Ranked! Every Premier League from best value squad to worst

Ranked! Every Premier League from best value squad to worst: Bruno Fernandes #8 of Manchester United and Arsenal battle for the ball during a pre-season friendly match at MetLife Stadium on July 22, 2023 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Manchester United defeated Arsenal 2-0.
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Data and statistics website Transfermarkt has produced an updated ranking of all 20 Premier League clubs based on which offer the best value for money based on the fees paid for their current squad members, minus those out on loan. 

Transfermarkt's ranking works out their purchase value against what they’d be worth at current value, with Mikel Arteta’s currently coming out on top at the end of the 2022-23 season, with their squad now worth 374.54m euros (31.1%) more than it was when they were purchased respectively. 

Unsurprisingly, shrewd operators Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford closely with squads worth over 50% more than they paid for follow. So who's towards the top and who's further down the bottom?

Every Premier League squad ranked from best value to worst

1. Arsenal

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates with team mates after scoring their sides first goal during the pre-season friendly match between 1. FC Nürnberg and Arsenal FC at Max-Morlock Stadion on July 13,

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Premier League runners-up Arsenal top the list and have purchased well over the years to usurp the rest of the pack bar Manchester City. £155m was spent last season on eight players, but the £200m they have already put on just three players this summer will put their ranking to the test. 

2. Brighton & Hove Albion

Kaoru Mitoma of Brighton & Hove Albion celebrates after scoring the team's second goal during the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool FC at Amex Stadium on January 29, 2023 in Brighton, England

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It’s no surprise the club which has bought the likes of Pervis Estupian, Kaoru Mitoma, Moises Caicedo and co rank highly on this list. Brighton has been an example to other clubs in how to find gems and also make the occasional huge profit in the past few seasons and the Seagulls don’t seem to be vying from their strategy. 

3. Brentford

Ivan Toney

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Brentford too have been shrewd operators under Thomas Frank and promotion to the Premier League has only helped increase the value of the likes of David Raya, Josh DaSilva and Bryan Mbeumo. Sustaining their place in the top flight with their recruitment strategy has been key to their success in these rankings. 

4. Manchester City  

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, kisses the UEFA Champions League trophy after the team's victory during the UEFA Champions League 2022/23 final match between FC Internazionale and Manchester City FC at Atatuerk Olympic Stadium on June 10, 2023 in Istanbul, Turkey.

(Image credit: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

It’s easy to label Manchester City’s current success as down to the money they have, but their squad is 16.5% more valuable than it was when they were first bought by Pep Guardiola. While they have spent big on world stars, signings such as John Stones and Julian Alvarez have contributed, as well as homegrown talent Phil Foden. 

5. Liverpool 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp looks on as striker Darwin Nunez warms up ahead of the Carabao Cup fourth round match between Manchester City and Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on December 22, 2022 in Manchester, England.

(Image credit: Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images)

When Liverpool have gone big, they’ve gone big. The likes of Alisson and Virgil Van Dijk have commanded huge fees, but the market values of the likes of Mo Salah have shot up over the years. Homegrown talents such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones have also contributed to Liverpool’s top-five position. 

6. Aston Villa

Unai Emery head coach of Aston Villa in action during the Premier League match between Aston Villa and Newcastle United at Villa Park on April 15, 2023 in Birmingham, England.

(Image credit: Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)

Aston Villa’s transfer business has been a lot more effective in the past couple of seasons. Emi Martinez’s value rose after the World Cup at the end of last year, while the likes of Ezri Konza and Ollie Watkins have also proven to be huge value for money, but Villa are spending big again this summer. 

7. Crystal Palace 

Ebere Eze

(Image credit: Getty)

Palace’s knack for developing young talent like Marc Guehi, Tyrick Mitchell, Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze in particular sees the London side well inside the top 10. Palace did well to stay afloat last season after Roy Hodgson returned, but they’ve increased the value of their squad by 36.1%. 

8. Nottingham Forest 

Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi celebrates with his teammates after scoring his team's goal during the Premier League match between Nottingham Forest and Liverpool on 22 October, 2022 at the City Ground, Nottingham, United Kingdom

(Image credit: Michael Regan / Getty Images)

Newly-promoted Nottingham Forest were by far the most active club in last summer’s transfer window, but their adaption and survival in the Premier League has seen the value of most of their players rise over the past 12 months. Homegrown Brennan Johnson is largely responsible for that as his market value has skyrocketed.

9. Tottenham Hotspur 

Harry Kane of Tottenham Hotspur applauds the fans after a match

(Image credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Daniel Levy has never been one for parting with cash for the sake of it, and while Tottenham’s squad value has only gone up by 8.8%, it’s still worth pushing towards the 800m mark. That in large is thanks to Harry Kane’s current 90m valuation as a homegrown player, and Spurs have taken hits on other players bought who haven’t had the desired impact. 

10. Fulham 

Fulham manager Marco Silva reacts during the FA Cup third round match between Hull City and Fulham on 7 January, 2023 at the MKM Stadium in Hull, United Kingdom.

(Image credit: George Wood/Getty Images)

Fulham appear to have stopped yo-yo’ing between leagues and have sustained themselves financially in the Premier League with some solid buying. Fulham haven’t seen any particular huge swings either way in their squad, but there’s been enough successes to see them just make the top 10. 

11. Everton 

Michael Keane Ben Godfrey and team mates before the Stade Nyonnais v Everton Pre-Season Friendly match on July 14, 2023 in Nyon, Switzerland.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

It’s been a mixed bag for Everton over the years in the transfer market but they remain just in the green after a second straight last day survival. Some of their shrewder young signings contribute to that value, as does impressive midfielder Amadou Onana as the Toffees look to get back on track this season. 

12. Luton Town 

Luton players celebrate after beating Coventry on penalties at Wembley in the Championship play-off final in May 2023.

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At a purchase of just over €10m, Luton’s squad is by far the cheapest in the league, with nobody else even under €100m. A surprise promotion by its very definition has seen the value rise, with the Hatters squad now valued 79.6% more than it was after so many players impressed in the Championship. 

13. Newcastle United 

Eddie Howe, manager of Newcastle United, during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Leicester City at St. James Park on May 22, 2023 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

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As Newcastle spend more and more money since their takeover by PIF, the value goes up and up, meaning it is now just 6.5% more valuable than it was bought for. They have though generally got their big signings of late spot on, while even the slow-starting Joelinton has gone up in value, though money spent this summer will test them out. 

14. Bournemouth

Andoni Iraola head coach of Rayo Vallecano reacts during the LaLiga Santander match between Real Madrid CF and Rayo Vallecano at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 24, 2023 in Madrid, Spain.

(Image credit: Diego Souto/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Bournemouth is another club which has had to be clever to sustain themselves in the Premier League and they are now seeing the rewards for it. Youngsters Dango Ouattara and Hamed Traore are now classed as their most valuable players, while Philip Billing has seen a solid rise. 

15. Burnley 

Anass Zaroury of Burnley celebrates after the Sky Bet Championship between Burnley and Cardiff City at Turf Moor on May 08, 2023 in Burnley, England.

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Under Vincent Kompany, Burnley have returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking and due to a solid turnover of players last summer, many of those purchased by Kompany are responsible for their minor rise in value, such as Jordan Beyer, Anass Zaroury and Arijanet Muric. 

16. Sheffield United 

Sheffield United

(Image credit: Getty)

Fellow newly-promoted side Sheffield United are the last team in the green, with a difference in value of just over €1m. They have returned with many of the players who got relegated and saw their values drop, but the rise of duo Iliman Ndiaye and Anel Ahmedhodzic see the Blades just on the right side of the line. 

17. Wolves 

Wolves

(Image credit: Getty)

Wolves are the first team in the red with their squad currently valued around €8m less than it was bought for. While they have some attractive options such as Matheus Nunes and Max Kilman, some of the team’s older players such as Craig Dawson, Pablo Sarabia and Nelson Semedo have seen values drop. 

18. West Ham United 

West Ham United players celebrate after Danny Ings' goal during the UEFA Europa Conference League quarter-final first leg match between Gent and West Ham United at the Ghelamco Arena on April 13, 2023 in Ghent, Belgium.

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West Ham United are too in the red and also have one of the biggest differences in average ages from when they were purchased, with a difference of almost three years. Declan Rice’s departure has seen their most valuable asset disappear, so that’s meant a hit on the current squad for the Hammers. 

19. Chelsea 

Mykhaylo Mudryk applauds while being introduced to the fans on the pitch at half time during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge on January 15, 2023 in London, England.

(Image credit: Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)

Given Todd Boehly’s scattergun approach in the transfer market since buying the club, it’s little surprise Chelsea’s value has dropped over €50m since many were bought. After one of their most disappointing Premier League campaigns, with a difference of -5.8%, the Blues come in second bottom. 

20. Manchester United 

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag walks off at halftime during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Everton FC at Old Trafford on April 08, 2023 in Manchester, England.

(Image credit: Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Given Manchester United’s squad has been assembled for just over €1bn, the most in the league, it would be hard to create a value larger than that. United’s deficit though is €161.72m, much more than any other club and a difference of -19.1%, with the likes of Eric Bailly, Donny van de Beek and Anthony Martial seeing some of the biggest drops in valuation.