Buy And Sell Model

19 July 2026

By M J Kocx

Buy low, sell high has been a successful transfer recruitment model adopted in modern football. English Premier League clubs, Brentford F.C. and Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. have championed this philosophy. 

Their investment thesis is simple.

If you buy young, talented footballers at a low price, you can later sell them onto a bigger club for a higher price, securing a net profit. Those net profits can then be reinvested into the operations of the football club. 

Let us consider how this works through the below Hypothetical regarding Player 1. 


Hypothetical regarding Player 1 

Player 1 is 17 years old. Club A (e.g., Brentford F.C.) buys Player 1 for $5 million in 2025. Player 1 signs a 5-year contract with Club A until 2030. 

Club A wishes for Player 1 to develop and expand his game. Club A sends Player 1 out on a season loan to Club B. 

At the end of the season, Player 1 has scored 10 goals and contributed 4 assists. Player 1’s profile and skills set have both grown significantly. Player 1 has gained valuable minutes and become a regular starter in Club B’s team. 

Player 1’s estimated transfer value is now $10 million in 2026. Player 1 is still contracted to Club A until 2030.

Club A sends Player 1 out on another season loan to Club B. 

After another season, Player 1 returns and is now made part of Club A’s starting XI bench.  

Player 1’s estimated transfer value is now $20 million.  

Club A receives a transfer offer from Club C for Player 1. $45 million. 

Club A sells Player 1 to Club C, inserting a 10% sell-on clause into his transfer contract. 

Club A has made a $40 million return on its initial $5 million investment. It has also secured a 10% cut on any future profit made by Club C in selling Player 1 to another football club. 

The Hypothetical of Player 1 is just one example of how football clubs can utilise buying and selling footballers to their advantage. 


Conveyor Belt Of Talent Investment And Acquisition 

So, we have a compelling proposition.

Clubs that buy low and sell high are viewed as strong ‘pathway’ clubs for young, talented footballers to develop and gain valuable first team minutes. 

Over time, these football clubs create a conveyor belt of talented footballers.  

To illustrate how successful this approach of buying low, selling high has been, let us consider the following player scenarios.

This is compelling data. 

All transfer figures are in Euros.

Sunderland A.F.C
Player: Jobe Bellingham 	
Purchase Price: 1.75 million 
Sale Price: 30.50 million 	
Net Profit/Loss: 28.75 million 

Brentford F.C. 
Player: Ivan Toney	
Purchase Price: 5.6 million 
Sale Price: 42 million	
Net Profit/Loss: 36.4 million  
 	 	 	
Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Player: Moises Caicedo	
Purchase Price: 28.2 million
Sale Price: 116 million	
Net Profit/Loss: 87.8 million 

TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 	
Player: Bazoumana Touré
Purchase Price: 10 million
Sale Price: Not sold. Currently, estimated value of at least 40 million	
Net Profit/Loss: Potential upside of 30 million minimum
 	 	

So, this leaves us with the following question.

Is the buy low, sell high model here to stay?

This author thinks so.

And what unfolds over the next few decades, as the traditional football giants are challenged by football clubs like Brentford F.C. and Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. will be compelling viewing. 

From

Yours truly,