NEWS REVIEW
PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS'
£500M TRANSFER SPENDING BEATS THE CRUNCH
Player transfer spending by Premier League clubs was
around £500m in the summer transfer window, a new record,
according to analysis by the business advisory firm Deloitte.
P
aul Rawnsley, Director of the Sports
Business Group at Deloitte,
commented: “Last summer saw a
record level of transfer spending that was
fuelled by the new TV monies and new owners.
This trend has continued with this summer's
transfer spending £30m higher at £500m. This
level of transfer spending is far in excess of
spending by other European leagues. With the
majority of their revenue streams already
contractually secured, English football clubs
are proving resilient to the current challenging
economic environment. Whilst football is not
recession-proof, it is recession-resistant.”
Reflecting on the overall annual figures,
aggregating the amounts spent in the January and
summer transfer windows, Rawnsley commented:
“Overall the Premier League clubs have spent • Each of Aston Villa, Liverpool, Manchester represents over 40% of the total committed
around £675m in 2008, including £500m this City, Manchester United, Sunderland and transfer activity by Premier League clubs, which is
summer, which is up on transfer spending in each Tottenham Hotspur has reportedly spent more than a higher proportion than in previous windows
year since the transfer windows were introduced.” £30m on player acquisitions in the summer (when it has typically represented around one-
Some of the key findings from the analysis transfer window. third of total spending).
by Deloitte include: • Manchester City's acquisition of Robinho for • Nonetheless, Premier League clubs continue
• Premier League clubs have committed to a reported £32.5m was a British record transfer to redistribute a significant amount of revenue to
around £500m in respect of player transfer fees in fee. The £30.75m Manchester United reportedly the benefit of overseas clubs (£250m of transfer
the summer 2008 transfer window. This is a record spent on Berbatov was also above the previous fees committed) and to Football League clubs
amount around £30m (6%) higher than the highest British transfer fee. (£35m).
previous record spending in summer 2007, and • Premier League clubs have spent around • Premier League clubs' net transfer fee
around double the amount committed in each of £215m on players from other Premier League spending was £215m, being the net amount that
the previous summer transfer windows since 2003. clubs. This intra-Premier League spending flows to non-English clubs and Football League
2 | FOOTBALL & SPORTS ARENA | September/October 2008
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