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...
17. Nottingham Forest - -£157.8m
What can you say about Nottingham Forest’s recent recruitment policy that hasn’t been said already? The newly-promoted side spent a fortune on fresh talent, but are staring down the barrel of an immediate return to the Championship. What that would mean for their cavalcade of signings, it’s hard to tell. | Getty Images
18. Newcastle United - -£161.2m
The scariest thing about Newcastle United is that they are only just getting started. Alexander Isak and Sven Botman have both brought the Magpies on leaps and bounds, and should be joined by plenty of high profile arrivals in the near future. | Getty Images
19. Manchester United - -£202.4m
United look much improved under Ten Hag, and deals for the likes of Casemiro have certainly helped their cause, but they are still some way short of where they want to be. Expect more spending this summer... | Manchester United via Getty Imag
20. Chelsea - -£478.5m
Of course Chelsea have the worst net spend in the Premier League this season. Over half a billion spent on new signings since Todd Boehly took over, and so far, nothing to show for it but a barrage of mediocrity and a sacked manager. Where they go from here, it’s hard to tell, but don’t be surprised if it involves another spree in the coming weeks and months. | Getty Images