Transfer frenzy sees £1.1bn spent
UNITED LEAD WAY: POGBA’S SIGNING ECLIPSES BALE
Fourth successive year transfer record has been broken.
London
Records tumbled in the transfer window as Premier League spending totalled £1.165 billion, Deloitte’s Sports Business Group said yesterday. The outlay represents a 34% rise on the previous highest in all windows of £870 million set 12 months ago and means the overall spend by clubs in 2016/17 already represents a record for a single Premier League season.
“This is the fourth consecutive year the summer transfer spending record ... has been broken,” said Business Group partner Dan Jones in a statement.
“At the start of the 2013/14 season the summer transfer spending record stood at £500 million and the fact this record has more than doubled since then is a clear indicator of the financial growth of the league.”
Manchester United broke the world record when they re-signed France midfielder Paul Pogba from Juventus for a fee of £89 million, eclipsing the previous highest of £86 million paid by Real Madrid for Gareth Bale in 2013.
Manchester City were one of 13 clubs who surpassed their own transfer records when they paid £47.5 million to sign defender John Stones from Everton.
“For those clubs traditionally at the upper end of the table who have been investing most significantly, their commercial revenue growth has also been a critical enabler of the increases in spending,” Jones said.
Champions Leicester City’s £25 million swoop for striker Islam Slimani from Sporting Lisbon was one of the biggest moves on a hectic deadline day on Wednesday.
Chelsea also splashed out around £34 million to bring Paris St Germain defender David Luiz back for a second spell at Stamford Bridge, while Tottenham Hotspur spent £30 million to sign midfielder Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle United.
“We also saw a new record level of Premier League summer deadline day spending this window, with £155 million spent in the final 24 hours,” said Jones.
“This, when considered with a new overall spending record, as well as the fact this summer saw a new record for the highest fee paid for a player by any English club, are further indicators of the increasing purchasing power of the Premier League.” – Reuters