FIFA Reports Record $9.89 Billion in Transfer Fees

FIFA announced on Thursday that clubs worldwide spent more than $9.89 billion (8.51 billion euros) on international transfer fees in men's football during the summer transfer window, the highest amount ever recorded for a mid-year window. The latest International Transfer Snapshot from FIFA revealed that over 12,500 transfers were completed, surpassing last year's total of 11,863.

English clubs dominated the spending, investing over $3.02 billion in transfer fees for players from abroad. This figure is lower than the record Premier League outlay of £3.49 billion ($4.7 billion) reported by British media, which includes transfers between English clubs.

Italian clubs followed with $1.1 billion in spending, while Spain, Germany, and France contributed $940 million, $904 million, and $641 million, respectively. FIFA noted that the upcoming 2026 World Cup significantly influenced the transfer window, with players from the tournament accounting for over $3.3 billion in fees.

In women's football, spending and transfer activity also reached new heights, with 1,406 international transfers and a total expenditure of $28.6 million.