EUROPEAN GIANTS SPLURGE

MORE THAN $ 3 MILLION

London, Sept. 2: The English Premier League dominated as Europe’s top clubs spent more than $ 3 billion on new players in the two month transfer market that ended with a frantic burst of deals, according to a study released Tuesday.

The 20 Premier League clubs spent about £ 835 million ($ 1.38 billion) on players, with Manchester United accounting for about £ 150 million of that, according to business consultants Deloitte.

The Premier League total smashed last year’s record transfer dealings worth £ 630 million. Radamel Falcao joined United while England’s Danny Welbeck left for Arsenal in the final deals announced late Monday.

Spain’s La Liga clubs laid out just over $ 700 million on players, with Real Madrid and Barcelona the big spenders on the likes of Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez.

Italy’s Serie A followed with $ 450 million of deals, Germany’s Bundesliga accounted for $ 415 million and France’s Ligue 1 came fifth with $ 165 million.