Biggest market value change in top 5 leagues after January transfer window (2022)

The recently concluded January transfer window was one of the biggest in recent times. Premier League clubs were at the heart of it all, spending around €350 million in transfer fees. However, the league’s market value didn’t change for the better.

Juventus and Barcelona made the two most significant moves in January. The Turin-based club snapped up Dusan Vlahovic from Fiorentina, while the Spanish giants acquired the services of Ferran Torres. These were the only players that cost more than €50 million.

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January transfer window saw a change in the market values of top five leagues

A team’s market value is determined by the cumulative market value of its players. By finding the sum of the market values of all clubs, one can calculate the market value of a league.

The Premier League is far ahead of all other leagues in terms of market value. Major changes in a league’s market value happen during transfer windows, and it was no different in January 2022 too.

On that note, here’s a look at the biggest market value change in the top five European leagues after the January transfer window this year:

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#5 Premier League: -€88 million

Luis Diaz was snapped up by Liverpool for €45 million.

The Premier League’s market value is estimated at €8.7 billion. As mentioned earlier, the English top-flight is the most expensive football league in the world. In fact, it is the only league valued higher than €5 billion, which signifiies the pedigree and financial strength of the Premier League.

Despite spending a whopping €350 million in January, the overall market value of the league took a hit in January, though. Three Premier League forwards, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ferran Torres and Adama Traore, joined La Liga club Barcelona. The trio is valued at a combined €88 million, which is equal to the decrease in the Premier League’s market value.

A few other major players also parted ways with the Premier League during the month, including Tanguy Ndombele, Anthony Martial and Giovani Lo Celso. Moreover, a few players’ market values took a hit in January, which contributed to the overall drop in the league’s market value.

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#4 Bundesliga: -€78 million

Sardar Azmoun joined Bayern Leverkusen in a move worth €4 million.

The Bundesliga endured a €78 million drop in market value in the January transfer window. The German league was the least active among Europe’s top five leagues last month. The big spenders (Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and RB Leipzig) didn’t make significant movements in the transfer window.

Only four of the signings made by Bundesliga clubs were over €5 million. Moreover, three of these players had lower market values than their transfer fees. Meanwhile, a few other players left the Bundesliga. That is why the overall market value of the Bundesliga dropped.

Denis Zakaria, Wout Weghorst and Ilaix Moriba were among the three prominent names who moved out of the Bundesliga. With the three player’s combined market value being €67 million, a dip in the German top flight’s market value was imminent.

#3 Ligue 1: -€48 million

Tanguy Ndombele returned to Lyon on a loan deal.

Ligue 1, more specifically Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), had a sensational summer transfer window. With a plethora of world-class additions in 2021, it was always going to be difficult for the French top flight to keep up their market value in January. It comes as no surprise that its market value dropped after last month.

Newcastle’s signing of Bruno Guimaraes, Fiorentina’s acquisition of Jonathan Ikone and Yusuf Yazici’s transfer to CSKA Moscow led to the Ligue 1’s drop in market value. The overall decrease in market value was just short of €50 million.

Despite Tanguy Ndombele’s loan move to Lyon, the departures outweighed the arrivals. Ligue 1 is now valued at €3.62 billion, the lowest among Europe’s top five leagues. With Kylian Mbappe’s departure looking inevitable, the overall market value is set to drop even more in the summer.

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#2 Serie A: +€53 million

Dusan Vlahovic is the third-most expensive January signing ever.

The most expensive signing of the window belonged to Serie A club Juventus. Although that transfer didn’t cause an increase in the league’s market value, the Italian top flight still experienced a €53 million increase in market value.

Dusan Vlahovic’s €81.6 million switch from Fiorentina to Juventus indirectly assisted the positive movement of Serie A’s market value. Fiorentina used the funds to buy players from other clubs, which contributed to market value gain for Serie A.

Denis Zakaria, Jonathan Ikone, Arthur Cabral, Sergio Oliviera, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Nadiem Amiri made their way to the Serie A last month. Although some players departed, there was an overall gain in the division’s market value, to the tune of over €50 million.

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#1 La Liga: +€217 million

FC Barcelona present new player Ferran Torres.

La Liga clubs were highly active during the recently concluded winter transfer window. As mentioned earlier, Barcelona splashed the cash to form a brand new frontline. The five-time Champions League winners acquired the services of Adama Traore, Ferran Torres and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Spanish league saw loan moves in January. Anthony Martial (Sevilla), Bryan Gil (Valencia), Giovani Lo Celso (Villarreal), Ilaix Moriba (Valencia) and Raphinha (Real Sociedad) were some of the loan moves to La Liga in January. These players have a combined market value of over €10 million.

Many La Liga players are young and ever-improving, which might have resulted in a slight increase in their market values in January. The La Liga’s market value increase in January is roughly the same as the market value lost by the Premier League, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 combined during the month.