Premier League clubs spent big again this summer, but who is actually getting the best return for their money?
Using each club’s summer transfer spend and their points after five Premier League matches, we’ve calculated how much every side has effectively spent for each point they have earned so far this season.
At one end, Leeds are getting plenty of early value from their business. At the other, Tottenham’s huge summer outlay combined with a nightmare start makes for painful reading.
Here is the full ranking from most expensive to cheapest cost per point, based on summer spending figures via Transfermarkt.
20. Tottenham – £157.4m per point
Points: 2
Nobody comes close to Spurs at the wrong end of this ranking. After heavy investment during the summer, just two points from their opening five matches leaves them with a staggering £157.4m spent per point.
19. Aston Villa – £64.5m per point
Points: 4
Villa are a distant second but still find themselves above £60m per point. Four points represents a disappointing early return on their summer investment.
18. Chelsea – £50.0m per point
Points: 7
Another busy transfer window has not yet translated into a flying start for Chelsea. Seven points leaves their summer spending working out at exactly £50m per point.
17. Coventry City – £46.2m per point
Points: 3
Coventry invested heavily following promotion, but life back in the Premier League has been difficult. Their three points so far come at a cost of £46.2m each.
16. Fulham – £43.9m per point
Points: 2
Fulham join Tottenham on only two points after five matches. Their lower summer expenditure means their figure is considerably below Spurs, but £43.9m per point is still among the league’s highest.
15. Newcastle United – £33.6m per point
Points: 8
Newcastle were active in the summer market and have collected eight points from their first five games. That puts their early cost at £33.6m for every point earned.
14. Ipswich Town – £31.6m per point
Points: 6
Ipswich strengthened considerably for their Premier League return and have six points to show for it. Their summer business currently works out at £31.6m per point.
13. Manchester City – £30.2m per point
Points: 15
An interesting one. City’s enormous summer spending gives them one of the higher costs per point, but they are also the only side with a perfect 15 points from five matches, sitting three points clear at the top.
12. Manchester United – £29.8m per point
Points: 5
Manchester United spent heavily again during the summer, but five points represents a poor early return. Their cost currently stands at just under £30m for every point.
11. Liverpool – £25.8m per point
Points: 9
Liverpool’s summer investment works out at £25.8m per point after taking nine from their opening five matches.
10. Nottingham Forest – £23.7m per point
Points: 5
Forest sit almost exactly in the middle of our ranking. Five points combined with their summer expenditure gives them a current figure of £23.7m per point.
9. Bournemouth – £23.2m per point
Points: 3
Only three points from the opening five games means Bournemouth are yet to get much return from their summer recruitment, with each point effectively costing £23.2m.
8. Hull City – £18.9m per point
Points: 8
Hull are one of three promoted clubs on this list and their early return has been encouraging. Eight points puts their cost below £20m per point.
7. Crystal Palace – £18.3m per point
Points: 4
Palace have picked up four points so far, with their relatively modest summer expenditure keeping them towards the cheaper end of the ranking.
6. Arsenal – £16.3m per point
Points: 12
Arsenal were one of the summer’s big spenders, but 12 points from a possible 15 means they are already getting a strong return. Their cost of £16.3m per point is comfortably below several of their big-spending rivals.
5. Brighton – £15.5m per point
Points: 10
Brighton’s excellent start is reflected here. Ten points from five matches means their summer investment is currently costing only £15.5m for every point earned.
4. Sunderland – £15.3m per point
Points: 4
Sunderland sit fourth in our value ranking. Despite collecting only four points, their summer expenditure keeps their cost per point relatively low.
3. Brentford – £11.9m per point
Points: 9
Into the top three, where Brentford’s nine-point start combines with comparatively restrained spending to produce an impressive £11.9m per point.
2. Everton – £9.8m per point
Points: 9
Everton are one of only two clubs below £10m. Nine points from their opening five games represents an excellent early return from their summer business.
1. Leeds United – £9.5m per point
Points: 9
No Premier League club is currently getting more value for its summer spending than Leeds.
Nine points from their opening five matches combined with a comparatively modest outlay gives them the league’s lowest figure at just £9.5m per point.
While there is still a long way to go, the early numbers make for fascinating reading. Leeds, Everton and Brentford currently lead the way for value, while Tottenham’s £157.4m per point shows just how costly a poor start can make a busy transfer window look.
Figures based on summer transfer spending and Premier League points after five matches. Transfer spending figures via Transfermarkt.
