Manchester City

Manchester City played all nine seasons from 2009/10 to 2017/18 in the Premier League. They were champions in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18. They won seven major trophies: three league titles, the FA Cup and three League Cups. Over those nine summers they paid £1,034.4m in transfer fees and took in £200.8m, a net spend of £833.6m.

Manchester City cannot be picked on 115.football, and for good reason: they are the benchmark. The game's £900m is the Premier League's figure for what City spent from 2009/10 to 2017/18, and this is what it bought. Fifth in 2009/10, the FA Cup in 2010/11, then three league titles: 2011/12, won on goal difference from Manchester United with both on 89 points, 2013/14, and the 100-point season of 2017/18. Three League Cups as well.

The early spending raided rivals: Gareth Barry and James Milner from Aston Villa, Joleon Lescott from Everton, Emmanuel Adebayor and Kolo Touré from Arsenal, Samir Nasri a little later. The later spending was bigger still: Kevin De Bruyne for £55m, then Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy.

Every other club on this site gets the same money and the same hindsight. The only question is whether you can spend it better than City did.