In a groundbreaking development, the global expenditure on football player transfers reached an unprecedented level in 2023, totaling $9.63 billion.
This surpasses the previous record set in 2019 by over two billion dollars, as revealed in a report published by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
Last year’s figures represent a staggering 48.1% increase compared to 2022 when spending began to rise again after a two-year decline due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The top 10 transfers of 2023 accounted for more than 10% of the total amount, featuring prominent moves like Argentine Enzo Fernandez to Chelsea, and Englishman Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid, and compatriot Harry Kane to Bayern Munich.
English clubs, led by Chelsea, topped the spending list once again with a total expenditure of $2.96 billion, three times more than French clubs, who secured the second position on the list.
Saudi Arabian clubs entered the top five for the first time, with a total expenditure of $970 million, signing stars such as Brazilian Neymar (Al-Hilal), Senegalese Sadio Mane (Al-Nassr), and Algerian Riyad Mahrez (Al-Ahli).
Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo and his former French teammate Karim Benzema moved to Al-Nassr and Al-Ittihad, respectively, in free transfers, without any compensation to their previous clubs, Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Chelsea led the list ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich as the top five spending clubs in 2023.
On the contrary, German clubs achieved the highest return on transfer operations, reaching nearly $1.21 billion, thanks to deals involving the departed Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund and Frenchman Randal Kolo Muani, who joined Paris Saint-Germain from Eintracht Frankfurt.
Portuguese clubs brought in the largest number of foreign players, with 1,017 arrivals, while Brazil was the leading exporter with 1,217 players.
FIFA’s report also highlighted the “remarkable growth” of the women’s football transfer market. In 2023, a total of 623 women’s clubs participated in international transfers, compared to 507 in the previous year.
Approximately 1,888 female players moved across borders, an increase from 1,571 in 2022.
