Since the summer of 2020, European football giants have invested heavily in bolstering their front lines, with Chelsea emerging as the top spender on strikers and wingers, forking out a staggering €803 million on forwards. This places them significantly ahead of other major clubs in a period of unprecedented transfer market activity.
Following Chelsea, French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain ranks second, having committed €476 million to acquiring 17 new forwards. The Premier League’s financial might is further demonstrated by Manchester City and Manchester United, who have spent €417 million and €347 million on their attacking reinforcements, respectively.
Aston Villa rounds out the top five with a notable expenditure of €292 million on 15 forwards, signaling their ambition to compete at the highest level.
Five Clubs Spent the Most on Strikers And Wingers Since 2025

Rank | Club | Spending on Forwards (since 2020) | Notable Signings (Strikers and Wingers) |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Chelsea | €803 million | Romelu Lukaku, Mykhailo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Christopher Nkunku, Nicolas Jackson |
2 | Paris Saint-Germain | €476 million | Randal Kolo Muani, Gonçalo Ramos, Ousmane Dembélé, Bradley Barcola |
3 | Manchester City | €417 million | Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland, Jérémy Doku, Julián Álvarez |
4 | Manchester United | €347 million | Antony, Rasmus Højlund, Jadon Sancho, Amad Diallo |
5 | Aston Villa | €292 million | Moussa Diaby, Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, Emiliano Buendía |
Chelsea’s massive outlay includes high-profile acquisitions such as the club-record signing of Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan and the big-money move for Ukrainian winger Mykhailo Mudryk. Their spending reflects a clear strategy of overhauling their attacking options under the club’s new ownership.
Paris Saint-Germain, despite already boasting a formidable attack, has continued to invest heavily. The signings of French internationals Randal Kolo Muani and Ousmane Dembélé, alongside Portuguese striker Gonçalo Ramos, underscore their commitment to maintaining a world-class forward line.
Manchester City’s spending has been highlighted by the record-breaking transfer of Jack Grealish and the hugely successful acquisition of Erling Haaland. Their investments have been crucial in securing multiple domestic and European titles.
Their city rivals, Manchester United, have also made significant investments in their forward line, with Antony and Rasmus Højlund representing their most expensive attacking signings in this period.
Aston Villa’s presence in the top five is a testament to the club’s backing of their managerial team in the transfer market, to break into the Premier League’s elite. The arrival of players like Moussa Diaby has added a new dimension to their attack.
The trend of substantial spending on attacking players since 2020 highlights the increasing importance clubs place on offensive firepower in their quest for silverware. The figures also reflect the inflated nature of the modern transfer market, where top-tier strikers and wingers command premium fees.
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