The Premier League’s Best-Selling Clubs Over the Last Decade

And calm. After another chaotic summer transfer window which was full of drama, transfer bids, transfer requests, rumours, PSR dealings, player swaps, loan fees, amortisation and much, much more, the transfer window has officially been slammed shut in England. The likes of David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano can have the briefest of breaks although as we all know, just because the transfer window is closed, it doesn’t mean things aren’t already being put in motion for the upcoming January and Summer transfer windows. But at least for now, it’s time to take stock and there couldn’t be a better time than now to delve into the numbers and the accounts to see who has been up to what.

Through data collated via transfermarkt with the aim at identifying the best-selling Premier League clubs over the past decade by using a Player Value Index (PVI) to assess how effectively each club maximised the value of its player sales over the last decade. The Player Value Index (PVI) adjusts transfer fees relative to the player’s market value at the time of sale, providing a more accurate measure of a club’s selling efficiency. The PVI is calculated as the ratio between the transfer fee and the market value at the time of sale. For example, if a player with a market value of £50 million is sold for £75 million, the PVI is 1.5, indicating a sale above market value.

Exceptional Sellers

With all that being said, who have been the best sellers over the last ten years in the Premier League? The figures have revealed that the data inspired and led Liverpool are the best selling club with the highest average PVI of 2.63. They have been able to manage this across a substantial volume of 39 player sales. According to our index, Liverpool would be deemed exceptional sellers which speaks to a robust strategy in consistently selling players above their market value. Liverpool have been able to get good value for players such as Brad Smith, Danny Ward, Lawrence Vigouroux, and Ryan Kent.

Interestingly, Burnley comes in second with a PVI of 2.45 from 11 player sales. Like Liverpool, Burnley is not only successful but also consistent in extracting high value from multiple deals, showcasing a robust negotiation strategy. Joining them at the top are Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough, with PVIs of 2.40 and 2.27, respectively. However, it’s worth noting that these rankings are based on just four sales for Middlesbrough and a mere two for Ipswich Town. Following closely are Hull City (1.95), Fulham (1.91), Leicester City (1.65), Swansea City (1.61), and AFC Bournemouth (1.51), all of which are also considered exceptional sellers.

High Performers

Next up are the "High Performers," led by eight-time Premier League champions Manchester City, who boast a PVI of 1.48 from a staggering 56 player sales. City are second only to Chelsea in terms of player sales, with the West London club moving 60 players. City has made a name for itself by commanding high fees for its academy graduates. Crystal Palace (1.45), Wolverhampton Wanderers (1.43), Watford (1.34), Southampton (1.34), and Brighton & Hove Albion (1.30) follow closely behind.

Aston Villa have also proven their nous in the transfer market, earning a reputation as a "High Performer" with a solid PVI of 1.27 from 25 player sales. Chelsea, unsurprisingly, stands out with a PVI of 1.25 from 60 sales, reflecting their aggressive and successful approach to player trading. Nottingham Forest also has a PVI of 1.25, albeit from just 13 sales, showing that they make every deal count. Tottenham Hotspur, under the guidance of Ange Postecoglou since the start of the 2023/24 season are also in this category, boasting a PVI of 1.24 across 38 sales. Norwich City have a PVI of 1.24 from just 7 transactions. Everton rounds out this group with a PVI of 1.22 from 35 sales.

Slight Overachievers

The "Slight Overachievers" category features clubs like Leeds United, who have slightly exceeded expectations in the transfer market with a PVI of 1.19 from just 4 sales. West Ham United follows with a PVI of 1.18 from 46 sales. Sunderland sits in the same category with a PVI of 1.07 across 8 sales. Newcastle United also finds itself here, with a PVI of 1.06 from 25 sales. Huddersfield Town, now in EFL League One, has a PVI of 1.04 from only 5 sales. Arsenal completes this group with a PVI of 1.02 from 36 sales. Historically, Arsenal has been criticised for selling players below their market value, as seen with the sales of stars like Cesc Fabregas and Alexis Sanchez for relatively low fees, often due to contract situations or a lack of leverage in negotiations.

Average Sellers

Stoke City lands in the "Average Sellers" category with a PVI of 0.98 from 10 sales, suggesting they generally sell players at market value. Manchester United also surprisingly falls into this category, with a PVI of 0.98 from 40 sales. Despite their global status, United has often been criticised for an inconsistent transfer strategy, particularly in selling players. High wage contracts have made it challenging to offload surplus players, such as Phil Jones and Jesse Lingard, or Alexis Sánchez, who was loaned to Inter Milan with United still covering a substantial portion of his salary before he left on a free transfer.

West Bromwich Albion also finds itself among the "Average Sellers," with a PVI of 0.95 from 11 transactions, indicating they hover around market value. Brentford joins them with a PVI of 0.95 from 7 sales. Known for smart recruitment, Brentford meets expectations without overachieving in sales.
Underperformers and Low Performers
Luton Town falls into the "Slight Underperformers" category with a PVI of 0.86 from just one sale. At the bottom of the list are Sheffield United, labelled as "Low Performers," with a PVI of 0.57 from 4 sales.

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