A remarkable summer transfer window closed on Thursday with a number of new spending records set – including the most expensive ever deadline-day signing in Manchester United’s £82m purchase of Antony.
That deal helped set a new Premier League spending record of about £1.9bn – smashing the previous record of £1.4bn in 2017 – and dwarfing the rest of Europe.
Nine of the 20 top-flight clubs spent in excess of £100m as total expenditure bounced back after two seasons of Covid-impacted decline.
The combined outlay of the 20 clubs during the window, which was open from 10 June until 1 September, was 67% higher than the previous summer’s total of £1.1bn.
According to financial services firm Deloitte, the 2022-23 season already has the highest transfer spend since the two-window season began – exceeding the previous record of £1.86bn, set in 2017-18, by 3%. And that is before the January transfer window has even opened.
Some of Deloitte’s other key findings from the window include:
Gross spending across all of Europe’s ‘big five’ leagues – Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 – increased by 52% to £3.88bn
Premier League clubs were responsible for 49% of that spending, the highest proportion since summer 2008 and nearly three times that of the second-biggest spenders Serie A (£646m)
Premier League clubs’ net transfer spend surpassed £1bn for the first time ever
Premier League clubs signed 169 players, compared to 148 in summer 2021 and 132 in summer 2020
The proportion of players being signed for a fee increased to 66% in summer 2022 from 45% in summer 2021
Championship clubs’ gross spend more than doubled on the previous summer to £86m but was still some way off pre-Covid levels (2017-19 three-year average: £169.4m)
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.
However, Bridge told BBC Radio 4 that top-flight clubs will not be “cost-of-living proof” amid uncertainty surrounding the UK economy.
“Whilst we talk about football being recession-proof, it won’t be cost of living proof by any stretch of the imagination,” said Bridge. “It’s going to be incredibly expensive for clubs and organisations to put matches on and to really work hard to keep attracting fans and keep ensuring that they have the opportunity to engage.
“What we have to do is think about the responsibility that the industry has, in general, around financial sustainability. Ensuring that the clubs are there for the long term and recognising their real community asset status.
“We must step forward through this cost-of-living crisis and ensure that the football clubs continue to play what is a fantastic role above and beyond these headline numbers.”What were the deadline-day signings?
Fourteen of the 20 Premier League clubs made at least one new signing on deadline day. Highlights include:
Manchester City bolstered their defence with the signing of Switzerland international Manuel Akanji from Borussia Dortmund on a five-year deal.
As well as signing Antony, Manchester United completed a season-long loan deal for Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.
Everton signed a couple of midfielders, with Senegal international Idrissa Gueye rejoining the Toffees from Paris St-Germain, and James Garner moving from Manchester United.
Liverpool also added a midfielder to their squad, with Brazil international Arthur Melo joining on a season-long loan from Juventus.
Leicester signed Belgium centre-back Wout Faes from French club Reims on a five-year deal to replace Wesley Fofana, who joined Chelsea for about £70m on Wednesday.
Nottingham Forest signed three players to make it 21 new faces this summer, with defender Loic Bade the last to arrive – on loan from Rennes.
Fulham had a busy deadline day, bringing in four players including former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Willian.
Chelsea announced the final two deals of the night, with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joining from Barcelona on a two-year deal, and Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria joining on a season-long loan from Juventus
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