nunes in the summer, but what a signing he is turning out to be. It’s been a difficult campaign at Molineux, but with another couple of additions of the Portuguese international’s ilk, they could soar next season. | Getty Images