Southampton’s transfer net spend compared to Premier League rivals

Southampton fans will be wanting to see a healthy number of signings arriving at the club in this summer transfer window to bring about a more consistent Premier League season in 2021/22.

Lack of squad depth proved a real problem for Ralph Hasenhuttl and his side during the last campaign and their league form suffered as a result, so there will undoubtedly be a drive to ensure this does not happen again.

Net spend figures often get thrown about and help to show how clubs are going about things in the transfer market, and Saints’ own record from the past nine years represents their situation well.

Using figures from transfermarkt.co.uk, we can see how Saints’ transfer activity compares to all the clubs they have faced in the Premier League since their 2012/13 promotion (figures accurate as of 17th June 2021).

Net transfer spends of 33 team Southampton have played in Premier League since 2012/13

Manchester City – £862.06m loss (£1.29bn spent, £423.46m received), 219 arrivals and 216 departures

Manchester United – £805.81m loss (£1.15bn spent, £347.63m received), 153 arrivals and 155 departures

Arsenal – £436.79m loss (£757.95m spent, £321.17m received), 150 arrivals and 158 departures

Chelsea – £388.85m loss (£1.23bn spent, £842.85m received), 311 arrivals and 298 departures

Everton – £313.99m loss (£654.64m spent, £340.65m received), 171 arrivals and 170 departures

Aston Villa – £299.75m loss (£446.33m spent, £146.58m received), 217 arrivals and 218 departures

Liverpool – £276.20m loss (£842.09m spent, £565.89m received), 177 arrivals and 171 departures

West Ham – £267.69m loss (£496.31m spent, £228.62m received), 186 arrivals and 192 departures

Brighton – £201.89m loss (£258.63m spent, £56.74m received), 243 arrivals and 240 departures

Wolves – £192.82m loss (£363.00m spent, £170.17m received), 275 arrivals and 284 departures

More from Saints Marching

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• Grading the Southampton Transfer Window Part 1: Departures
• It’s time to talk about Gavin Bazunu
• Rain clouds on the horizon? Southampton beat Plymouth Argyle
• A lament for Southampton legend James Ward-Prowse

Spurs – £179.19m loss (£703.13m spent, £523.94m received), 149 arrivals and 160 departures

Newcastle – £172.68m loss (£423.99m spent, £251.31m received), 187 arrivals and 192 departures

Leicester City – £150.75m loss (£482.82m spent, £332.08m received), 187 arrivals and 186 departures

Fulham – £146.74m loss (£271.68m spent, £124.94m received), 241 arrivals and 245 departures

Stoke City – £139.07m loss (£228.96m spent, £89.89m received), 188 arrivals and 186 departures

Crystal Palace – £119.93m loss (£258.16m spent, £138.23m received), 213 arrivals and 212 departures

West Brom – £115.09m loss (£232.84m spent, £117.75m received), 154 arrivals and 156 departures

Sheffield United – £109.14m loss (£135.24m spent, £26.09m received), 261 arrivals and 261 departures

Bournemouth – £96.48m loss (£256.10m spent, £159.62m received), 213 arrivals and 217 departures

Watford – £83.87m loss (£282.83m spent, £198.95m received), 287 arrivals and 277 departures

Cardiff – £83.27m loss (£150.88m spent, £67.61m received), 239 arrivals and 243 departures

Leeds – £79.14m loss (£156.42m spent, £77.28m received), 233 arrivals and 231 departures

Burnley – £66.34m loss (£162.41m spent, £96.08m received), 167 arrivals and 171 departures

Sunderland – £61.49m loss (£187.85m spent, £126.35m received), 223 arrivals and 233 departures

Queens Park Rangers – £34.73m loss (£129.47m spent, £94.74m received), 272 arrivals and 287 departures

Middlesbrough – £29.64m loss (£161.82m spent, £132.18m received), 219 arrivals and 231 departures

Huddersfield Town – £23.76m loss (£120.01m spent, £96.24m received), 236 arrivals and 237 departures

Reading – £19.86m loss (£59.04m spent, £39.18m received), 232 arrivals and 243 departures

Hull City – £11.55m loss (£149.38m spent, £137.84m received), 223 arrivals and 229 departures

Norwich City – £19.28m profit (£160.92m spent, £180.20m received), 239 arrivals and 232 departures

Wigan Athletic – £31.62m profit (£46.51m spent, £78.13m received), 285 arrivals and 301 departures.

Swansea City – £87.58m profit (£226.41m spent, £313.99m received), 200 arrivals and 209 departures.

In general, Saints go about their business in the right way. They buy players of potential and see their value increase over time if they perform well. The fact that they have sold £399m worth of talent since promotion back to the Premier League confirms they have found some gems in the past, either from their academy or from incomings transfers.

Some supporters feel as though more could have been spent on signings to replace those outgoing talents, but it is important to realise what has gone on in recent years.

The level of spending has remained fairly high overall. The players that the big money was spent on have not proven to be good signings though. Think Carrillo, Hoedt, Lemina and others.

More could have been spent given that they have received a huge amount in transfer fees and seen other clubs of their size, but they are right to want to work within their means – especially in a pandemic that has already reduced their income by a huge amount.

The key is to find players who will pay off as signings now but also into the future. Buying low and selling high is the way they need to go about things, but expenditure will surely have to grow this summer if the current squad is to have the best chance to show what they can do in the top-flight.