Summary of recent transfer balance rankings in Russian football
Research organization CIES Football Observatory published a ranking of Russian Premier League clubs by transfer balance over the last five seasons. The list includes only six teams whose transfer volume, combining expenses and revenues, surpassed 100 million euros in that period. At the top of this measure is Moscow club CSKA, showing a net balance of minus 10 million euros. Close behind, Dynamo Moscow and Krasnodar share the second and third positions with a net balance of minus 63 million euros.
The analysis highlights Zenit, the Russian champion, as the club posting the weakest result in this index, with a deficit of minus 126 million euros. The St. Petersburg side spent heavily in the 2024 winter window, bringing in four new players at a total cost of around 30 million euros, which contributed to the negative balance.
As the Russian Premier League resumes in early March, Krasnodar had led the table during the autumn portion, having collected 38 points over 18 rounds before the break. Zenit sat in second place, two points behind, while Dynamo Moscow occupied the third spot with 32 points in the standings.
In the opening matches following the restart, Zenit is scheduled to host Spartak Moscow, and Krasnodar will welcome Rubin Kazan, a club positioned in seventh place, for their next home fixtures. The season’s return continues to shape the title race and the battle for European qualification spots across the league.
Previously, figures such as Alexander Mostovoy discussed the dependence of RPL clubs on Zenit, a sentiment echoed in discussions about transfer strategies and financial balances within Russian football. (Source: CIES Football Observatory)