Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain transferred from Arsenal to Liverpool in the summer of 2017. Photo: Liverpool FC

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain transferred from Arsenal to Liverpool in the summer of 2017. Photo: Liverpool FC

According to Transfermarkt, Arsenal holds the second most valuable squad globally, worth 1.482 billion USD. Paradoxically, their record player sale remains Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's 51 million USD move to Liverpool in the summer of 2017.

Over the past three seasons, Arsenal generated 198.3 million USD from player sales, significantly less than Chelsea (946 million USD), Liverpool (435 million USD), and Man City (520 million USD).

In the summer of 2025, Arsenal spent over 300 million USD acquiring seven new players: Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze, and Viktor Gyokeres. They also secured Piero Hincapie on loan from Bayer Leverkusen with a 58.5 million USD buyout option.

However, their total income from player sales was only 11.05 million USD, dwarfed by Chelsea (392 million USD), Liverpool (295 million USD), and Man City (130 million USD).

On the last day of the summer transfer window, Arsenal offloaded five players with a combined 334 Premier League appearances and 110 international caps. They only received 3.38 million USD from Albert Sambi Lokonga's transfer to Hamburg. Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior, and Oleksandr Zinchenko all left on loan, with only Kiwior having a buyout clause of 30.55 million USD with Porto. The remaining players are considered to have "dropped in value," failing to secure transfers at their peak.

Jakub Kiwior signed with Porto on 1/9. Photo: FC Porto

Jakub Kiwior signed with Porto on 1/9. Photo: FC Porto

A director at a rival club described Arsenal as "a victim of their own actions," overspending and then releasing players for free or at a loss. Nicolas Pepe exemplifies this, joining for a club-record 87 million USD in 2019 but leaving for free four years later. Zinchenko, acquired for 38.5 million USD, is nearing the end of his contract. Players like Nelson, Lokonga, Thomas Partey, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, and former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could have been sold earlier for higher fees.

Some player agents believe Arsenal fails to utilize cup competitions like the FA Cup and League Cup to "showcase" fringe players. While Chelsea rotates its squad in the Conference League, Arsenal often fields key players like Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz in the League Cup. Consequently, players needing a move, like Vieira and Lokonga, must rely on loan performances, hindering their appeal.

Brokers also point out Arsenal's eagerness to offload surplus players, signaling weakness to potential buyers who submit late, low-ball offers.

In contrast, Liverpool, Chelsea, and Man City often command higher prices for backup players, many of whom are international players. For example, Liverpool sold Darwin Nunez for 61.5 million USD, capitalizing on his status as Uruguay's primary striker. Apart from Zinchenko, few of Arsenal's reserves are considered international caliber, making them harder to sell.

Darwin Nunez celebrates in a friendly match between Al Hilal and Waldhof Mannheim on 14/8. Photo: Goal

Darwin Nunez celebrates in a friendly match between Al Hilal and Waldhof Mannheim on 14/8. Photo: Goal

Chelsea's success stems from acquiring young players and selling them while their value is still rising. This summer, Stamford Bridge sold or loaned 23 players, only six of whom were 25 or older, generating 118.3 million USD.

Man City benefits from the City Football Group network of 13 global clubs, using them as "launchpads" for players before selling them at a profit. Liverpool is known for maximizing sale prices, as seen with Jarell Quansah's move to Leverkusen for almost 50 million USD and Caoimhin Kelleher's transfer to Brentford for nearly 25 million USD, totaling over 70 million USD for two backup players.

Coach Mikel Arteta (left) and Sporting Director Andrea Berta (right) on the day Arsenal signed Noni Madueke. Photo: Arsenal FC

Coach Mikel Arteta (left) and Sporting Director Andrea Berta (right) on the day Arsenal signed Noni Madueke. Photo: Arsenal FC

Andrea Berta, Arsenal's new Sporting Director with a banking background, is expected to address this weakness. He aims to avoid letting contracts enter their final year, as Edu previously did, and emulate Chelsea's strategy of selling academy graduates. In the summer of 2024, Arsenal sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham for 35.1 million USD and Eddie Nketiah to Crystal Palace for 32.5 million USD, generating 100% profit under Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Thanks to former coach Arsene Wenger's financial prudence, Arsenal isn't under significant PSR pressure. Last season, their wage bill was 241 million USD, trailing only Man City (317 million USD), Chelsea (255 million USD), and Man Utd (252 million USD). According to financial expert Kieran Maguire, Arsenal could spend an additional 195 million USD without breaching PSR (maximum loss of 136.5 million USD over three years).

Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has re-emerged as a title contender, finishing second in the Premier League and reaching the Champions League quarterfinals in the past three seasons. However, to become champions, Arsenal needs to sell players more effectively. An inside source admitted to the Daily Mail, "We're heading in the right direction, but the key to becoming champions is learning to manage outgoing transfers as efficiently as Chelsea.".

Compiled by Hong Duy