ZURICH — According to FIFA, the men’s soccer world saw unparalleled spending in the January transfer window, reaching an astounding total of $2.35 billion. This surge in expenditure was largely propelled by clubs from England and Saudi Arabia. The reported figures indicate that a record 5,863 international transfers were completed during this period, surpassing last year’s previous record by 900 transfers.
Among these transactions, only one was noted to exceed the value of 30 million euros (approximately $31 million). This notable transfer involved Gonçalo Ramos, who secured a permanent move to Paris Saint-Germain from Benfica. January 2024 also witnessed a total of ten transfer deals that reached this significant financial threshold, including four notable signings by Manchester City. The highest fee recorded was for Colombian forward Jhon Durán, who made an $80 million shift from Aston Villa to Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, where he is set to join Cristiano Ronaldo.
In terms of spending, English clubs led the way, investing a total of $621.6 million in new talent while only generating $186 million from player sales to foreign teams. Saudi Arabian clubs followed closely behind, with a net expenditure exceeding $160 million after spending $202 million, primarily driven by club investments from the Public Investment Fund, which owns teams such as Al Nassr and Al Hilal.
Meanwhile, German clubs recorded total spending of $295.7 million, but managed to offset much of this with $226.2 million earned from player sales. French clubs experienced a profitable window, bringing in $371 million in transfer fees while spending just $209.7 million, yielding a profit of more than $160 million. Similarly, Portuguese clubs reported earnings of $176.4 million against a mere expenditure of $40.2 million, resulting in a healthy profit of $136 million.
In the United States, the transfer activity was also notable, with clubs investing $145 million and earning $125 million from sales. This January trading period has clearly set a new benchmark in the transfer market, showcasing the continued financial power and ambition of clubs across the globe.
