It’s well known Celtic have cash in the bank, but they are sending a fortune out onto the pitch every week too as the champions were ranked in the 100 most valuable squads on the planet.
New data from the CIES Football Observatory has calculated the transfer value of clubs across the globe, using a statistical model they have developed exclusively, whilst also using methods from the International Journal of Financial Studies. They have also estimated the values of the highest-valued player at each club from over 60 leagues worldwide, which can be accessed here.
The Hoops are the only Scottish Premiership club to make the top century with a value of €136million, or £113.9m in sterling. That puts the Parkhead club 84th overall, above English Premier League new boys Ipswich Town, as well as Saudi super spenders Al-Hilal and A-Nassr, who boast Neymar and Ronaldo in their ranks respectively.
To put Celtic’s Champions League opponents into context, Borussia Dortmund are ranked 18th with a squad value of €646, with RB Leipzig just one place down on €639m. It’s Atalanta up next and the European foes all seem to be in the same ballpark as Atalanta are ranked just two places below with a €586m squad value. Club Brugge also make the list, coming in at 55th and their squad valued at €227m.
Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid lead the way from Man City, Chelsea and Arsenal, with Barcelona just ahead of Liverpool, PSG, Man Utd and Tottenham, the latter pair lying in wait for Rangers in their Europa League group.
Record signing Arne Engels is ranked as Celtic’s most valuable player, with a “fair price” index of 14m-€20m. Rangers’ highest valued player will raise some eyebrows with CIES valuing rookie striker Hamza Igamane between €9m and €11m.