Manchester United 's £215million summer transfer spree wasn't even enough to make Erik ten Hag 's squad the most expensive in world football.
Instead, bitter rivals Manchester City take the top spot on the CIES Football Observatory 's newly-published list after the closure of the summer transfer window. Premier League clubs spent a whopping £1.9billion on players from June to September, so it's no surprise to see English sides dominating when it comes to who boasts the flashiest squads.
Having signed Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips among others this summer, Pep Guardiola 's City side are now worth an eye-watering £915m, including potential add-ons. The Citizens also snapped up Julian Alvarez, Stefan Ortega, Sergio Gomez and Manuel Akanji to bolster their resources.
United sit in second place, with the £85m signing of Antony on deadline day boosting their squad to the £862m mark. New boss Ten Hag was backed with the club's biggest ever spend during a transfer window, as Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Tyrell Malacia and Martin Dubravka all arrived.
Chelsea take third spot with their £758m roster, with new owner Todd Boehly flexing his muscles after completing his £4.25bn takeover in spring. The signings of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Wesley Fofana, Marc Cucurella and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang headlined their business, as Carney Chukwuemeka, Gabriel Slonina, Cesare Casedei and Dylan Williams were brought it in with an eye on the future at Stamford Bridge.
Then comes Paris Saint-Germain, who had a quiet summer by their cash-splashing standards but are still valued at £728m. As newly-appointed manager Christoph Galtier and incoming transfer chief Luis Campos opted to dismiss a host of superstar names available in the market, Vitinha, Hugo Ekitike, Nordi Mukiele, Renato Sanches, Fabian Ruiz and Carlos Soler came in for a combined £133m.
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Liverpool's £85m signing of Darwin Nunez helps them into fifth on £668m, while European champions Real Madrid follow in sixth with a value of £620m after bringing in Aurelien Tchouameni from Monaco, also for a fee rising to £85m. Cash-strapped Barcelona are well behind in seventh place, although their controversial summer splurge - led by outspoken president Joan Laporta - has taken Xavi Hernandez's team to the £538m mark.
The arrivals of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde, Andreas Christensen, Franck Kessie, Marcos Alonso and Hector Bellerin were offset by a slew of departures. Then it's back to the Premier League in eighth, as Arsenal's youthful squad totals £459m. Gabriel Jesus goes down the Gunners' statement signing, followed by Fabio Vieira, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Marquinhos and Matt Turner.
North London foes Tottenham Hotspur are narrowly behind on £446m, as Antonio Conte received an influx of talent. £50m forward Richarlison was joined by Yves Bissouma, Ivan Perisic, Clement Lenglet, Djed Spence and youngster Iyenoma Udogie, with Spurs' involvement in the Champions League evidently boosting their attraction.
And finally, Atletico Madrid round out the top 10 with a £431m squad, despite only spending money on two players - Brazilian starlet Samuel Dias Lino and Argentine prodigy Nahuel Molina Lucero - and signing Axel Witsel on a free. The Premier League continues to dominate further down the table, with Bayern Munich and Juventus surrounded by Newcastle, West Ham, Aston Villa, Leicester City and Everton before the next team from the continent.
Top 10 most expensive squads in world football (including add-ons)
1. Manchester City - £915m
2. Manchester United - £862m
3. Chelsea - £758m
4. Paris Saint-Germain - £728m
5. Liverpool - £668m
6. Real Madrid - £620m
7. Barcelona - £538m
8. Arsenal - £459m
9. Tottenham Hotspur - £446m
10. Atletico Madrid - £431m
