The Premier League club’s gross spend of £100 million ($127.7 million) on transfers in January was £715 million lower than the record amount (£815 million) that changed hands during the window in 2023, according to new data by Deloitte. The gross spend was £100 million. This was £715 million lower than the record £815 million in the 2023 January transfer window. The trend had one exception. It was seen in January 2021. COVID-19 caused a cut in spending. Spending was reduced again in January 2012. The total was £60 million.
In Europe’s “top five” leagues, transfer spending clearly increased. It rose from €255 million in January 2023 to €455 million in January 2024. Ligue 1 clubs led in spending. They had the highest gross transfer spend: €190 million. This was a 53% increase from the previous year. Serie A, LaLiga, and the Bundesliga also spent more on transfers than last year.
🚨 Premier League clubs spent just £100m in the January transfer window.
It's the lowest gross transfer expenditure in the league since January 2012 [£60m], excluding the January 2021 window that was restricted by COVID-19.
(Source: Deloitte) pic.twitter.com/zGxm2AOeni
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) February 2, 2024
The January window was quiet. But Premier League clubs spent £2.5 billion in the 2023–24 season. They spent it in the summer and winter windows combined. This was the second-highest figure in the league’s history. This paradox raises questions about the factors influencing these financial dynamics.
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Financial Fair Play rules have cut spending on transfers. The same is true of profit and sustainability regulations (PSR). Leagues and governing bodies enforce these rules. They may be the reason why spending has fallen. Everton faced repercussions. The Premier League charged them twice for breaking PSR regulations. This led to a 10-point deduction. Nottingham Forest also faced charges for violating the competition’s financial policies.
Deloitte’s investigation covered more than just the Premier League. It also looked at the Women’s Super League (WSL). It found a 14% drop in transfers by WSL clubs in the January 2024 window. However, the 2023–24 season saw 226 transfers. This total was more than in the three previous seasons. It shows that activity in the women’s game is growing.