Clubs that lost the most market value in 2023 - A disastrous year for Villarreal
It has been a thrilling year of top level football in Europe, with supporters treated to another 12 months of scintillating action. However, for some clubs, it's been 365 days to forget, with poor results, fan unrest and loss in market value. Many teams have made great developments and strides since January 1, but which clubs in the top five leagues have lost the most market value in their squads over the last calendar year?
The top 10 clubs
1. Villarreal | -€147: After winning the Europa League in 2021, 2023 wasn't the best year. Despite a fifth place finish in La Liga last season, the Valencia based side sit 13th in the league table this campaign, but did top their Europa League group.The departures of Nicolas Jackson, Pau Torres and Samuel Chukwueze would have played a big part in the club's fall in value.
2. Lyon | -€85.9m: After a mediocre 2022/23 campaign in which they finished 7th in Ligue 1, Lyon's 2023/24 season has been a calamity so far. They didn't win a league game until mid November and have spent most of the season loitering in the relegation zone.
3. Real Betis | -€76.7m: Despite fairly decent form which saw Real Betis finish seventh in La Liga last season, and the club sit sixth so far this campaign, an average squad age of 28.5 has seen the Southern Spanish team's market value decline in 2023.
4. Borussia Dortmund | -€76.6m: Borussia Dortmund could be excused for still trying to get over the way in which they missed out on the 2022/23 Bundesliga title on the last day to Bayern Munich after drawing at home to Mainz. The sale of Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid - now the most valuable player in the world, has obviously played a huge role in the club's fall in market value.
5. Everton | -€71.9m: It's been a tough year for Everton, who have actually been in good form this season in the Premier League as they try to claw back the 10 points deducted from them because of FFP breaches, after narrowly avoiding relegation last term. The 2023 departures of Anthony Gordon and Alex Iwobi have contributed to the Toffees decrease in market value.
6. Atletico Madrid | -€71.7m: João Felix currently being at Barcelona is a contributing factor to Atletico Madrid's decrease, but the club's most valuable player right now is right-back Nahuel Molina with a market value of €50m indicating why the club has fallen from the lofty heights it was once at in recent years.
7. Frankfurt | -€62.8m: After winning the Europa League in 2022, 2023 has been slightly more mediocre for Frankfurt, who finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season. The sale of Randal Kolo Muani to PSG will have played a huge part in the loss in value.
8. Liverpool | -€61.4m: Liverpool have really turned their fortunes around this season, as they look capable of mounting a serious title challenge again, after finishing outside the Champions League places for the first time in seven years last season. However, the ageing of their squad has been an issue for a while now, with key players like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk in their 30's and adding to the club's fall in market value across the year.
9. Stade Rennais | -€58.95m: The departure of Jérémy Doku to Manchester City this summer was significant in Stade Rennais' fall in value this calendar year. A strong fourth place finish in Ligue 1 last season, hasn't bene replicated this time around with the club currently in 10th.
10. Valencia | -€51.2m: The list started with a team based in the Eastern Spanish city of Valencia, and it finishes that way too. Valencia round up the top 10, after the sale of Yunus Musah to AC Milan and a 16th place finish last season
