The 25 Most Profitable Clubs of the Last Decade – Ranked from Lowest to Highest
Reaching the latter stages of the Champions League or building a competitive squad in today’s football landscape often comes with an enormous financial burden. But not every club relies on sky-high spending to stay successful—some have perfected the art of making money on the transfer market instead.
In this article, we rank the 25 clubs with the biggest transfer profits over the past decade. From elite academies to razor-sharp recruitment strategies, these teams have shown how smart business can rival big budgets.
25. Fluminense – £125m
Fluminense has quietly built a strong reputation for developing top-tier talent in Brazil. Notable sales include João Pedro to Watford and André, who continues to attract Premier League interest. The Rio-based club thrives by blending academy production with smart timing on exits.
24. Shakhtar Donetsk – £125m
Shakhtar has long been a pipeline for Brazilian players heading to Europe, with big-money moves like Fred to Manchester United and Fernandinho to Manchester City. Their sharp South American scouting has paid off handsomely over the years. Even amid Ukraine’s challenges, their model keeps working.
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23. Feyenoord – £126m
Feyenoord’s steady rise as a Dutch powerhouse has come alongside smart player trading. They earned significantly from selling Orkun Kökçü to Benfica and Tyrell Malacia to Manchester United. Their balanced approach between competitiveness and sustainability stands out in the Eredivisie.
22. Eintracht Frankfurt – £128m
Frankfurt’s recent success includes massive deals like Randal Kolo Muani to PSG and Luka Jović to Real Madrid. The German club has made a habit of buying low and selling high, often using European competition as a showcase. It’s become a key part of their identity.
21. RSC Anderlecht – £128m
Belgium’s most decorated club has a long history of selling top talent, including Romelu Lukaku and Youri Tielemans. Anderlecht’s youth academy continues to deliver profitable stars to the top leagues. They remain a critical hub in Europe’s player development pipeline.
20. FC Empoli – £133m
Empoli might fly under the radar, but their record in nurturing Serie A-ready talent is remarkable. Riccardo Orsolini, Hamed Traorè, and Ismaël Bennacer have all fetched solid fees. Their low-cost operation and consistent output make them one of Italy’s smartest selling clubs.
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19. FC Basel – £142m
Switzerland’s FC Basel has produced a string of standout players, including Mohamed Salah and Granit Xhaka. Their ability to turn domestic dominance into European exposure has driven up transfer values. Basel has consistently punched above their financial weight.
18. Corinthians – £144m
Corinthians have capitalized on the global demand for Brazilian flair with sales like Paulinho and Marquinhos. The São Paulo club maintains a robust academy and leverages strong branding. Their mix of commercial strength and player exports fuels long-term gains.
17. Santos FC – £145m
Santos is synonymous with legendary talent like Pelé and Neymar, and that tradition continues. Recent sales include Rodrygo to Real Madrid and Kaiky to Almería. The club remains one of Brazil’s most reliable talent exporters.
16. Athletico Paranaense – £151m
Often overshadowed by bigger Brazilian clubs, Athletico Paranaense has still made huge transfer profits. Renan Lodi to Atlético Madrid and Bruno Guimarães to Lyon are standout deals. Their recruitment and development strategy is among the sharpest in South America.
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15. São Paulo FC – £155m
A heavyweight in Brazil, São Paulo has sold stars like Éder Militão and Antony for major fees. Their international profile helps drive high-value transfers. The club remains a consistent factory for European-ready players.
14. KRC Genk – £164m
Genk is Belgium’s top-selling club in recent years, known for Kevin De Bruyne, Thibaut Courtois, and more recently Sander Berge. Their scouting network spans Africa and Eastern Europe. Genk’s system emphasizes resale value while staying competitive domestically.
13. Atalanta BC – £172m
Atalanta’s transformation into a Serie A contender includes shrewd trading like selling Cristian Romero and Rasmus Højlund for major profits. They combine tactical evolution with elite recruitment. Their data-driven model fuels both on-pitch success and market wins.
12. SC Braga – £188m
Braga continues to solidify its role as Portugal’s third force through smart selling. The club benefited from the rise of players like Francisco Trincão and David Carmo. Their balance between domestic development and international opportunity is crucial.
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11. AZ Alkmaar – £189m
AZ’s focus on technical talent has delivered impressive returns, including Teun Koopmeiners and Calvin Stengs. The Dutch side continually feeds Europe’s top five leagues. Their infrastructure and philosophy make them one of the Netherlands’ most efficient clubs.
10. Olympique Lyon – £192m
Lyon’s reputation as a talent machine is well-earned, with marquee sales like Alexandre Lacazette, Tanguy Ndombele, and Ferland Mendy. They prioritize youth and turn academy stars into premium exports. Despite recent struggles, their model remains highly profitable.
9. GNK Dinamo Zagreb – £200m
Dinamo Zagreb is a Balkan powerhouse, famous for developing Luka Modrić and Joško Gvardiol. Their academy consistently feeds Europe’s elite. Transfer income is a major pillar of their sustainability and competitive edge.
8. PSV Eindhoven – £223m
PSV has a legacy of smart trades, including Cody Gakpo to Liverpool and Hirving Lozano to Napoli. The Dutch club leverages both academy and strategic purchases. Their model offers a perfect blend of ambition and profitability.
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7. AS Monaco – £224m
Monaco’s golden era under Jardim saw monster deals like Kylian Mbappé, Fabinho, and Bernardo Silva. Their scouting across France and abroad has created a revolving door of stars. Even in rebuilds, they continue to profit heavily.
6. Sporting CP – £293m
Sporting produced world-class names like Cristiano Ronaldo and more recently Bruno Fernandes. Their transfer income is consistently high thanks to strong scouting and internal development. Sporting’s identity is rooted in turning promise into profit.
5. LOSC Lille – £317m
Lille’s rise to Ligue 1 champions was matched by record sales like Nicolas Pépé, Victor Osimhen, and Sven Botman. Their project blends analytics and talent flipping. It’s one of the best modern examples of football as smart business.
4. Red Bull Salzburg – £379m
Salzburg dominates the Austrian league but sells stars worldwide—Erling Haaland, Dominik Szoboszlai, and more. As part of the Red Bull network, they benefit from coordinated talent progression. They are a blueprint for sustainability through high-turnover success.
3. FC Porto – £395m
Porto remains a European kingpin of player trading, with highlights like Éder Militão, Luis Díaz, and James Rodríguez. They consistently invest wisely and sell at peak value. Their model is both repeatable and resilient.
2. Ajax Amsterdam – £449m
Ajax perfected the academy-to-market model, producing Frenkie de Jong, Matthijs de Ligt, and Antony. They integrate youth into their first team before maximizing sales. It’s the definition of elite-level self-sustainability.
1. SL Benfica – £648m
Benfica leads the world in transfer profits, with megadeals like João Félix, Darwin Núñez, and Enzo Fernández. Their academy is among Europe’s best, supported by savvy South American scouting. Benfica has mastered the art of sell-high football economics.
