Transfer figures expose La Liga divide as Real Madrid spend nearly a third of total

Real Madrid spent more than the other 17 La Liga clubs combined during the summer transfer window, according to figures highlighting the widening financial gap between Spain’s leading sides and the rest of the division.

The Spanish window closed in the early hours of Wednesday, with Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid accounting for more than 70% of the competition’s total transfer spending.

Data from Transfermarkt shows that La Liga clubs spent approximately €755.28m in total. Of that sum, €532m was paid by the three leading clubs.

Real Madrid were the biggest spenders, investing about €225m in new players. That figure alone represents almost one-third of all the money spent by clubs in the Spanish top flight.

The total also means Real Madrid’s outlay exceeded the combined spending of 17 other La Liga clubs. Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid were the only clubs outside that comparison.

Real Madrid’s record signing was Ivorian forward Yan Diomande, who joined from RB Leipzig for about €125m. The deal made him the most expensive transfer in the history of Real Madrid.

The club also signed Marc Cucurella for €55m, Carlos Espi for €25m and Denzel Dumfries for €20m. Bernardo Silva and Ibrahima Konate arrived on free transfers.

Barcelona were the second-highest spenders after committing €184m to strengthen their squad.

Anthony Gordon was the Catalan club’s most expensive arrival at €80m, while the signing of Rodri for €60m was another of their major moves during the window. Barcelona also brought in Karim Adeyemi, Gabriel Jesus, Yves Bissouma, Dominik Livakovic and Hamza Abdelkarim.

Atletico Madrid spent approximately €123m on additions for Diego Simeone’s side. Their main deals included Morten Hjulmand for €40m, Lee Kang-in for €35m, Cristian Romero for €33m and Alejandro Grimaldo for about €15m.

Together, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid spent €532m. The remaining La Liga clubs spent €223.28m between them, a substantially lower figure than the amount invested by the division’s three biggest clubs.

Spending outside the top three

Real Betis were fourth in the spending table, but remained a long way behind the leading clubs. Their expenditure was about €30.5m, compared with Real Madrid’s €225m.

Deportivo La Coruna spent €26m, while Elche invested €23.25m. Racing de Santander paid €20.5m and Getafe spent €19.5m.

Villarreal’s expenditure reached €16.5m, with Sevilla spending €15.5m. Deportivo Alaves committed €13m and Celta de Vigo spent €11.8m.

Rayo Vallecano’s spending totalled €10.28m, while Valencia did not exceed €9m. Real Sociedad spent €8.5m, followed by Osasuna on €8m.

Espanyol invested €5.55m and Levante spent €5.1m. Malaga paid only €300,000 for transfers, while Athletic Club completed the window without spending any money.

The full spending figures were:

– Real Madrid: €225m – Barcelona: €184m – Atletico de Madrid: €123m – Real Betis: €30.5m – Deportivo La Coruna: €26m – Elche: €23.25m – Racing de Santander: €20.5m – Getafe: €19.5m – Villarreal: €16.5m – Sevilla: €15.5m – Deportivo Alaves: €13m – Celta de Vigo: €11.8m – Rayo Vallecano: €10.28m – Valencia: €9m – Real Sociedad: €8.5m – Osasuna: €8m – Espanyol: €5.55m – Levante: €5.1m – Malaga: €300,000 – Athletic Club: €0

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