There are clubs that have created a business model based on buying and selling players. With the millions of dollars currently being paid, the transaction of one of their stars represents a number of opportunities and benefits.
In this way, they manage to keep their economy stable and this usually translates into sporting success. Therefore, when it is suspected that there are negotiations for the purchase or transfer of a player, bookmakers offer odds on which club will have him, what the amount will be, among other options. Luckia is a bookmaker that offers this type of bets and therefore it is worth to know
Economic reasons for the sale of players
The sale of a player at a high level and with a valid contract can bring in millions of dollars for the coffers of an institution. And even more so if it is a player trained in their own youth academy. Other clubs specialize in buying ‘cheap’ and selling expensive, such as Borussia Dortmund.
For example, the German club paid €30 million to Birmingham for the transfer of Jude Bellingham. He then sold him to Madrid for €127 million. Similar profits were made at the time with the sales of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Erling Haaland and Ousmane Dembélé. These operations ultimately led to a series of profits:
- Maintain institutional stability.
- To restore the economy in the event of a crisis.
- Improve the club’s infrastructure, benefiting athletes and fans.
- Allocate resources to lower divisions and other categories/sports.
- Attract sponsorships and investments.
A financially stable sports entity can attract better professionals in all areas. Teams that have taken the buying and selling business in their stride have clear objectives.
Sporting reasons for the sale of players
Why sell your stars? A player is an ‘asset’ of the club. His market value will grow according to his age, performance and production. And by arousing the interest of a larger institution, it can lead to a million-dollar transaction. The income generated will encourage other types of sporting goals:
– Invest in better reinforcements: strengthen the squad and make it more competitive.
– To aspire to greater objectives and, therefore, bring more economic returns.
In the case of Dortmund, we see that in the Bundesliga they fight for the title and constantly qualify for the Champions League. In addition, it has become a springboard for young players from lower leagues to showcase themselves. They arrive at Borussia for a low cost, stand out and then leave for millions of dollars.
Which teams have obtained the highest profitability from the sale of players?
Until recently, Benfica, Porto and Dortmund themselves were clear examples of success in this kind of business. In the last two seasons, the balance of their revenues in this area remained ‘in the green’. However, according to Transfermarkt’s figures, the French clubs have been making more profit.
Between the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons, Lille led in the balance between purchases and sales with a favorable balance of €109.76 million. This allowed them to increase their budget and make better signings, with the results reflected in their good league campaign. Lens and Reims, other Ligue 1 teams, occupy the top five of the list.
The surprise is in second place with Nordsjaelland, a Danish team with a return of €109.09 million. Belgian side Genk is third with a balance in favor of €107.6 million. Meanwhile, the Dutch classics – Ajax and PSV – are now being overtaken by Feyenoord (€100.88 million).
