The 2025 windows underscored three themes: smarter data-led scouting, wage discipline among mid-table clubs, and continued premium pricing for elite strikers.
Loan-to-buy structures and sell-on clauses are now standard risk-sharing tools.
Supporters should watch club wage-to-revenue ratios as a proxy for sustainability. Sporting directors who balance analytics with on-pitch fit consistently outperform big-spending, short-horizon strategies. Stability still matters.