Manchester City lead the way with their starting line-ups costing over €600m on average this season. In a study done by the CIES Football Observatory, it found that Man City’s most expensive line-up of the season cost €726m.
The study includes every team from Europe’s top-five leagues. Premier League sides make up five of the top six for average value of their starting XIs, with only Paris Saint-Germain able to break past the dominance from the English clubs.
Leeds sit ahead of a number of Europe’s big clubs with an average starting line-up worth €189m this campaign. Just behind them is Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund while three Premier League clubs sit directly above them.
The study also found that the average cost of a Premier League starting line-up was €233m, with Serie A the next priciest at €83m while the cheapest league to assemble a team in is Ligue 1 at €65m, which is reduced to just €41m when PSG are not taken into account.
Below is the top 22 most expensive starting line-ups, on average, from across Europe’s top-five leagues this season. The likes of Inter Milan (€147m) and AC Milan (€143m) sit outside the top 22 while there are just seven clubs from the Premier League who miss out.
. Man City
The reigning Premier League champions have an average starting line-up worth €605m in transfer fees so far this season. Photo: Shaun Botterill
. Paris Saint-Germain
The French champions have an average starting XI which costs €510m. Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
. Manchester United
After spending over £200m in the summer, the average cost of Man United's starting XI this season has been €480m. Photo: Michael Regan
. Liverpool
The Reds have the fourth-most expensive starting line-up this season, with an average cost of €409m. Photo: Andrew Powell
. Chelsea
The Blues spent over £250m this summer, giving them the fifth-costliest starting XI across Europe's top five leagues at €393m. Photo: Sebastian Widmann
. Arsenal
Arsenal sit top of the Premier League with their starting XI costing €382m on average. Photo: Stuart MacFarlane
. Real Madrid
The Champions League holders' average starting XI has cost €370m this season. Photo: Denis Doyle
. Barcelona
The La Liga club, who signed Raphinha from Leeds United this summer, have fielded a starting line-up worth €334m on average. Photo: JOSE JORDAN
1. Man City
The reigning Premier League champions have an average starting line-up worth €605m in transfer fees so far this season. Photo: Shaun Botterill
2. Paris Saint-Germain
The French champions have an average starting XI which costs €510m. Photo: ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT
3. Manchester United
After spending over £200m in the summer, the average cost of Man United's starting XI this season has been €480m. Photo: Michael Regan
4. Liverpool
The Reds have the fourth-most expensive starting line-up this season, with an average cost of €409m. Photo: Andrew Powell