EFL Championship: Clubs Ranked On Net Spend Over The Last Five Years
A lot of money is spent on English football leagues. Some Championship clubs have spent money with real freedom, while others have been a bit more pragmatic in their approach.
Many of the second-division clubs have a negative net spend with the clubs selling their players to top-division clubs making huge profits. In this article, we have ranked the EFL Championship clubs on net spend over the last five years.
Including transfers from 2018-19 to 2022-23, the EFL Championship clubs are on net spend over the last five years.
24. Swansea City [€-104.57m] [”-” indicates profit]
Swansea have the highest negative net spend among all Championship clubs in the last five years. They were relegated from the Premier League in 2018, and since then have sold quite a few players to the top division of English football.
Their most expensive signings in the last five seasons have been Bersant Celina from Manchester City in the 2018-19 season, while the most expensive departure was Oliver McBurnie to Sheffield United for €19.10m in the 2019-20 season.
23. Watford FC [-€71.76m]
It’s surprising to see that Watford have spent so less in the last five years, especially with the fact that they were in the Premier League for most of the time. Their most expensive signing in the last five years was Ismaila Sarr (€30.00m) in the 2019-20 season, while the most expensive departure was Richarlison for €39.20m to Everton in the 2018-19 season.
22. Bristol City [€-47.94m]
A mid-table Championship club Bristol City have raked up 47.94m net profit in transfers over the last five years. The club’s most expensive signing during the period was Tomas Kalas(€9.00m) from Chelsea in the 2019-20 season. Their most expensive departure was Adam Webster( €22.22m) to Brighton in the 2019-20 season.
21. Middlesbrough FC [€-41.60m]
Middlesbrough are still in contention for promotion, having last played in the Premier League in the 2016–17 season. In the last five years, their most expensive signing was Centre-Back Aden Flint (€8.00m) from Bristol City in the 2018-19 season, while the most expensive sale was of Adama Traoré(€20.00m) in the 2018-19 season.
20. Birmingham City [€-29.58m]
Birmingham City are going on a poor run of form and find themselves towards the lower middle of the Championship table. Ivan Sunjic (€8.00m), signed in the 2019-20 season was their most expensive arrival in the last five years, while Jude Bellingham(€25.00m) was the most expensive departure, who was sold to Dortmund in the 2020-21 season.. They need to spend a little bit more if they are to make a comeback to the Premier League anytime soon.
19. Hull City [€-24.13m]
Having last played in the Premier League in 2016-17, Hull were relegated to League One during the 2020–21 season, but now finds themselves in the middle of the Championship table. Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, who was signed from Fenerbahce for €4.50m, is their most expensive signing in the last five years. Jarred Bowen was their most expensive sale, which was made to West Ham for €21.30m.
18. Queens Park Rangers [€-22.88m]
QPR spent big bucks between 2011 and 2013 in order to establish themselves in the Premier League but were unable to do so. They are now a midtable Championship club and have had a negative net spend over the last five years. Their most expensive signing in this timeline was Rob Dickie (€2.70m) in 20-21, while the most expensive departure was Eberechi Eze(€17.80m), also in the 20-21 season.
17. Huddersfield Town [€-21.51m]
Terence Kongolo was Huddersfield Town’s most expensive signing in the last five years, having been signed from Monaco for €20.00m in the 2018-19 season. Their most expensive departure in the same timeline was Karlan Grant(€16.50m) to West Brom in the 2020-21 season.