Insights - Football Benchmark

The changing face of transfer spending: What the most expensive deals reveal about how elite clubs are aligning fees with revenues and player value

The changing face of transfer spending: What the most expensive deals reveal about how elite clubs are aligning fees with revenues and player value Each summer, transfer speculation dominates football discourse, often attracting more attention than what happens on the pitch during the season. But behind the excitement of who a club’s next Galáctico might be, a clear shift has taken place in how elite clubs approach transfer spending.

Madrid as a football hub: Assessing the market, clubs and investment landscape

In recent years, a growing number of investors have begun looking beyond the traditional football giants, turning their attention to clubs based in major football cities. These urban centres, rich in history, talent, infrastructure, and commercial potential, offer compelling upside for strategic investment. The density of football activity in such cities makes them natural hubs for talent development and operational synergies, while their visibility and accessibility help attract players, staff, and commercial partners. Madrid is one of the world’s most iconic football cities. It is home to two of the game’s biggest names but beyond these global brands, the Spanish capital is also home to a cluster of smaller professional clubs that together form a dense and highly competitive football ecosystem. This week’s analysis explores the capital’s football economy, as interest continues to grow in the broader opportunities within the Madrid football market.

Mapping Sporting Directors: Football decision-maker trends across Europe’s “Big Five” leagues

The Sporting Director role has never been more visible or more complex. From managing recruitment and youth development to setting long-term football strategy and aligning with ownership vision, the scope of the role continues to expand. Yet for all its importance, it remains difficult to benchmark: job titles vary, responsibilities differ, and club governance models are far from uniform. This week’s analysis maps out the Sporting Director landscape across the “Big Five” leagues, examining who holds these roles and what traits define them. We explore the prevalence of former players, the balance between internal and external appointments, the surprisingly short average tenure of just 2.6 years, and how nationality and experience vary across markets.

Player valuation update: The most valuable players in world football today

According to the latest update from Football Benchmark’s Player Valuation Platform, a record 21 players are now valued at over €100 million. Alongside this, the average value of the top 100 players has climbed since the Platform was launched (€77.6 million in 2019), hitting €87.2 million in June 2025. From Lamine Yamal’s remarkable rise to the top of the overall rankings to Hugo Ekitike’s valuation leap since February, the data reflects not just who’s most valuable, but how the profile of value in football is evolving. This piece explores the data behind the latest valuation update: who’s at the top, who’s rising fastest, where youth is creating value, and how those inside and outside the “Big Five” leagues are faring.

FIFA Club World Cup 2025: Breaking down the billion-dollar prize money and its impact on clubs

The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 is reshaping the economics of global club football. This article analyses how the $1 billion in prize money is distributed across participating clubs, as well as what that income represents in relation to clubs’ typical revenue bases. From headline totals for top European sides to transformative earnings for smaller clubs, the data reveals a wide range of financial impact. For some, the estimated returns exceed what they might earn even in their most successful seasons at continental level. The tournament’s distribution delivered not only immediate uplift but may also shape financial trajectories and competitive balance in the years ahead.

How much are Serie A clubs worth — and who would win or lose from selling?

This week’s article features a special contribution from La Gazzetta dello Sport journalist Marco Iaria, adapted from his original investigation published in the newspaper. Drawing on Football Benchmark data for club valuations, the article examines owner investments to take a hypothetical look at what each owner might gain or lose if they sold today. It offers a rare financial perspective on Serie A ownership, exploring who could stand to make a profit and who might face a loss. Covering stadium developments, European qualification, debt levels and long-term strategy, the piece sheds light on the key factors shaping club valuations currently in Italy’s top flight.

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