Record transfer spend hides some changes

Spending by Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window was a record £862m, but this represents just a three per cent increase on last year’s £835m.   What is also evident is that the new television deal gives medium-sized Premiership clubs the ability to resist bids for their best players, as exemplified by the case of Berahino and West Bromwich Albion.

Spending by Premier League clubs in the summer transfer window was a record £862m, but this represents just a three per cent increase on last year’s £835m.   What is also evident is that the new television deal gives medium-sized Premiership clubs the ability to resist bids for their best players, as exemplified by the case of Berahino and West Bromwich Albion.

Net spending was £434m, some £60m up on last year.   This was over three times the net spend of £130m in Spain.  Italy had a net spend of £52m.   German clubs made a net profit of £45m and those in France £66m.

Manchester City were by far the biggest net spenders at £129.35m, followed by Newcastle United at £41.45m and Manchester United at £34m.  Newcomers Watford were the fourth biggest spenders at £23.55m, more than the £19m net spend of QPR last season.   Bournemouth were seventh with a net spend of £21m.    Southampton were the only club whose transfer outlay was lower than their revenue.

More than one third of signings were valued at £5m or more, an increase compared with last summer. Premier League clubs completed more business before the final month of the transfer windows than in previous years.  Almost two-thirds of the summer’s transfers had occurred by the end of July.   Nevertheless, there was still plenty of last minute drama.

The number of players acquired from abroad by Premier League clubs was double that of the total signings taken from Premiership rivals.   Last year the split was 43 per cent to 36 per cent.   This change perhaps reflects the increased clout of the smaller clubs in the Premier League.   Signings from Football League clubs stayed more or less the same at 18 per cent.

Arsenal failed to sign a single senior outfield player all summer, while Chelsea failed to land their top targets.   Manchester United took a gamble with Martial and had to deal with the De Gea fiasco. Manchester City look to have had the best transfer window among the top clubs.