Football Manager 2021: Premier League Transfer & Wage Budgets for all Clubs

Money rules the world of football, as it does in Football Manager 2021. In this article, we explore which Premier League clubs have the biggest war chest.

You’ll want to keep in mind that, at the start of any new save in FM 21, teams will have already made signings through the summer transfer window in real life – which is reflected by their in-game budgets for the first season.

This article is based on the beta version of Football Manager 2021, available to all pre-purchases of the game, and may change upon the game’s highly anticipated full release on 24 November.

Below, you will find the teams with the five largest transfer budgets article as well as a table of every Premier League transfer and wage budget at the foot of the page.

Manchester United (£52 million budget)

Reputation: 4.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £52 million
Wage Budget: £3,985,410 per week
Key Players: Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford

Still in a period of transition from the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson, everyone involved with Manchester United is keen to get the club back on their perch. Improving on last season’s third-place finish is a must for the English giants.

The Red Devils bolstered many positions this season, bringing the likes of Edinson Cavani, Donny Van De Beek, and Alex Telles into the side, as well as teenagers Facundo Pellistri and Amad Diallo – with Diallo set to join in January 2021.

United have great players in key areas already, with the goalkeeping prowess of David De Gea, who has 18 handling and 19 reflexes, as well as defensive studs Harry Maguire and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, with the right back boasting an outstanding 20 tackling rating.

Paul Pogba dominates in midfield with 19 technique, 18 first touch, 18 passing, and 18 stamina, but the best finishers at the club come in the form of Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood, sporting 17 and 16 finishing, respectively. At just 18 years-old, Mason Greenwood has a lofty potential of four-stars.

In Football Manager 21, Manchester United has the largest transfer budget of all of the Premier League clubs. The £52 million at the club’s disposal, coupled with over £3 million in wage budget, allows the new boss to add at least one worthy first-team addition, with the primary need being at centre back.

Crystal Palace (£22 million budget)

Reputation: 3.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £22 million
Wage Budget: £1,784,038 per week
Key Players: Wilfried Zaha, Michy Batshuayi, Luka Milivojevic

Shrewd business in the summer transfer window has left Crystal Palace, surprisingly, with the second-largest starting transfer budget in the Premier League on FM 21. Aiming to improve on last season’s 14^th-place finish, users will have another £22 million to reinforce the strong squad.  

Palace spent £17 million on Eberechi Eze and Jack Butland, signed Nathan Ferguson and former Eagle trainee Nathaniel Clyne on free transfers, and also brought in Michy Batshuayi on-loan from Chelsea. It was a fine transfer window for the club after recouping an £18 million fee from the sale of Alexander Sörloth to RB Leipzig.

New signing Nathaniel Clyne stars in defence with his 16 tackling, while Cheikhou Kouyaté protects the back-four from midfield, possessing a mean 17 aggression. Club captain Luka Milivojevic bosses the middle of the park with his 17 teamwork, 16 work rate, and 16 determination making him a tenacious addition to the team.

Star man Wilfried Zaha, the talisman of Crystal Palace, leads from the front by creating and scoring with ease. His 16 pace and 16 acceleration paired with 16 dribbling and 17 flair pose a nightmare for defenders.

Liverpool (£18 million budget)

Reputation: 4.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £18 million
Wage Budget: £3,014,413 per week
Key Players: Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mané, Virgil van Dijk

Premier League champions last season, ending a 30-year wait for the coveted title and looking to repeat the feat this season, the Reds had a reasonably quiet transfer window.

The rather expensive signing of Diogo Jota from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £40.23 million is already showing dividends as he hit the ground running this season. As well as the Portuguese winger, world-class midfielder Thiago joined from Bayern Munich to add extra depth, and Liverpool acquired some left back cover in the form of Konstantinos Tsimikas from Olympiacos.

Keeping key attacking players in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané is imperative. With the Egyptian possessing 18 finishing and Mané having 17 finishing of his own, the duo can be lethal in front of goal. Adding Thiago’s 19 vision to the side will only increase the goal tally of each player this season.

Industrious captain Jordan Henderson runs the engine room of the squad with stats of 19 in determination and leadership, which are closely followed by 18s in teamwork, work rate, natural fitness, and stamina. Man-mountain Virgil van Dijk, with 18 heading and 17 tackling, protects the goalkeeper, Alisson, whose current ability stands at four stars anyway.

The Liverpool squad isn’t left wanting, and £18 million won’t be able to improve the starting XI, but it’s a decent transfer budget to have – especially if you know of a cheap wonderkid.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (£17.5 million budget)

Reputation: 3.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £17.5 million
Wage Budget: £1,345,254 per week
Key Players: Raúl Jiménez, Rúben Neves, Rui Patricio

Truly a surprise package in the Premier League, Wolves have seventh two years in a row since they were promoted back into the top-flight. The goal now is to put pressure on the so-called ‘big six’ of English football, challenging for Champions League places and possibly going on a title run.

After making £72 million in transfer departures, Wolves splashed the cash on the signings of youngster Fábio Silva and accomplished right back Nélson Semedo. Bolstering across the backline and pulling in a couple of decent loan signings also helps to ensure squad depth for the coming campaign.

A relatively young squad, mixed with experience in key areas of the pitch, Wolves start FM 21 in a great position to develop into a top club. João Moutinho’s brilliant technical ability in midfield is clear with ratings of 17 in passing, vision, technique, and teamwork.

Wolves already have an heir for the ageing Moutinho, too, coming in the form of Rúben Neves, who shares a similar current ability. At the age of 23, Neves could soon surpass his fellow countryman.

Star striker Raúl Jiménez is largely responsible for the side’s goals. With his 16 finishing and 16 heading, keeping the Mexican fit and in-form will only help the team to mount a challenge on the top four.

The Molineux residents have a bit of everything, from top-class young players for FM 21 bosses to develop, to trustworthy veterans across the pitch. Having a good-sized opening transfer budget of £17.5 million should help you to bring in a play that suits your tactical preferences.

Manchester City (£17 million budget)

Reputation: 4.5 stars
Transfer Budget: £17 million
Wage Budget: £3,812,759 per week
Key Players: Kevin De Bruyne, Sergio Agüero, Ederson

Runners-up last season, the financial powerhouse of Manchester City spent a massive £154.62 million in the summer transfer window. Refreshing an aging squad for the future, every signing was a player younger than 26-years-old. Now, all eyes are set on reclaiming the Premier League title.

The majority of the money was spent on centre back talents Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké, with Ferran Torres coming in to fill the boots of departing midfield magician David Silva.

Gabriel Jesus’ four-star potential ability has everything to replace an ageing Sergio Agüero in the coming years, but for now, Agüero stands as arguably the best striker in Premier League football. The Argentine boasts ratings of 18 agility, 18 technique, 18 dribbling, 16 composure, and 17 finishing to hold a four-and-a-half star ability.

Feeding the strikers is the amazing playmaking ability of Kevin De Bruyne, who possesses 20 vision, 19 crossing, and 18 passing. Assists are this man’s trade, consistently creating them all season. Even with four-star players like Ederson and Aymeric Laporte in defensive positions, the inexperience in other areas of the back four could prove to be a thorn in the side of the Citizens.

Once again, Manchester City have spent by the bucket load, but as the new boss on Football Manager 2021, you’ll have an additional £17 million at your disposal. For a team of this calibre with such high expectations, the transfer budget is probably best used on top of the money reaped from selling a player to replace them with a superior talent.

All the transfer and wage budgets for Premier League teams on FM 21

Here’s the full table of every Premier League team’s transfer and wage budgets at the start of FM 21, in alphabetical order.

Now you know all of the transfer and wage budgets for the Premier League teams in FM 21; which team will you choose to take to glory?