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Clubs break spending record

January 28, 2015

A new report has revealed record spending across the world's football transfer market in 2014, with over $4 billion being spent for the first time. As expected, the biggest deals took place in England and Spain.

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Luis Suarez
Image: picture-alliance/dpa

An annual report examining global transfer spending in 2014 has revealed record-breaking funds being spent on overseas transfers.

The report, which was conducted by FIFA and the Transfer Matching System, revealed clubs around the world spent $4.06 billion (3.58 billion euros) on transfers over the last calendar year. It was the first time spending has risen above $4 billion inside of a year, and represents a 2.1 percent increase on 2013. The numbers do not include domestic transfers.

English teams spent 67 percent more than any other nation reaching $770 million. Spanish sides were the next biggest spenders, forking out $308 million on foreign imports. The biggest trade of the year was the move of Luis Suarez (pictured above), from English Premier League side Liverpool to Spanish club Barcelona. The Spanish giants apparently payed at least 81 million euros for the Uruguayan's services.

The report also looked at the amount of transfers made, with Brazilian clubs involved in more incoming and outgoing deals than any other nation, reaching 1,335 transfers in 2014. English clubs were close behind with 1,263 deals, followed by Portugal with 823.

Spanish clubs signed more overseas under 18 players than any other nation, a fact that was proven again last week. Last Monday, Real Madrid confirmed signing 16-year old Norwegian star prospect Martin Odegaard from Stromsgodset.

Medhi Benatia
Medhi Benatia was the biggest transfer in the BundesligaImage: Reuters/M. Rehle

Transfers of minors

But the trade in junior football players is controversial. In August of last year, Spanish super club, Barcelona, was found to have breached rules in connection with signing underage players. Just this week Real Madrid confirmed they have been asked by FIFA to confirm the details of all foreign players at their academy.

In 2014, Spanish football clubs signed up the highest number of juniors. Some 400 applications for minors were submitted, and 352 of them were accepted.

"It is important to note that the more minor applications the better," said Mark Goddard, general manager of FIFA, at the launch of the transfer report. "We are happy to see they are putting in so many applications - that's what they should be doing."

"We can then examine them and the ones that do not break any rules are approved," he added.

The report, which was first published in 2007 after FIFA announced their partnership with the Transfer Matching System (TMS), is published annually.

apc/al (dpa, Reuters)