Last night, the summer transfer window frenzy finally concluded. Aside from the European giants, it was majorly the Saudi Pro League sides who dominated the window. With big-name players heading to the Middle East, one might assume that Gulf clubs were the biggest spenders. Notably, Al Hilal, who splurged $418 million on Neymar. But to his surprise, this isn’t the case at all as they have been shadowed by a $3.2 billion Premier League side.
Each year, there are a few clubs, that break the bank and splurge atrocious sums. Everyone thought it must be one of the riches of Saudi, but things are rather different.
Premier League giant surpasses Al Hilal’s spending despite signing Neymar!
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Now that the transfer window has closed, it’s time to assess the aftermath of the transfers. Subsequently, TNTSports released a list of the top ten highest-spending teams around the world. And after looking at the list, even we are surprised to see who has taken the number place. It isn’t Al Hilal, rather it’s Premier League side Chelsea.
According to the list, the Blues are the biggest spenders of the transfer window, having spent over $500 million on 11 arrivals. In the second place is Al Hilal, who has spent $382 million on nine players. PSG is in third place, spending $378 million on 13 players, while Chelsea’s fellow Londoners Tottenham have spent $269 million on nine players.
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The list is followed by Manchester City ($260 million) and Arsenal ($253 million) who each spent their money on just four players. Another English side Manchester United ($222 million) bought seven players. Meanwhile, the 8th, 9th, and 10th places are occupied by Al Ahli ($200 million/12), Al Nassr ($178 million/6), and Bayern Munich ($167 million/5).
Indeed, this is a list that raises a few eyebrows. While it’s remarkable to see four Saudi clubs in the top ten, Chelsea taking the top spot is still quite unexpected. However, there’s still time for either Saudi side to cross the Blues’ number.
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There’s still time to cross Chelsea’s historic spending!
Yes, you heard correctly. It appears there’s still an opportunity for Saudi Arabian clubs to outspend Chelsea. This is due to the fact that the transfer window in Saudi Arabia remains open, unlike in Europe, where it closed on September 1. Middle Eastern clubs can continue to make transfers until September 20, giving them a chance to improve their position on the spending list while bolstering their squads.
However, considering that their primary focus is on the European market, it’s unlikely that they will be able to secure any signings. Hypothetically, even if a European club agrees to sell a player to a Gulf-based team, they won’t be able to acquire a replacement since the European transfer window has closed. It would be challenging for them to both sign new players and surpass Chelsea as the top spenders. Nevertheless, let’s wait and see what unfolds in the upcoming weeks.
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