Chelsea landed huge net profit in two windows

Chelsea made the biggest net profit of any club in the world in the last two transfer windows, according to newlyreleased data.

The London club, who served a transfer ban last summer after breaching FIFA rules on the recruitment of young players, spent just €45 million (£38 million) on Mateo Kovacic but recouped €205m in sales (£173.7m).

The CIES Football Observatory found that at the other end of the scale Real Madrid – who paid Chelsea an initial reported €100m plus add-ons for Belgian playmaker Eden Hazard last summer – were €181m in negative balance when it came to transfers in and out.

Premier League new boys Aston Villa were second to Real, spending €172m and earning just 3m, for a balance of -€169m.

Eden Hazard’s €100m move from Chelsea to Real Madrid was crucial to the standings.