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#3 Arsenal - £337 million
Former Premier League winners Arsenal were the top spenders in the recently concluded 2021-22 summer transfer window. But the Gunners find themselves languishing in 20th spot without a goal or a point after three league games.
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After failing to qualify for Europe for the first time in more than two decades last season, Arsenal went big in this summer's transfer market. They brought in the likes of Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale for £108 million, letting go of Joe Willock for £26.5 million.
A year ago, the Gunners reinforced their midfield and defense, signing Thomas Partey, Gabriel and Pablo Mari. But they only finished eighth in the Premier League.
Ahead of the 2019-20 season, the Premier League club dished out £72 million to bring in Nicolas Pepe. They also signed William Saliba, Kieran Tierney and David Luiz for £59 million. The Gunners sold the likes of Alex Iwobi, Laurent Koscielny and David Ospina for over £42 million that summer.
A year before, Arsenal had spent only £72 million, and enjoyed one of their best campaigns in recent years. They finished fifth in the Premier League and were runner-ups in the Europa League.
During the 2017-18 season, the Gunners brought in the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubayemang, Alexandre Lacazette and Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The three high-profile signings arrived for almost £150 million combined.
That summer, they let go Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis Sanchez, Theo Walcott, Olivier Giroud and Wojciech Szczesny. However, the Gunners recorded a negative net spend. The results, too, were modest at best as they sealed a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and made it to the Europa League semi-finals.
#2 Manchester City - £472 million
Manchester City have been one of the top spenders in Europe in the last few years, especially after Pep Guardiola's arrival in 2016.
The reigning Premier League winners splurged over £110 million to land Jack Grealish this summer. But they failed in their pursuit of signing Harry Kane and saw Cristiano Ronaldo snapped up by their city rivals Manchester United.
Last season, despite other clubs struggling to loosen their purse strings, City spent nearly £150 million. They brought in Ruben Dias for £61.2 million and the Portuguese proved to be an inspired signing. Dias was voted Premier League Player of the Year as City won the competition for the third time in four years.
Nathan Ake and Ferran Torres, brought in that summer for over £60 million also proved to be good signings for City. To balance the books, the Sky Blues let go of Leroy Sane to Bayern Munich for £40.5 million.
A year before that, City splurged over £125 million on defenders and defensive midfielders. They brought in Joao Cancelo, Rodri and Angelino, among others, but Liverpool pipped them to the Premier League title.
It was a more 'sedate' transfer window for City in 2018-19, with Riyad Mahrez (£61.2 million) being their only high-profile signing.
But a year before that, City splurged close to £300 million, making a plethora of big signings. They brought in Aymeric Laporte, Benjamin Mendy, Kyle Walker, Ederson, Bernardo Silva and Danilo. Most of them played key roles in City's successive Premier League triumphs in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.
#1 Manchester United - £480 million
Manchester United may not have won the Premier League in nearly a decade. But they have been the biggest net spenders in the division in the last five years, narrowly beating City to top spot.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's men have made a bevy of high-profile signings this summer. They landed Raphael Varane and Jadon Sancho to address two of their deficient roster areas. They then stole a march on City by bringing Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford after 12 long years.
A year ago, they signed Donny van de Beek, Alex Telles and Amad Diallo. But the players haven't had the desired impact at the club. United let go of Chris Smalling to Roma that summer.
After finishing a lowly sixth in the 2018-19 Premier League, United splurged over £200 million. They brought in the likes of Harry Maguire, Bruno Fernandes, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Daniel James. Most of the incomings played a key role in the resurgence of United as a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League.
A high-profile departure that summer was Romelu Lukaku, who was snapped up by Inter Milan for £66.6 million. Lukaku has now returned to Chelsea after two prolific seasons with the reigning Serie A winners.
Fred (£53.1 million) was their lone high-profile signing ahead of the 2018-19 season. United let go of Daley Blind and Marouane Fellaini, among others, that summer.
Ahead of the 2017-18 season, United signed Romelu Lukaku, Nemanja Matic and Victor Lindelof in the summer. Among the trio, Matic and Lindelof are still at United. While the former is a fringe player, Lindelof could see his playing time drop this summer due to the arrival of Varane. In a swap deal that winter, Henrikh Mkhitaryan went to Arsenal for £30.6 million, while Alexis Sanchez arrived at Old Trafford.
Sanchez turned out to be an expensive flop, though, and was later shipped out to Inter Milan. Nevertheless, United finished second in the Premier League that season, 19 points adrift of champions City.
