FM26 transfer budgets - the 20 richest clubs to manage right now with reasons to pick each save
Want a fast start in Football Manager 2026 with money to shape your squad right away? Below are 20 clubs with the biggest starting transfer budgets, each with a short save pitch so you know what you are walking into. Numbers can shift slightly by database and mode, but these figures reflect our live FM26 Transfer Budgets list. Pick an easy power save or a tricky project with serious headroom. Either way, you will have the funds to make your ideas stick from day one.
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Brighton & Hove Albion - £100,000,000
Brighton start FM26 with the biggest transfer budget in the game, which immediately changes the calculus for an ambitious save. The club already have a modern infrastructure and a clear performance culture, so you are stepping into a stable environment. Expectations are rising but not suffocating, which gives you room to shape identity across a full season. Europe feels within reach on realistic timelines. The Amex atmosphere and the club’s analytics reputation make this a prestige Premier League project.
Tottenham Hotspur - £57,800,000
Tottenham enter with a serious budget and a squad that is competitive across multiple shapes. Board and supporters expect a push for top four and deep runs in domestic cups. The league schedule is unforgiving, so consistency becomes the key storyline. The North London stage ensures constant scrutiny. It is a high-profile save with tangible objectives and a genuine route to silverware.
FC Barcelona - £56,174,420
Barcelona arrive with a substantial pot and a pedigree that demands control of matches and campaigns. La Masia continues to supply talent and the tactical identity is well defined. Domestic pressure is immediate given the standards set over decades. Europe will judge the season’s success as much as the league table. It is a prestige save where margins are thin and standards are non-negotiable.
Brentford - £55,100,000
Brentford combine Premier League grit with a large budget and a coherent club model. The project rewards clarity of plan over short-term noise. Mid-table security is a floor, while European qualification becomes a credible season goal. The fanbase buy into smart decision-making and progressive football. It is a grounded London save with serious headroom.
Sporting CP - £51,852,410
Sporting pair a heavyweight budget with one of Europe’s most productive academies. Domestic expectations centre on a title race and strong cup performance. European nights provide a platform to test the plan against elite opposition. Lisbon’s football culture adds profile and pressure in equal measure. It is a balanced save that mixes trophies with player development.
Manchester City - £47,300,000
Manchester City begin from a position of strength and standards that are crystal clear. The club infrastructure is elite from top to bottom. Every competition carries expectation rather than hope. Managing schedules and performance levels becomes a season-long thread. It is a perfectionist’s save where success is measured in details as much as trophies.
Newcastle United - £45,500,000
Newcastle bring ambition, resources and a formidable home crowd at St James’ Park. The club’s trajectory points toward consistent Champions League qualification. The Premier League’s depth tests resolve across busy weeks. North-east football culture ensures intensity around every result. It is a revival story with modern tools and a clear ceiling to chase.
Paris Saint-Germain - £43,787,630
PSG operate under a simple equation - win the league and compete for Europe’s biggest prize. The budget and Parisian spotlight guarantee scrutiny. Domestic fixtures often become auditions for continental standards. Dressing room management and clarity of purpose shape the narrative. It is a pressure-first save with medals as the expected outcome.
Real Madrid - £43,210,490
Real Madrid’s identity revolves around winning and doing it on the grandest stages. The squad is stacked and the Bernabéu expects deep springs every year. Every competition is a priority rather than a choice. Younger talents push for minutes in a results-led environment. It is a blue-riband save where history, present and future meet.
Liverpool - £41,200,000
Liverpool marry a demanding football identity with a sizeable transfer pot. Anfield expects intensity and competitive title-race points totals. Cup runs add drama to congested calendars. The supporter base is vocal and standards are set high. It is a high-tempo Premier League save with clear expectations.
Crystal Palace - £39,800,000
Crystal Palace present a lively London platform with a budget that lifts ambition. Selhurst Park creates an edge on matchdays. A solid core supports a competitive push toward the top half. The Premier League grind requires resilience and focus. It is an energetic project that rewards clear planning.
Wolves - £30,600,000
Wolves offer a disciplined base and meaningful headroom with a strong budget. Molineux provides a distinctive atmosphere and expectation of organised, effective football. The Midlands setting keeps the spotlight firm but fair. League positioning hinges on consistency against peers. It is a tidy, methodical save with scope to climb.
Bayern München - £30,247,240
Bayern operate under title-or-bust domestically and high European standards. The club machine is built for sustained winning. Rotation, freshness and spring performance become season markers. Bundesliga dynamics make dropped points headline news. It is a standard-bearer save that prizes control and efficiency.
Ipswich Town - £25,000,000
Ipswich bring a romantic narrative and a surprisingly large budget for a club consolidating at the top level. Portman Road will be buzzing for every step forward. The initial target is stability with an eye on pushing higher. The margin between safe and ambitious is navigable with clear decision-making. It is a feel-good project on a big stage.
Juventus - £23,338,530
Juventus arrive in FM26 as a fallen giant, still carrying the aura of titles but with something to prove. The club retain elite expectations and a stadium that demands winning football every week. Boardroom pressure is constant and results shape the narrative quickly. Serie A remains tactically diverse which keeps every round compelling. With history at your back and scrutiny in front of you, the mission is simple in tone and complex in practice - restore the swagger of a heavyweight.
Napoli - £22,469,580
Napoli enter as the current Serie A champion, and that status changes everything. Every opponent treats your fixture like a measuring stick and every slip becomes a headline. The expectation is to defend the crown while staying relevant in Europe. San Paolo turns tight games into events and momentum can snowball. It is a title-holder save with a target on your back and a city that lives every matchday.
AC Milan - £21,605,170
AC Milan line up as a fallen giant with a fanbase and stadium that still feel gigantic. The badge carries weight but recent years have asked for a new chapter. Domestic contention is demanded rather than requested and European relevance is the yardstick. San Siro magnifies both pressure and momentum. It is a prestige save built on heritage where the task is to make the present match the past.
Atalanta - £21,605,170
Atalanta continue as a model club with strong processes and competitive ambition. Bergamo’s project rewards clear ideas and weekly adaptability. European football provides an additional platform to test approach. Domestic rivals recognise their threat, which adds spice to key fixtures. It is a thoughtful save with a sharp competitive edge.
Athletic Club - £20,395,280
Athletic’s unique Basque-only policy defines the entire project. The budget is strong but the recruitment pool is specific, which makes planning central. San Mamés brings intensity and identity every weekend. Consistent top-four pushes are a realistic ambition. It is a long-term, character-driven LaLiga save.
Como - £19,876,760
Como combine an ambitious storyline with a notable transfer pot for Serie A life. The club’s momentum and profile attract attention on and off the pitch. Stability is step one with room to aim higher given resources. The lakefront setting gives the save a unique flavour. It is a modern Italian project with genuine upside.
Before you hit Continue
- Define a wage ladder early - leave headroom for winter opportunities.
- Bank easy xG at set pieces - hire a specialist coach and drill routines.
- Move on fringe players cleanly - two outs can fund one real starter.
- Recruit profiles, not names - acceleration, decisions and anticipation carry in this cycle.
Useful links
- Full FM26 Transfer Budgets - 65 leagues
- FM26 Save Ideas Hub
- Can your laptop run FM26 + Best FM26 laptops
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