Premier League clubs have been dealt a staggering financial blow exceeding one billion pounds over the past five seasons due to player injuries, with Manchester United and Chelsea suffering the most significant losses. The data, drawn from the latest annual injuries index report by insurance group Howden, highlights the immense cost of fitness issues in elite football.
The Financial Toll of Treatment Tables
According to the 2024-25 report released this Tuesday, Manchester United tops an unwanted table, amassing 399 injuries in the five years leading to July 2025. The estimated financial impact on the Old Trafford club is a colossal more than £150 million. There is a slight silver lining, however, with last season's injury count showing a decrease compared to the previous four years.
Close behind are London giants Chelsea, who recorded 357 injuries at a cost of £140 million. The Blues also hold the dubious distinction of suffering the most injuries among European clubs from the top five leagues who participated in the recent Club World Cup.
Tournament Impact and Cumulative Load
The inaugural Club World Cup's effect on injuries appears minimal so far, though Howden's analysts believe the full picture will be clearer by season's end. Chelsea, for instance, had 23 injuries between June and October this year—a 44 per cent increase on the same period last year. In contrast, fellow English participants Manchester City reported no injuries during the summer tournament.
The report underscores a critical issue: the past five years, beginning with the Covid-disrupted 2019-20 season, have created an unprecedentedly congested schedule for top players. This period included Project Restart, Euro 2020, the 2022 Qatar World Cup, Euro 2024, and the 2025 Club World Cup.
"Players such as Antonio Rudiger and Mateo Kovacic, who have competed in EURO 2020, the 2022 World Cup, EURO 2024, and the 2025 Club World Cup, illustrate the unprecedented multi-year cumulative physical and mental load now faced by elite footballers," the report notes. Kovacic, who played in all these tournaments, has struggled with ankle and Achilles problems at Manchester City this season.
Expert Insight on Severity and Young Players
Elite performance expert Robin Thorpe, who has worked with Manchester United, provided analysis. He pointed out that while the Qatar World Cup didn't cause a clear rise in post-tournament injuries, it was followed by a spike in injury severity.
"This pattern is logical," Thorpe said. "Players exposed to the highest international workloads are typically the most influential and highest-paid individuals within squads. Their injuries therefore carry a disproportionate performance and financial cost."
A particularly concerning trend identified over the five-year period is the rising severity of injuries among players under 21. "The vulnerability of young players is particularly striking," Thorpe stated. "Across the top leagues, most notably in the Premier League, Under-21 players sustain the most severe injuries despite accumulating the fewest minutes." He suggested this may indicate a systemic issue in player development, where technical readiness outpaces physical robustness.
The findings present a stark warning to clubs about the immense financial and sporting risks associated with player fitness in the modern game, exacerbated by a relentless fixture calendar.
