Ligue 1 Transfer Window — Monaco & Nice shine, OM balances out, PSG falls deeper

A Split Ligue 1

The curtain has fallen on the 2025 transfer window, and the verdict is clear: Ligue 1 is living at two speeds. On one side, clubs that sold extremely well and posted impressive surpluses. On the other, teams that spent heavily to strengthen their squads, sometimes at the risk of weakening their finances.

Clubs in the Green: Monaco, the master seller

AS Monaco takes the crown with a historic window: €116.5M in sales for just €13M in spending, leaving a spectacular balance of +€103.57M. Following closely are Nice (+€74M), Lille (+€71.6M), and Lyon (+€69.1M), all confirming their efficiency in the market.

FC Nantes (+€35.5M) and RC Lens (+€35M) also make the list of smart operators, cashing in well on sales while reshaping their squads without overspending.

OM: A Busy But (Slightly) Positive Market

In Marseille, the summer was as heated as ever. Fifteen departures, twelve arrivals, with nearly €71.2M spent and €81.7M brought in. The result: a small positive balance of +€10.5M.

A rare outcome for OM, a club often accustomed to digging into the red to strengthen. The sales of Quentin Merlin and Azzedine Ounahi helped offset the big investments, especially in defense, where Roberto De Zerbi welcomed Aguerd, Pavard, Medina, and Emerson Palmieri.

On paper, the squad looks deeper and more competitive. The question is whether this unusual financial balance will hold over the long season.

Clubs in the Red: Paris Slips

At the other end of the spectrum, some balance sheets raise eyebrows. RC Strasbourg shows a -€41.8M deficit, the result of massive investments. Paris FC, the ambitious newcomer, finishes at -€57.3M. But the biggest red mark belongs to PSG: €103M spent for only €34M in sales, a total deficit of -€69M.

It’s an aggressive strategy, yes, but one that sharply contrasts with the prudence of other Ligue 1 clubs.

Source: Transfermarkt

The Ligue 1 Paradox

Overall, Ligue 1 ends this transfer window in surplus, driven by several clubs’ successful sales — proof that the league can still generate strong value. But the gap is clear: some clubs are betting on financial stability, others on risky sporting ambition.

OM, often in the latter category, surprised by finishing slightly in the green. Now the real question: will this new rational approach translate into a season of consistent results on the pitch?