The 2024/25 Premier League season has brought drama on and off the pitch—but perhaps the most telling story lies in how much each club spent on wages compared to where they actually finished. Some clubs punched well above their weight, while others burned through millions for little return. Here’s a full breakdown, ranked from the bottom to the top, with analysis of each team’s performance.

20. Southampton

Wage Bill: £56million (16th)
Difference: -4
Southampton’s financial output didn’t match their on-pitch results. Despite having a mid-table wage bill, they ended the season rock bottom.

19. Ipswich Town

Wage Bill: £34.2million (20th)
Difference: +1
Ipswich Town had the lowest wage bill in the league but managed to finish one place above that, avoiding complete humiliation.

18. Leicester City

Wage Bill: £65.4million (13th)
Difference: -5
Despite outspending six clubs, Leicester were relegated. Their investment failed to keep them afloat in the top flight.

17. Tottenham Hotspur

Wage Bill: £104.8million (7th)
Difference: -10
Spurs’ league position was a massive letdown compared to their wage budget. They narrowly escaped relegation, making them one of the worst value squads.

16. Wolverhampton Wanderers

Wage Bill: £53.2million (18th)
Difference: +2
Wolves did slightly better than their wage bill suggested. Their modest overperformance helped secure survival.

15. Manchester United

Wage Bill: £180.6million (2nd)
Difference: -13
United were the biggest underachievers of the season. With the second-highest wage bill, a 15th-place finish was catastrophic.

14. West Ham United

Wage Bill: £90.2million (9th)
Difference: -5
West Ham’s fall below expectations was significant. A mid-table wage budget yielded a bottom-half finish.

13. Everton

Wage Bill: £71.4million (10th)
Difference: +3
Everton slightly outperformed their financial ranking. They managed to keep themselves away from the drop zone despite instability.

12. Crystal Palace

Wage Bill: £69.8million (11th)
Difference: -1
Palace finished almost exactly where their wage bill placed them. A minor underachievement, but not disastrous.

11. Fulham

Wage Bill: £68.4million (12th)
Difference: +1
Fulham did just above the minimum expected. With smart management, they edged out better-funded teams.

10. Brentford

Wage Bill: £41.4million (19th)
Difference: +9
Brentford were the standout overachievers. With the second-lowest wage bill, they soared into the top half—a masterclass in efficiency.

9. Bournemouth

Wage Bill: £54.7million (17th)
Difference: +8
Bournemouth defied the odds with their top-half finish. Their budget ranked low, but their performance said otherwise.

8. Brighton & Hove Albion

Wage Bill: £60.9million (15th)
Difference: +7
Brighton continued to punch above their weight. Once again, they finished well above where their finances placed them.

7. Nottingham Forest

Wage Bill: £63.4million (14th)
Difference: +7
Forest impressed all season. Their run into the top eight was a huge achievement given their budget constraints.

6. Aston Villa

Wage Bill: £107.5million (6th)
Difference: 0
Villa hit expectations squarely. Sixth in spending, sixth in the table—solid and steady from Unai Emery’s men.

5. Newcastle

Wage Bill: £103.2million (8th)
Difference: +3
Newcastle’s financial output yielded good returns. They finished fifth, three spots higher than their wage rank.

4. Chelsea

Wage Bill: £169.3million (4th)
Difference: 0
Chelsea’s result matched their investment. It wasn’t a breakout year, but they delivered what the money suggested.

3. Manchester City

Wage Bill: £201.8million (1st)
Difference: -2
City fell short of retaining their crown. Despite the league’s highest wage bill, they finished third, a rare underperformance for Pep’s side.

2. Arsenal

Wage Bill: £172.1million (3rd)
Difference: +1
Arsenal got close to glory again. Their second-place finish showed slight overachievement relative to wages, showing consistency.

1. Liverpool

Wage Bill: £128.8million (5th)
Difference: +4
Liverpool were deserved champions and did it economically. Fifth in wage spending but first in the league, Arne Slot’s side maximized every pound and delivered a title-winning campaign in his debut season.