“FIFA Reveals Summer Transfer Frenzy: $6.5 Billion Spent Globally”

FIFA’s latest research reveals a dip in spending on international men’s player transfers during the mid-year trading period, which saw clubs committing $6.46 billion on cross-border deals from June to September. This figure is a decrease from $7.43 billion spent in the same window the previous year.

The average transfer fee for European clubs, the wealthiest market by far, fell to $3.13 million, down from $3.8 million the previous year. It’s important to note that this FIFA study does not capture the largest transfer deal of the European offseason or transactions involving players moving between clubs within the same country.

For example, Kylian Mbappe’s move to Real Madrid, which did not involve a transfer fee as he was a free agent after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, is not included in the report. However, Madrid reportedly paid Mbappe a substantial signing bonus estimated between $110 million and $165 million.

The study highlights that the most significant cross-border transfer fees included Julian Alvarez’s transfer from Manchester City to Atletico Madrid, valued around 75 million euros ($83 million), and Leny Yoro’s move from Lille to Manchester United, reported at 62 million euros ($69 million).

Transfers involving two clubs within the same country, such as Dominic Solanke’s move from Bournemouth to Tottenham, Pedro Neto’s switch from Wolves to Chelsea, and Teun Koopmeiners’ transfer from Atalanta to Juventus, are not included in FIFA’s figures.

English clubs were the top spenders overall, with $1.69 billion spent on international transfers and $1.25 billion recouped. Clubs from England, Italy, and Saudi Arabia each had a net spending of at least $400 million. In contrast, Belgian clubs achieved a net profit of $302 million, having earned $412 million from selling players while spending $110 million on acquisitions. Notable transfers included Igor Thiago moving from Club Brugge to Brentford and Ernest Nuamah from Molenbeek to Lyon.

Clubs from Argentina and Brazil also saw profits, with Argentine teams making around $130 million more than they spent and Brazilian clubs netting a collective $98 million profit.

Among the record 11,000 international transfers processed by FIFA in the past three months, most were free transfers, with nearly 6,300 involving players who moved without a transfer fee.