According to its analysts, nearly 1.8 billion euros have been spent to date by the 20 clubs of the English elite to strengthen against 1.7 billion euros in the off-season in 2017 which was so far the reference. .
"The level of spending seen over the summer transfer window signals that the Premier League clubs' business model has recovered post-COVID," said Chris Wood, deputy director of sporting affairs at Deloitte.
"While this is encouraging, the importance for clubs to pursue responsible and sustainable spending policies cannot be overemphasized," he added.
"Clubs must balance their desire to be competitive on the pitch with the need to protect their long-term financial stability and viability."
The EUR 1.8 billion spent since June 10, the date of the official opening of the market, is already more than the sums committed during the summer and winter transfer windows combined last season (EUR 1.71 billion). .
This amount should still change between now and the market closes on September 1 at midnight (Paris time) and it is not impossible that this summer it will exceed the absolute record for an entire season, set in 2017/2018. with 2.2 billion euros.
So far, 135 players have signed up for Premier League clubs, more than in 2019 and 2020 and close to 148 in 2021.
A third of these players signed up without compensation being paid, but 14 cost more than 35 M EUR.
The most expensive transfer was that of Darwin Nunez, who went from Benfica to Liverpool for more than 100 million euros, a new record for the Reds.
Chelsea paid €71m for Marc Cucurella, €56m for Raheem Sterling and €40m for Kalidou Koulibaly.
Manchester United had to pay 71 million euros to secure the services of Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, while the 59 million euros dropped by City to bring in Erling Haaland seems almost a bargain.
Arsenal, meanwhile, paid €91m to bring in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City.
© 2022 AFP