FA confirm Arsenal have £38m advantage over Chelsea after Raheem Sterling transfer, it’s a major red flag

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Arsenal’s finances have been a huge discussion point over the years as the club looked to rebuild itself back to the very top.

The Gunners were scrutinised for the lack of investment in some areas of the squad, while they slipped down the Premier League table.

Since a change in direction from the Arsenal owners, the north London outfit has climbed back to the very top, where the aim is to win trophies.

Some investment into Mikel Arteta’s team is still required to get them over the line, but there is plenty of room to do so.

The clear structure when it comes to the finances at Arsenal is displayed clearly when comparing them to their rivals in one key area.

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How Arsenal’s agent fees compare to rivals in the Premier League

The FA have released the agent fees paid by Premier League clubs for the year spanning February 2024 to February 2025 – which covers the summer 2024 transfer window and the January 2025 transfer window.

Arsenal are towards the top end of clubs’ spending on agents and intermediaries, which is expected when competing at that level.

The Gunners racked up £22,791,917 in fees, which is the sixth-highest behind Chelsea, Aston Villa, Manchester City, Manchester United and Newcastle.

There is a sizeable gap between Arsenal and Chelsea, which sits at around the £38million mark when it comes to agent fees.

That would’ve included some intermediaries and agent fees over a deal for Raheem Sterling that went through in the summer.

Arsenal sealed a late loan for Sterling in the window, with the winger free to leave Chelsea but unable to sort a move until the last minute.

While a fee would’ve been paid on both sides, it does draw a key comparison between the Gunners and their city rivals.

The huge £60million figure from the Blues is a red flag for them in terms of just how much is being spent on fees.

Arsenal have an advantage in saving that much in comparison, but must avoid falling into a similar trap, not least in the PSR era.

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Arsenal’s PSR headroom points to big summer investment

Fortunately for Arsenal, there is some headroom when it comes to PSR, due to the way they have managed their finances.

This summer is likely to be a huge one for the Gunners and new sporting director Andrea Berta, who will have to make some key decisions.

A centre-forward is on the cards, with many of those available unlikely to come at a cheap price in the transfer market.

On top of that, a winger, a midfielder and a goalkeeper are being eyed, while exits could come for a few stars.

Such deals could see the agent fee number rise again next year, but there is plenty of headroom in the PSR situation.