Saudi Pro League's Jaw-Dropping Transfer Spending Shakes the Football World, Dethroning Premier League's Records
Record-breaking transfer spending across global football, with Saudi Pro League clubs outspending top European leagues FIFA report highlights all-time high agent fees Unprecedented levels of investment in both men's and women's football
According to a FIFA report, transfer spending and activity in men's and women's football worldwide has reached unprecedented levels. In the summer transfer window (between June 1 and September 1), men's football clubs globally spent a staggering £5.9bn on international transfers. This marks a remarkable 47-percent increase from the mid-year window in 2022.
Datawrapper
Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this.
Open Privacy Options
The spending on transfers in women's football grew significantly, surpassing all previous records to reach £2.4m at the midpoint of the year. This represents more than twice the amount spent in the comparable period. Additionally, the number of transfers continued its upward trend for the sixth consecutive year, setting a new record with 829 moves, marking a notable increase of 19.1% compared to the previous period. Out of these transfers, 66 involved fees, showing a remarkable surge of 83.3%.
Datawrapper
Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this.
Who spent what?
Explore Privacy OptionsIn the realm of men's football, England emerged as the frontrunner, having expended a staggering £1.59bn on international transfer fees alone during the designated timeframe. Furthermore, England surpassed all other nations in terms of signing (449) and selling (514) players.
Saudi Pro League clubs made a significant impact in multiple ways, as their summer spending reached £701.3m, placing them second among the other prominent European leagues: France (£688.8m), Germany (£610.8mm), Italy (£569.6m), and Spain (£324.9m).
Consequently, teams from the AFC region contributed to 14.0 percent of global transfer expenditure – marking the first occasion where clubs from a confederation other than UEFA exceeded a 10-percent share of the overall amount.
Germany achieved a remarkable £889m profit from their transfer operations in the mid-year window, setting a new record.
Furthermore, agent fees for international deals surged to an unprecedented all-time high of £558m during this period. As a result, the total amount paid in agent fees for the year 2023 thus far has reached £683m, surpassing the entirety of 2022 by 36.9% and surpassing any other previous year.
Datawrapper
Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this.
Open Privacy Options
Saudi spending analysed
Saudi Arabia's expenditure during the transfer window, which concluded on September 7th, surpassed the spending of four out of Europe's 'big five' leagues. Only the Premier League remained ahead of the Middle Eastern nation.Izzy Wray of Deloitte's Sports Business Group stated that this is the first occasion since 2016 where an international league has surpassed any of Europe's 'big five' in expenditures during a football transfer window. The investment from Saudi Arabia in the game of European football will shift its attention towards enhancing Asian football's infrastructure, thereby raising its level.
Earlier this year, the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) unveiled a Sports Clubs Investment and Privatization Project, which included the prominent league champions Al Ittihad, Al Ahli, Al Nassr, and Al Hilal. As part of this initiative, a number of top players were brought into the league.
The PIF holds a majority ownership of 75 percent in each of the four clubs, while their individual non-profit foundations possess the remaining 25 percent stake.
Datawrapper
Due to your consent preferences, you’re not able to view this.
Open Privacy Options
This window's biggest transfer move came from the most successful club in Saudi Arabia, Al Hilal, who spent £86.3m to bring in Brazil forward Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain.
Al Hilal further made significant financial investments in securing the talents of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic in addition to Neymar.
Meanwhile, Al Ittihad, the champions of the Saudi Pro League, successfully acquired the services of Karim Benzema, N'Golo Kante, and Fabinho. Al Nassr, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, also made notable signings by acquiring Otavio, Sadio Mane, Aymeric Laporte, Marcelo Brozovic, and Alex Telles.
Al Ahli, recently promoted to the Pro League after a season in the second division, finalized a series of signings that included Gabri Veiga, Riyad Mahrez, Roberto Firmino, Edouard Mendy, Alain Saint-Maximin, and Merih Demiral.
Wray suggested that the introduction of the Kingdom's privatization program is expected to generate widespread interest in the SPL, potentially bolstering the ongoing trend of increased spending in future transfer windows.
Despite the SPL's considerable spending power, it is yet to be determined how this will ultimately shape the future of top-tier football in Europe. Furthermore, despite their substantial financial investments, the SPL has been unable to successfully acquire some of its primary objectives.
Liverpool's Mohamed Salah attracted interest from Al Ittihad, but their bid of £150m was rejected by the Premier League club. Similarly, Al Hilal's ambitious attempts to secure Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe were unsuccessful. Saudi Arabia has significantly invested in various sports including soccer, Formula One, boxing, tennis, and golf in recent years.
Critics accuse Saudi Arabia of using the PIF to engage in "sportswashing" in the face of heavy criticism of the country's human rights record.
