Villareal rank seventh in the world for value created by signings over the last five years, with €387 million in added value. The CIES study puts them among only six clubs ahead of them globally, and Real Madrid are the only Spanish club above them in that ranking.
What the CIES numbers say
The split is the part that stands out. Villarreal's breakdown gives €60 million from players already sold and €327 million from players still at the club. That is a strong sign that the bulk of the value is still sitting in the current squad, not just in past departures.
The overall lead over Betis is also sizeable. Villarreal are €93 million clear of them in the added-value ranking, with Betis on €294 million. Villarreal's total of €387 million is what pushes them into seventh place worldwide, just behind RB Leipzig on €385 million and behind Real Madrid on €526 million.
Why the ranking matters
This is not a trophy or a table position, but it does say plenty about the club's recruitment over the last five years. Villarreal are not operating with the scale of the biggest names in the market, yet the return on signings has put them in the global top seven.
The most interesting part is how much value remains in the squad. If €327 million is still attached to players at the club, Villarreal have not just sold well, they have built a market value base that still has room to move. The CIES figures point to a model that is working across both sales and retention, even if the current squad still has to turn that valuation into results on the pitch.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →
