Arsenal lead transfer market spending: 300m euros over the past two seasons

Arsenal haven't played in the Champions League since 2016/17, but they are determined to return and are spending big in order to do so.

Stan Kroenke has long been criticised for the way he has run Arsenal, but in the past few years the purse strings have been well and truly loosened, with the Gunners racking up the biggest transfer market tab in European football over the past two seasons.

"We have been able to balance the squad and, financially, we are in a much more stable position," Mikel Arteta said.

"We know where we have to go and we're not going to stop.

"We have to make a leap to the next level. This summer is more important than the last."

The teams who spent the most on transfers in 2021/22

Arsenal: 167.5m euros

Newcastle: 146.5m euros

Manchester United: 140m euros

Manchester City 134.5m euros

Aston Villa: 129.8m euros

Source: transfermarkt

The teams who spent the most on transfers so far in 2022/23

Arsenal: 132.5m euros

Bayern: 117.5m euros

Manchester City: 108.8m euros

Leeds: 105.6m euros

Barcelona: 103m euros

Source: transfermarkt

In 2021/22, the Gunners, having regained their financial muscle, spent the most on signings, with 167.5m euros.

They brought in Ben White (58.5m euros, Brighton), Martin Odegaard (35m euros, Real Madrid), Aaron Ramsdale (28m euros, Sheffield United), Takehiro Tomiyasu (18.5m euros, Bologna), Albert Sambi Lokonga (17.5m euros, Anderlecht), Nuno Tavares (8m euros, Benfica) and Auston Trusty (2m euros, Colorado).

With the arrival of Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City for 35m euros confirmed, the Gunners have reached 132.5m euros this summer, with the arrivals of Gabriel Jesus (52.2m euros, Manchester City), Fabio Vieira (35m euros, Porto), Matt Turner (6.4m euros, New England) and Marquinhos (3.5m euros, Sao Paulo).

Arsenal top the transfer spending table

For the second successive summer, Arsenal lead the way in terms of spending. Behind them are Bayern Munich (117.5m euros), Manchester City (108.8m euros), Leeds United (105.6m euros) and Barcelona (103m euros).

Arteta's revolution has seen the London club invest 300m euros into player signings over the last two seasons.