A new report by trading platform eToro, in collaboration with Transfermarkt, called the “Football Investment Report,” sheds light on the football industry’s transfer and talent development. The report analyzes the skill of various European football clubs in buying low and selling high, generating significant revenues through academy players, and which players have generated the highest transfer profits in the shortest amount of time.
The report highlights Chelsea’s acquisition of midfielder Enzo Fernández from Benfica in January 2023, which led to the most outstanding transfer profit of any player in history after only six months of playing in London. Chelsea paid €121M for Fernández, who had signed for Benfica for around €14 million from River Plate in the summer of 2022, with a 25% sell-on clause in the deal. This resulted in a profit of €77M for Benfica in just six months.
The report also examines the efficiency of clubs in generating revenue through developing their academy players. Benfica leads this list, having made €500M in the last decade from the sales of academy players. Other clubs featured include AS Monaco and Ajax, demonstrating that smaller clubs often have a smarter way of doing business in talent development.
Moreover, the report highlights Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Borussia Dortmund’s leading positions in various worldwide rankings when it comes to transfers. It draws parallels between retail investors’ investment processes and clubs’ buying, selling, and development processes of players.
In conclusion, the “Football Investment Report” examines football clubs’ business strategies to identify which clubs are thriving in the current environment. The report is an excellent resource for football investors globally, equipping them with the requisite knowledge base to research and make better-informed investment decisions regarding football clubs. It emphasizes the importance of proactive transfer business, the utilization of academy players, and creative player scouting strategies to manage football clubs successfully. The report is vital reading for football enthusiasts, investors, and all stakeholders who want to gain deeper insights into the football industry’s dynamics.