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With the financial ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic beginning to ease off, a lot of clubs conducted shrewd business in the 2021 summer transfer window.
While loan deals remained the preferred mode of business for clubs, there were also some notable transfers this summer. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - arguably the two best players to have graced the game - moved clubs, albeit for different reasons.
Ronaldo returned to his old stomping ground at Old Trafford, while Messi joined PSG after Barcelona failed to renew his contract. The summer also saw Manchester City and Chelsea splurge in excess of €100 million to land Jack Grealish and Romelu Lukaku, respectively. Most of the other top six clubs in the Premier League have also made significant changes to their rosters.
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Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid acquired Copa America 2021 winner Rodrigo de Paul. Bayern Munich brought in Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer from their Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig. Real Madrid landed exciting teenage midfielder Eduardo Camavinga after failing to land their primary target, Kylian Mbappe. Barcelona and PSG also made a spate of high-profile free transfers.
On that note, here's a look at the 10 most expensively assembled teams in club football at the moment:
NOTE: All figures are courtesy transfermarkt.
#10 Barcelona - €696 million
Barcelona have largely been in the news this summer for one reason - the exit of their club legend Lionel Messi.
The Blaugrana - who have one of the biggest wage bills of any club - couldn't offer their talisman a new contract owing to La Liga's financial fair-play rules. However, Barcelona did acquire Memphis Depay (valued at €45 million), Sergio Aguero (€18 million) and Eric Garcia (€20 million) on free transfers. Depay has made a good start to life at Camp Nou, scoring twice in three games.
Despite Messi's exit, Barcelona have a promising roster. They are led by their most expensive player, Frenkie de Jong (€90 million) and the prodigious Pedri (€80 million). Goalkeeper Marc Andre Ter Stegen and La Masia graduate Ansu Fati, set to return to action after a year, are both valued at €60 million.
Meanwhile, two of Barcelona's most expensive flops, Ousmane Dembele (€50 million) and Philippe Coutinho (€30 million), are the other most valuable players on their roster.
#9 Tottenham Hotspur - €697 million
With a squad value of close to €700 million, Tottenham Hotspur are the ninth-most expensive team in club football at the moment.
The 2021-22 Premier League leaders may have spent €67 million to land Bryan Gil, Emerson Royal and Pape Sarr. But arguably their biggest 'win' this summer was keeping hold of their prolific scorer Harry Kane, who is valued at €120 million.
Although the England international is yet to open his account this season, his striker partner Son Heung-Min has been on song. The €85-million-rated South Korean has scored two game-winners for the unexpected league leaders, including one against holders Manchester City.
Other valuable personnel on the Spurs' roster include the injured Tanguy Ndombele (€50 million), Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (€40 million) and their on-loan centre-back Cristian Romero (€35 million). Their captain Hugo Lloris may be valued at only €9 million, but the 34-year-old is yet to concede in three games this season.
#8 Atletico Madrid - €755.2 million
Atletico Madrid haven't made too many changes to their roster this summer. Frenchman Antoine Griezmann has returned to the Wanda Metropolitano, while Rodrigo De Paul has arrived from Serie A.
That could make the holders the team to beat in La Liga once again, as they have a decent mix of youth and experience. They have quality and depth in every department of their roster.
In Jan Oblak (€70 million), Atletico Madrid have arguably the best custodian in La Liga, and probably in all of Europe. Jose Gimenez (€80 million) and Stefan Savic (€30 million) form an experienced duo at the back. The Rojiblancos also have experienced campaigners like Marcos Llorente (€80 million), Koke (€80 million), Yannik Carrasco (€40 million) and now De Paul.
Up front, Atletico have the 21-year-old exciting Joao Felix to complement Luis Suarez (€15 million) and the returning Griezmann (€80 million).
#7 Real Madrid - €783.5 million
Real Madrid lost their former manager Zinedine Zidane at the start of this summer. Following the Frenchman's exit, Los Blancos also saw their two defensive mainstays, Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane, leave the club this summer. The club managed to sign David Alaba on a free transfer, but the versatile defender is unlikely to play in the center of defense.
Real Madrid did bring in the exciting Eduardo Camavinga to bolster their aging midfield. But the Merengues failed in their pursuit of PSG star Kylian Mbappe, despite submitting a gargantuan offer. Add to that the trio of Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos being on the wrong side of 30, Madrid could be in for a difficult campaign.
There is no doubt that Madrid have a plethora of experience, starting with their most valuable player Casemiro (€70 million). The defensive midfielder is regarded as one of the best in the world in his position. The same also goes for their custodian Thibault Courtois (€60 million) and Alaba (€55 million).
Meanwhile, the teenager Camavinga is also valued at €55 million, while 23-year-old midfielder Fede Valverde is worth €65 million. Left-back Ferland Mendy is the fifth Madrid player with a valuation of at least €50 million. However, the likes of Gareth Bale (€18 million), Dani Carvajal (€30 million) and Isco (€18 million) have seen their valuations drop.
#6 Bayern Munich - €852.4 million
Bavarian giants Bayern Munich are among the most well-rounded teams in the game at the moment. The nine-time defending Bundesliga champions have quality in every area of the pitch.
Bayern Munich said their goodbyes to David Alaba, Jerome Boateng and Javi Martinez this summer. But the club's backroom moved swiftly to acquire the Leipzig duo of Dayot Upamecano and Marcel Sabitzer.
Joshua Kimmich (€90 million), the epitome of versatility, is the most valuable player on the Bayern roster. He is followed by Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry and young left-back Alphonso Davies. All three players are valued at €70 million.
France's World Cup-winning winger Kingsley Coman (€65 million) finds himself above star striker Robert Lewandowski (€60 million). Meanwhile, winger Leroy Sane and new arrival Upamecano are both valued at €60 million.
Two more French World Cup winners, Lucas Hernandez (€42 million) and Benjamin Pavard (€35 million) are key players in Julian Nagelsmann's team. Veterans Thomas Muller (€30 million) and captain Manuel Neuer (€18 million) remain invaluable despite their diminishing valuation.
#5 Liverpool - €879.5 million
Liverpool are one of four Premier League teams making up the five most valuable club teams in the game at the moment.
The 2019-20 Premier League champions were surprisingly light in terms of incomings this summer. The Reds only brought in Ibrahima Konate, who is valued at €35 million.
There is no denying the quality of personnel at Jurgen Klopp's disposal, however. Mohamed Salah (€100 million), one of the best wingers in the game at the moment, is the Reds' most valuable player.
His attacking colleague Sadio Mane (€90 million) is the next most valuable Reds player. But the same cannot be said of about the third player in the Salah-Mane-Firmino triumvirate. Roberto Firmino (€50 million) has seen his value drop in recent years.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold (€70 million) and Andrew Robertson (€60 million) form one of the most lethal full-back pairings in the modern game. Goalkeeper Alisson (€60 million), defensive midfielder Fabinho (€60 million) and centre-back Virgil Van Dijk (€55 million) are other key cogs in the Liverpool wheel.
Exciting young striker Diogo Jota (€40 million), midfielder Thiago Alcantara (€30 million) and captain Jordan Henderson (€20 million) are also key players in Jurgen Klopp's team.
#4 Chelsea - €881.5 million
Reigning Champions League winners Chelsea are one of the most valuable teams in club football at the moment.
Though they did not splurge as much as they did last season, the Blues did bring in prolific Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku (valued at €100 million). They also landed Atletico Madrid's Saul Niguez (€40 million) on a loan deal.
Chelsea's attacking quartet of Lukaku, Kai Havertz (€75 million), Mason Mount (€70 million) and Timo Werner (€65 million) are their most valuable players. While Werner endured a rather frustrating debut campaign in 2020-21, the emergence of Mount and Havertz is heartening for the Blues.
N'Golo Kante (€55 million) is regarded as one of the game's best defensive midfielders at the moment. Mateo Kovacic, left-back Ben Chilwell, and Italy's Euro 2020-winning midfielder Jorginho (all valued at €40 million) are key players for Thomas Tuchel.
The excellent Edouard Mendy (€25 million) proved his worth for the club after arriving last season. He is expected to remain first-choice, ahead of the error-prone Kepa Arribazalaga.
#3 Manchester United - €937.3 million
Manchester United have assembled an impressive roster under Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer.
The Red Devils splurged €85 million to land Borussia Dortmund winger Jadon Sancho (valued at €100 million), who is the most valuable United player at the moment. United also brought in Real Madrid centre-back Raphael Varane (€40 million). But the icing on the cake was the return of the 'prodigal son' Cristiano Ronaldo (€45 million) after 12 years,
Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes (€90 million) is one of United's most valuable players. He has scored goals galore since his arrival last January. Injured winger Marcus Rashford (€85 million) has also been a key player for the club over the years.
Meanwhile, the Red Devils also have the rejuvenated Paul Pogba (€60 million) and inspirational captain Harry Maguire (€55 million) in their ranks. Exciting youngster Mason Greenwood (€50 million), Luke Shaw (€42 million), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (€40 million) and Scot McTominay (€35 million) are all valuable members as well.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson (€22 million) appears to have become the club's new first-choice, ahead of the excellent David de Gea (€18 million).
#2 PSG - €998 million
PSG have had one of the greatest transfer windows by any club in recent history after they made a raft of inspired signings this summer.
The Ligue 1 giants first acquired Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum and Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos on free transfers. They followed it up by bringing in Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and Euro 2020-winning Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma without paying any money.
The arrival of Messi (valued at €80 million) means PSG now have a fearsome attacking triumvirate that also features Kylian Mbappe (€160 million) and Neymar (€100 million). Unsurprisingly, the three of them are the most valuable players on the PSG roster as well.
Captain Marquinhos (€75 million), Donnarumma (€65 million) and Achraf Hakimi (€60 million) are other valuable players on PSG's expensively assembled roster. Italy's Euro 2020-winning midfielder Marco Verratti (€55 million), a key player for club and country, has been at PSG for over a decade.
Angel Di Maria (€20 million), centre-back Presnel Kimpembe (€40 million) and Mauro Icardi (€40 million) are the other key players on the PSG roster.
#1 Manchester City - €1.04 billion
Manchester City are the only club team that has a cumulative player valuation of €1 billion.
Despite their requirement of a centre-forward, City could only bring in midfielder Jack Grealish (valued at €65.5 million) on a €117.5-million transfer this summer. Nevertheless, Pep Guardiola appears to have most of their bases covered, and City look like the team to beat in England and Europe.
Midfield metronome Kevin De Bruyne (€100 million) is the most valuable player in the City squad. Winger Raheem Sterling (€90 million) and midfielder Phil Foden (€80 million) are also key players and have evolved massively under Guardiola.
Ruben Dias (€75 million) is arguably the best centre-back in the game at the moment. He is followed in valuation by midfielders Bernardo Silva and Rodri, both valued at €70 million.
Forward Gabriel Jesus (€60 million) and full-back Joao Cancelo (€55 million) are also key players in the side. Goalkeeper Ederson (€50 million) and 21-year-old midfielder Ferran Torres (€45 million) are extremely valuable as well.
Aymeric Laporte (€45 million) may no longer be the first-choice defender for Guardiola. But midfielders Riyad Mahrez (€42 million) and Ilkay Gundogan (€40 million), and centre-back John Stones (€30 million) are key personnel in the City bandwagon.
