Xhaka among new arrivals
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For most newly promoted clubs, survival is the first goal. While some sides edge into the Premier League with caution and conservative spending, others arrive with intent, wasting no time in flexing their financial muscle. For the past two seasons, we have seen all three promoted clubs relegated again straight away. Previously, that had only ever happened once in the Premier League era. Survival is harder than ever. The gap between the English top-flight and the Championship is widening. It was a tough start for Burnley, as they were beaten 3-0 at Tottenham, but the result of the opening weekend came at the Stadium of Light, as newly-promoted Sunderland thrashed West Ham 3-0 on their Premier League return.
Nowadays, to avoid the drop, sometimes clubs have to spend bigs and promoted clubs have certainly been doing just that. Last May, Sunderland pulled off promotion via a play-off victory against Sheffield United, and they have not messed about this summer when it comes to recruitment. They have spent plenty of money on some big names, including former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, and some big talents, including talented midfielder Habib Diarra. Transfermarkt breaks down the promoted sides that have spent the most money in their first summer window back in the Premier League, analysing whether the investment paid off on the pitch, with the Black Cats’ now leading the way after their latest signing of defender Nordi Mukiele from PSG for €12 million.
Clubs promoted to the Premier League with highest spends
Leading the way are now Sunderland with a total spend of €165m on new recruits this summer. The most expensive of which have been Diarra (€31.2m) from Strasbourg, winger Simon Adingra (€24m) from Brighton, and midfielder Enzo Le Fée (€23m) from Roma. Their starting XI against West Ham featured as many as eight new signings. Nottingham Forest take second after the club invested heavily in a number of new recruits after being promoted in the 2021/22 campaign. They brought in 13 players for a fee, spending a grand total of €155.2 million, and managed to just survive the drop, finishing 17th in the 2022/23 season. In third are Aston Villa, who were promoted in the 2019/20 season, and spent €148.6m the following summer – they also survived and have really pushed on since.
A fellow side promoted this season in the shape of Burnley now occupy fourth. The Clarets have already splashed out €125.7m this summer. Two sides that were promoted back to the Premier League last season feature in fifth and sixth. Ipswich spent €125m, whilst Southampton splashed out €117.2m – both were relegated. Fulham take seventh having spent €113.1m in the 2018/19 campaign – they also went down that season. The same can be said for Burnley in the 2023/24 season, in which they spent €110.5m. Wolves spent €92m in the 2018/19 campaign and that was enough to survive. Leeds also stayed up after spending €89.2m in the 2020/21 season, completing the top 10. It doesn’t always work, but Sunderland have certainly been ambitious upon their return to the English top-flight, and could not have got off to a better start.