Bournemouth lost half of their squad but still flourished: The strategy of the victors

Last summer, Bournemouth shocked the whole of England by selling almost half of their main squad, raising over £200 million. People expected Bournemouth to fall apart, but that did not happen. Instead, they are soaring in second place on the Premier League table.

What allows this "little giant" to survive strongly and even excel in the harsh Premier League environment?

Strategyof "knowingyour identity"

While big clubs like Man City, Arsenal, and Liverpool pour hundreds of millions of pounds into the transfer market each year, Bournemouth takes the opposite route: accepting their role as the weaker link in football’s "food chain," but skillfully using that status to grow.

Their philosophy is straightforward: acquire young promising players, develop them, then sell at a high price while always securing worthy replacements. No deal is made in haste. When Zabarnyi moved to PSG, Bournemouth had already started talks with Bafode Diakite from Lille. When Dango Ouattara left for £40 million, they were ready to bring in Amine Adli and Ben Doak. Every plan is meticulously prepared in advance, down to each position.

What is most impressive is that the club never gets swept away by market trends. Instead of chasing "stars" or commercial appeal, they select players who fit their playing philosophy and long-term strategy. This discipline allowed Bournemouth to net over £100 million in profit during the Summer 2025 transfer window while retaining team strength.

Bournemouth runs more like a tech startup than a traditional football club. The lean structure includes just four key figures: owner Bill Foley, sporting director Tiago Pinto, technical director Simon Francis, and coach Andoni Iraola. All decisions are based on data and medium-term plans rather than emotions.

With this setup, Bournemouth is a living example that modern football is not only about the pitch but also about strategic governance.