Premier League clubs shattered their single-season spending record during an incredible £1.9 billion ($2.1 billion) spree during the summer window.
Deloitte’s Sports Business Group estimated the gross
spending by the 20 English top-flight clubs during the transfer window that
ended on Thursday was the highest in the history of the competition.
Despite the cost-of-living crisis gripping Britain, Premier
League teams needed just one window to break the £1.86 billion mark set in the
summer and winter transfer periods combined during the 2017-18 season.
According to Deloitte, the gross spend on a total of 169
players was also 34 percent higher than the previous record for a single window
of £1.4 billion in the summer obillion.
It was 67 percent higher than last year’s total Premier
League summer window spend of £1.1 billion.
“Gross spend was so high among Premier League clubs this
summer that, before this season’s January transfer window had taken place, the
2022/23 season already has the highest transfer spend since the two-window
season began, exceeding the previous record by 3 percent (2017/18’s £1.86
billion),” Deloitte said.
Nine Premier League clubs spent over £100 million each as
expenditure recovered dramatically after two seasons of decline caused by the
financial fall-out from the coronavirus.
In total, the Premier League spent more than Spain’s La
Liga, Italy’s Serie A and Germany’s Bundesliga combined.
Tim Bridge, lead partner in Deloitte’s Sports Business
Group, said: “The record level of spending during this transfer window is a
clear indication of Premier League clubs’ confidence, as fans return to stadia
and a new broadcast cycle begins.
“It’s now become part and parcel of the Premier League that
clubs are willing to pay significant sums to maximise performance.
“This season, the desire to acquire playing talent has
reached new levels as the pressure for clubs to stay in the competition is
higher than ever.”
Chelsea Splurge
New ownership at Chelsea, with Todd Boehly’s consortium
taking over from Roman Abramovich, acted as a catalyst for the increased
spending.
With a £255 million splurge, Chelsea spent more in one
window than any team in Premier League history.
Their spending was £53 million more than Manchester United,
who were the next biggest in this window at £202 million.
United’s £82 million signing of Ajax forward Antony on
deadline day was the fourth biggest transfer in Premier League history.
Liverpool’s move for Benfica forward Darwin Nunez could
eventually beat that fee, with the initial £67 million outlay potentially
rising to £85 million depending on contract clauses and add-ons.
Chelsea’s biggest deal during the window was the £70 million
purchase of French defender Wesley Fofana from Leicester.
Boehly also funded moves for Marc Cucurella (£60 million),
Raheem Sterling (£50 million), Kalidou Koulibaly (£33 million) and
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.3 million)
At Old Trafford, Casemiro (£60 million) and Lisandro
Martinez (£51 million) joined Antony in United’s top 10 most expensive signings
of all time.
Champions Manchester City strengthened their squad with the
£50 million move for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, who has already
started to repay that fee with nine goals in five games.
Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and West Ham midfielder
Lucas Paqueta were among seven players to be signed for over £50 million this
summer, while 19 players were signed for £30 million or more.
Even Nottingham Forest, back in the Premier League for the
first time since 1999, recorded a gross spend of £126 million on an astonishing
21 players.
That was only the third time Deloitte has reported any club
spending over £100 million immediately after promotion to the Premier League.
AFP
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