Premier League 2025/26 Transfer Balance Sheet: Who splashed the cash and who sold smart?

The Premier League never disappoints when the window opens—agents smiling, chairmen sweating and fans refreshing their feeds like there’s a trophy for it. Based on Transfermarkt data (accurate as of 27/05/2026), four clubs actually posted profits across 2025/26 while others threw everything at the wall. For those sizing up the season’s movers against the odds, take a look at our best betting sites. Headline news: Arsenal finished with the division’s biggest net spend at -£243m, while Bournemouth were the canniest operators, banking a league-best +£112m.

20–16: Sellers’ market — Bournemouth lead a thrifty pack

Bournemouth (Expenditure £157m, Income £269m, Net +£112m) cashed in on a brilliant 2024/25 by moving on key assets. Dean Huijsen to Real Madrid and Milos Kerkez to Liverpool were the headline exits, with Antoine Semenyo joining Manchester City in January. Painful? Yes. Pragmatic? Absolutely.

Wolves (Ex £129m, In £199m, Net +£70m) and Brentford (Ex £94m, In £138m, Net +£44m) both waved off stars to Manchester United—Matheus Cunha from Molineux and Bryan Mbeumo from west London—while the Bees also sold Yoane Wissa to Newcastle. As if that wasn’t enough upheaval, Brentford also pocketed compensation when Thomas Frank left for Tottenham.

Brighton (Ex £71m, In £126m, Net +£55m) did Brighton things: sell smart. The £60m raised for Joao Pedro—now making an instant dent at Chelsea—has yet to be thrown back into the pot in any serious way.

And then there’s Chelsea (Ex £293m, In £289m, Net -£4m). For a club famed for headline splurges, the Blues finishing near break-even is the curveball of the season.

15–11: Tight belts, mixed results

Aston Villa (Ex £61m, In £50m, Net -£11m) kept it tidy yet still qualified for the Champions League again. Unai Emery continues to squeeze every last drop, even if incoming names like Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho barely moved the needle.

Crystal Palace (Ex £125m, In £84m, Net -£41m) lost Eberechi Eze in the summer and Marc Guehi in the winter, then dug deep in January to arrest the slide—Brennan Johnson and Jorgen Strand Larsen arriving for chunky fees.

West Ham United (Ex £173m, In £127m, Net -£46m) had Mohamed Kudus to thank for a hefty sale to Tottenham, but they spent the proceeds poorly and paid the ultimate price with relegation.

Fulham (Ex £66m, In £17m, Net -£49m) waited until deadline day to land Brazilian winger Kevin, then snapped up Oscar Bobb from Man City for £27m in January.

Burnley (Ex £114m, In £30m, Net -£84m) weren’t shy with the chequebook, but despite a sizeable outlay they still couldn’t avoid the drop.

10–6: Ambition meets reality

Newcastle United (Ex £241m, In £152m, Net -£89m) sold Alexander Isak to Liverpool for a British record, but Eddie Howe didn’t wait to reinvest. Nick Woltemade arrived early and Wissa followed, rocketing the spend past £240m.

Leeds United (Ex £98m, In £6m, Net -£92m) knew survival demanded investment. Credit where it’s due—Daniel Farke’s side finished a comfortable 14th.

Nottingham Forest (Ex £209m, In £112m, Net -£97m) answered Nuno Espírito Santo’s call for reinforcements, but despite the splurge they limped home in 16th.

Everton (Ex £112m, In £11m, Net -£101m) under David Moyes made a statement with Jack Grealish—excellent before a serious injury halted him.

Sunderland (Ex £184m, In £49m, Net -£135m) marked their Premier League return with swagger. Granit Xhaka headlined a bold rebuild and the Black Cats were superb—seventh place and a Europa League ticket.

5–1: The heavy hitters — Arsenal outspend the lot

Manchester United (Ex £213m, In £64m, Net -£149m) did their usual dance: slow to shift the deadwood, late to close the gaps. They wrapped up by choosing Senne Lammens over Emiliano Martinez.

Tottenham (Ex £229m, In £71m, Net -£158m) backed Thomas Frank to the hilt—Mohamed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Randal Kolo Muani among the arrivals—but still only dodged relegation by the skin of their teeth.

Manchester City (Ex £261m, In £93m, Net -£168m) were selective rather than splashy: Rayan Cherki and Gianluigi Donnarumma in the summer, then Semenyo and Guehi in January to round out a measured refresh.

Liverpool (Ex £416m, In £189m, Net -£227m) transformed from last season’s minimal spenders to this season’s biggest buyers, yet sales of Jarell Quansah and Luis Diaz shaved the net bill.

Arsenal (Ex £255m, In £12m, Net -£243m) top the net-spend table. The Gunners didn’t just back the project—they doubled down on it.

Rank-by-rank recap

20) Bournemouth — Ex £157m | In £269m | Net +£112m

19) Wolves — Ex £129m | In £199m | Net +£70m

18) Brighton — Ex £71m | In £126m | Net +£55m

17) Brentford — Ex £94m | In £138m | Net +£44m

16) Chelsea — Ex £293m | In £289m | Net -£4m

15) Aston Villa — Ex £61m | In £50m | Net -£11m

14) Crystal Palace — Ex £125m | In £84m | Net -£41m

13) West Ham United — Ex £173m | In £127m | Net -£46m

12) Fulham — Ex £66m | In £17m | Net -£49m

11) Burnley — Ex £114m | In £30m | Net -£84m

10) Newcastle United — Ex £241m | In £152m | Net -£89m

9) Leeds United — Ex £98m | In £6m | Net -£92m

8) Nottingham Forest — Ex £209m | In £112m | Net -£97m

7) Everton — Ex £112m | In £11m | Net -£101m

6) Sunderland — Ex £184m | In £49m | Net -£135m

5) Manchester United — Ex £213m | In £64m | Net -£149m

4) Tottenham — Ex £229m | In £71m | Net -£158m

3) Manchester City — Ex £261m | In £93m | Net -£168m

2) Liverpool — Ex £416m | In £189m | Net -£227m

1) Arsenal — Ex £255m | In £12m | Net -£243m

In short: sellers like Bournemouth, Wolves and Brighton played the market superbly; big players such as Arsenal and Liverpool threw their weight around; and Chelsea’s near parity is the season’s eyebrow-raiser. All figures courtesy of Transfermarkt, accurate as of 27/05/2026.