10 Football Managers Who Have Spent the Most Since 2016

Pep Guardiola is the biggest spender in world football since 2016, with Manchester City’s rebuild-and-refresh cycle pushing his total transfer outlay to an estimated €2.05 billion since he arrived at the Etihad in the 2016–17 season, based on transfer spending data compiled from Capology and Transfermarkt.

To be clear on what this ranking measures: it is gross transfer expenditure, the cumulative fees paid for incoming players during a manager’s spells in charge (fees are often estimates where undisclosed). 

It is not net spend, and it does not “credit” a coach for sales or academy promotions.

The ranking (since 2016)

What the list says about modern football

Guardiola is in a different financial universe

Guardiola’s €2.05bn sits in a tier of its own, roughly €830m ahead of the next name on the list.
And the spending started immediately, in his first season, City spent over €190m, with a wave of signings that helped reset the squad age profile and playing style (including Ilkay Gundogan, Leroy Sane, John Stones, Claudio Bravo, and Gabriel Jesus).

Simeone shows how even “defensive identity” eras now cost billions

Diego Simeone sits second at €1.22bn since 2016–17, evidence that sustaining Atlético Madrid’s competitiveness over multiple cycles now requires repeated major-market moves, not just tactical stability.

Conte, Allegri, Tuchel: elite expectations + short windows = expensive squads

Antonio Conte (€1.19bn) ranks third, reflecting a career built on immediate impact, clubs back him heavily to win quickly.

Allegri (€1.17bn) and Tuchel (€1.17bn) are level, with big-ticket spending tied to clubs with “must-win” cultures, where squad churn is often the price of staying at the top.

The Premier League effect is all over this list

From Arteta (€1.09bn) to Ten Hag (€1.07bn) to Howe (€1.01bn), England’s financial gravity is obvious: mid-to-top Premier League teams can now support transfer programmes that rival historical giants in Europe.

Nuno ahead of Klopp, Mourinho, Pochettino

Nuno Espírito Santo rounds out the top 10 at €985m, landing ahead of multiple globally famous coaches over the same period. That is less about celebrity and more about how frequently a manager is asked to rebuild squads across different projects and leagues.