A new study has revealed the most valuable squads in football with one Premier League side outstripping their rivals after seeing player valuations soar by over £300m in one year.
The CIES Football Observatory, which uses a statistical model for estimating transfer values, has analysed the differing valuations over the past year.
According to the study, Chelsea have the most valuable squad in football with Enzo Maresca’s side reportedly worth £1.56billion.
Cole Palmer is the highest valued player in their squad, with the star valued as highly as £140m.
The analysis may suggest the transfer strategy adopted by Chelsea’s owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital to invest in young talent may be paying dividends.
Over the summer, the Blues had invested heavily again in the transfer market with Alejandro Garnacho, Joao Pedro, Estevao, Liam Delap, Jorrel Hato, Dario Essugo and Jamie Gittens among their signings.
A new study has found Chelsea’s squad valuation soared over the past 12 months by over £300m
Cole Palmer was highlighted as Chelsea’s most valuable player in the Football Observatory study
PSG had the second largest increase in squad valuation while Man United’s depreciated the most
The estimates came as part of an analysis which revealed Chelsea’s squad had risen more in value than any other side over the past 12 months.
The CIES Football Observatory, which uses a statistical model for estimating transfer values, analysed valuations over the past year.
Consideration has also been given to the financial balance of club’s transfer activities during both the January and summer transfer windows.
Chelsea’s squad value was viewed to have increased by around £315m, following a campaign which saw the Blues win the FIFA Club World Cup and Conference League, as well as securing a return to Champions League football.
Chelsea were the top ranked club in the study with reigning Champions League holder Paris St-Germain following.
The French giants reportedly saw the valuation of their squad rise by £263m.
Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt followed on a net increase of £255m, partly helped by the club achieving a profit of £73m from transfers, aided by the sale of Hugo Ekitike to Liverpool.
Barcelona were fourth in the list with a net increase of £210m, followed by Nottingham Forest after their impressive performances in the Premier League last season.
Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has reportedly seen the value of his squad sharply rise over the past 12 months
Real Madrid are deemed to have the second most valuable squad in football, behind the Blues
Nottingham Forest’s overall squad valuation was deemed to have risen by a staggering £283m over the past 12 months, but they ranked fifth overall on £183m following a £100m transfer outlay.
Brentford, Bournemouth and Newcastle followed with net increases of £165m, £156m and €143m respectively, with Bayern Munich and Villarreal completing the top 10.
Manchester United, by contrast, were the lowest ranked club in the study with the estimated value of their squad claimed to have reduced by £327 million – partly owning to a £108m transfer outlay.
Man City had the second biggest depreciation on £273m, followed by Real Madrid and West Ham with £187m and £160m respectively.
Overall, Chelsea were deemed to have the most valuable squad across football, with the study encompassing all players owned by the clubs.
Chelsea had 50 included in the overall valuation, while second placed Real Madrid had an estimated value of £1.46billion from just 32 players.
Man City and Arsenal followed with their squads estimated to be worth over £1.29billion, just ahead of PSG and Liverpool.
Barcelona and Tottenham were the only other clubs to see their valuations pass the €1billion mark, with valuations at £1.17billion and £908million.
Man United were seventh highest ranked Premier League side, with their £711m valuation falling behind Brighton.
