Top 10 most expensive squads in world football (2026) – Where do Chelsea, Barcelona, Arsenal rank?

Premier League clubs dominate the latest ranking of world football’s most expensive squads, according to CIES Football Observatory data.

Liverpool have claimed top spot with a squad cost of £1.05 billion after another heavy summer of investment, including the £123 million arrival of Bradley Barcola.

Manchester City sit just behind on £1.04 billion, after a summer that saw them make three midfield signings for over £300 million, while Tottenham’s aggressive spending has lifted them to third at £1.013 billion.

Chelsea rank fourth with a squad valued at £1.003 billion, a drop of three places from last year despite continued high expenditure.

Arsenal are sixth on £934 million after a more restrained window, while Barcelona sit well outside the top 10 in 16th place with a squad cost of £460 million.

• 1. Liverpool – £1.05bn

• 2. Manchester City – £1.04bn

• 3. Tottenham Hotspur – £1.013bn

• 4. Chelsea – £1.003bn

• 5. Manchester United – £992m

• 6. Arsenal – £934m

• 7. Real Madrid – £876m

• 8. Paris Saint-Germain – £785m

• 9. Newcastle United – £742m

• 10. Aston Villa – £538m

The figures highlight the growing financial gap between the Premier League and the rest of Europe, with even traditionally big spenders such as Barcelona now lagging some distance behind the English elite.