Premier League clubs break window spending record as Noah Okafor joins Leeds United
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AC Milan forward Noah Okafor joined Leeds United for a reported £18 million (S$31 million) on Aug 21.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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- Premier League transfer spending hit a record £2.36 billion, surpassing the 2023 summer window with more than a week still to go, FootballTransfers.com reports.
- Big spenders include Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal, while six clubs broke transfer records, with Sunderland spending more than most European clubs.
- Premier League spending exceeds Serie A, Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and LaLiga combined due to a £6.7 billion domestic TV rights deal.
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LONDON - The Premier League’s transfer spending spree reached record levels with more than a week of trading to go as promoted Leeds United signed AC Milan forward Noah Okafor for a reported £18 million (S$31 million) on Aug 21.
Okafor’s arrival at Elland Road, following Bournemouth’s signing of Amine Adli from Bayer Leverkusen, pushed the total spend beyond the £2.36 billion splashed out in the 2023 summer window, according to FootballTransfers.com.
Several other big-money deals between now and the closing of the window, including the likely sale of Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace to Arsenal, mean spending by the world’s most lucrative soccer league could even hit £3 billion.
While the list of big spenders is topped by the likes of champions Liverpool (£289 million), Chelsea (£246 million), Manchester United (£208 million) and Arsenal (£194 million), even clubs with smaller resources have been splashing the cash.
Six clubs have broken their transfer records, including Liverpool paying £100 million, and another £16 million in add-on payments, to Bayer Leverkusen for Florian Wirtz.
Burnley set a new club record by paying £25 million for Chelsea midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, while fellow promoted club Sunderland did the same by signing midfielder Habib Diarra for £26 million from Strasbourg, part of a £142 million squad-strengthening drive.
Despite being outside the Premier League for eight seasons, Sunderland have spent more than any club in Europe's other top leagues apart from Spain's Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.
Nottingham Forest broke their transfer record twice during the current window in which they have spent almost £150 million, including the signings of Switzerland winger Dan Ndoye from Bologna and winger Omari Hutchison from Ipswich Town.
Spending by England’s Premier League this summer is more than that of Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga, France’s Ligue 1 and Spain’s LaLiga combined.
Serie A is second on the spending list with around £783 million on player investment although the league’s clubs have recouped more than that in sales.
The Premier League’s muscle in the transfer market is largely explained by huge broadcasting deals. This season is the first of a four-year domestic TV rights deal worth a record £6.7 billion. REUTERS
