The top 10 biggest spending sides in the summer 2023 transfer window: Chelsea No1, Saudi sides climb, Man Utd below Arsenal

Arsenal's Declan Rice, Chelsea's Moises Caicedo and Al Hilal's Neymar. TEAMtalk montage.

The summer of 2023 was the highest-spending transfer window ever as over €7.5billion was spent on new signings. 

Premier League sides led the way by spending a combined €2.81billion and all of the big six clubs completed big-money deals.

But Paris Saint-Germain and teams in the Saudi Pro League also flexed their muscles in the transfer market this summer.

Using data from transfermarkt, we’ve taken a look at the 10 biggest spending clubs in the summer of 2023.

10. Al-Nassr FC – €165.1m

One of three Saudi Pro League sides on this list, Al-Nassr signed Cristiano Ronaldo in January and have continued their big-spending this summer.

They bought Aymeric Laporte from Manchester City in a €27.5million deal and spent €4.6million on Alex Telles, who played alongside Ronaldo at Manchester United.

Al-Nassr bolstered their midfield options and spent a combined €43million on former Inter Milan star Marcelo Brozovic and former Lens captain Seko Fofana.

After enduring a difficult debut season at Bayern Munich in 2022/23, Sadio Mane completed a €30million move to last season’s runners-up in the Saudi Pro League.

Al-Nassr also bought Otavio from FC Porto by triggering the €60million release clause in his contract, making him the club’s most expensive signing of all time.

9. Liverpool – €172million

After missing out on Champions League qualification last season, Liverpool completely revamped their midfield in the summer window.

They triggered the €42million release clause in Alexis Mac Allister’s Brighton contract and the €70million release clause in Dominik Szoboszlai’s RB Leipzig contract.

Jurgen Klopp’s side missed out on Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia before signing Wataru Endo from Stuttgart in a €20million deal.

Liverpool then made their final summer signing on transfer deadline day, spending €40million on Bayern Munich’s Ryan Gravenberch.

8. Al-Ahli SFC – €194.01m

After securing promotion back to the Saudi Pro League in 2022/23, Al-Ahli SFC have embarked on a squad overhaul.

They bought four players from the Premier League, spending €18.5million on Edouard Mendy, €30million on Riyad Mahrez and €27.2million on former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin.

Matthias Jaissle’s side also signed two centre-backs from Serie A, spending a combined €50million on Roger Ibanez and Merih Demiral.

Despite being linked with Napoli, Manchester City and Liverpool, Gabri Veiga joined Al-Ahli SFC after they triggered the €40million release clause in his Celta Vigo contract.

Franck Kessie also swapped Spain for Saudi Arabia as Barcelona accepted a €12.5million bid for the 26-year-old midfielder.

While Al-Ahli SFC have mainly bought players from Europe’s top five leagues, they also spent over €10million to sign Firas Al-Buraikan and Bassam Al-Hurayji from fellow Saudi sides Al Fateh and Al Baten.

7. Manchester United – €206.7m

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was still been able to spend over €200million in the summer.

United made three unsuccessful bids for midfielder Mason Mount before Chelsea accepted their fourth offer of €64.2million.

Ten Hag allowed David de Gea to leave Old Trafford on a free transfer and then bought Andre Onana from Inter Milan in a €52.5million deal.

After being unable to sign Harry Kane, United switched their attention to Rasmus Hojlund and paid Atalanta €75million for his services.

On transfer deadline day, they spent €5million on Altay Bayindir and paid a €10million loan fee to Fiorentina for Sofyan Amrabat.

6. Arsenal – €234.94m

After Arsenal narrowly missed out on the Premier League title in 2022/23, Mikel Arteta bolstered his squad in an attempt to usurp Manchester City.

The Gunners gave Chelsea €75million for Kai Havertz and defender Jurrien Timber arrived from Ajax in a €40million deal.

They then fought off competition from Manchester City and broke their transfer record to sign Declan Rice from West Ham United in a €116.6million deal.

Alongside those permanent deals, David Raya joined Arsenal from Brentford on a season-long loan deal for an initial fee of €3.34million.

Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber Arsenal
Declan Rice, Kai Havertz, Jurrien Timber with the Community Shield

5. Manchester City – €241.1m

Manchester City decided to dip into the transfer market in order to replace four players who left the Etihad at the end of their historic 2022/23 season.

After İlkay Gundogan decided to join Barcelona on a free transfer, City signed Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea in a €29.1million deal.

They replaced Laporte by spending €90million on former RB Leipzig centre-back Josko Gvardiol, who is now the second most expensive defender of all time.

Former Rennes winger Jeremy Doku looks set to fill the void left by Riyad Mahrez’s departure after joining City in a €60million deal.

Academy graduate Cole Palmer moved to Chelsea on transfer deadline day and City then spent €62million on Matheus Nunes.

4. Tottenham – €248.6m

Having sold Harry Kane to Bayern Munich, Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has had a lot of money to spend on new players this summer.

They signed James Maddison from Leicester City in a €46.3million deal and former Wolfsburg defender Micky van de ven cost €40million.

Guglielmo Vicario became their new No.1 after arriving from Empoli in a €20million deal and Manor Solomon was signed on a free transfer.

Spurs bought two teenagers in the transfer window, signing Alejo Veliz from Rosario Central for €15million and Ashley Phillips from Blackburn for €2.3million.

Pedro Porro and Dejan Kulusevski also saw their loan moves at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium turned into permanent deals for a combined €70million.

Ange Postecoglu’s side secured Brennan Johnson’s signature on deadline day after meeting Nottingham Forest’s €55million asking price.

 3. Paris Saint-Germain – €349.5m

While the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos and Neymar all left PSG in the summer, there are plenty of new faces at the Parc des Princes.

The Ligue 1 side triggered the €60million release clause in Manuel Ugarte’s Sporting CP contract and the €50million release clause in Ousmane Dembele’s Barcelona contract.

PSG also bought Lucas Hernandez from Bayern Munich in a €45million deal and Lee Kang-in arrived from Mallorca for €22million.

They activated Xavi Simons’ €4million buy-back clause and followed through on their obligation to buy Hugo Ekitike for €28.5million.

PSG had a very busy end to the window, signing Bradley Barcola from Lyon in a €45million before spending €95million on Randal Kolo Muani on deadline day.

2. Al-Hilal SFC – €353.1m

The most decorated club in Saudi Arabia, Al-Hilal started their summer spending spree by signing Kalidou Koulibaly from Chelsea for €23million before completing a €55million move for former Wolves captain Ruben Neves.

They then won the race for Sergej Milinkovic-Savic’s signature after paying Serie A side Lazio a reported €40million.

Al-Hilal were unable to get Kylian Mbappe but they did sign Neymar for €90million, making him the most expensive player in the history of the Saudi Pro League.

They completed their new-look front three by signing Aleksandar Mitrovic from Fulham in a €52.6million deal and Malcom from Zenit for €60million.

Jorge Jesus’ side have since spent €21million on former Sevilla goalkeeper Yassine Bounou and €11.5million on Hassan Tambakti, who arrived from fellow Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab FC.

1. Chelsea – €464.1m

Despite spending over €320million in the January transfer window, Chelsea continued to splash the cash in the summer.

They triggered the €60million release clause in Christopher Nkunku’s RB Leipzig contract and paid €37million to sign Nicolas Jackson from Villarreal.

After Wesley Fofana suffered a serious knee injury, Chelsea targeted another centre-back and bought Axel Disasi from Monaco in a €45million deal.

They then fought off competition from Liverpool to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton and Romeo Lavia from Southampton for a combined €178.1million.

Chelsea signed Lesley Ugochukwu from Rennes in a €27million deal and gave Brazilian side Santos €31million for teenage talents Deivid Washington and Angelo.

The Blues also bought two new goalkeepers in the summer, signing Robert Sanchez from Brighton for €23million before giving MLS side New England Revolution a reported €16million for Djordje Petrovic.

Chelsea completed their final summer signing on transfer deadline day after spending €47million on Manchester City academy graduate Cole Palmer.

READ MORE: The 10 most expensive Premier League transfers of all time, featuring three Man Utd signings and Liverpool striker