PSG spends nearly half a billion euros to create a winning 'machine'.

PSG are strong contenders for the Champions League title this year. Photo: Reuters .

The impressive 5-4 victory against Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final on the morning of April 29th is clear evidence of that transformation.

Since the Spanish coach arrived at PSG in July 2023, the French team has abandoned its "Galacticos" policy (recruiting big-name stars) to build a more balanced team that emphasizes organization. With the support of Sporting Director Luis Campos, Enrique laid the foundation for a more balanced PSG between attack and defense, where collective strength is paramount.

These changes quickly yielded results. PSG not only improved their performance in European competitions but also stabilized their finances.

After parting ways with a host of high-earning stars such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, and Lionel Messi, PSG's wage bill has decreased by 55%, helping the team escape the pressure of UEFA's financial fair play regulations.

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However, to build their current squad, PSG still had to spend a considerable amount of money. In three seasons under Enrique, the Parisian club invested a total of approximately 821 million euros in the transfer market. The most expensive signing was Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, with PSG spending 80 million euros to recruit him from Napoli.

Kvaratskhelia proves her worth. Photo: Reuters .

According to Transfermarkt 's valuation, PSG's starting lineup in the match against Bayern on the morning of April 29th had a total value of 837 million euros. However, the actual amount the club spent to build this squad was only around 484.8 million euros, a figure that shows a more effective transfer strategy compared to the previous period.

In each position, PSG boasts several quality signings such as goalkeeper Matvey Safonov (20 million euros), defenders Achraf Hakimi (68 million euros), Willian Pacho (40 million euros), captain Marquinhos (31.4 million euros) and Nuno Mendes (38 million euros).

The midfield is also noteworthy with Vitinha (41.5 million euros), João Neves (65.9 million euros), and academy talent Warren Zaire-Emery. In attack, besides Kvaratskhelia, PSG also boasts Ousmane Dembele and young talent Desire Doue (both priced at 50 million euros), contributing to a versatile attacking force.