Ajax striker Anthony joined Manchester United for £82m

London (AFP) – Premier League clubs have smashed their season spending record during a staggering 1.9 billion pounds ($2.1 billion) during the summer.[expander_maker id=”1″ ]

Deloitte’s sports business group estimated that total spending by 20 English top-flight clubs during the transfer window that ended on Thursday was the highest in the competition’s history.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis gripping Britain, Premier League teams needed just one window to break the £1.86 billion mark set in the combined summer and winter transfer window over the 2017-18 season.

According to Deloitte, total spending on 169 players was 34% higher than the previous record for a single window of £1.4 billion in the summer of 2017.
It was 67 per cent higher than the Premier League’s total summer spending last year of £1.1bn.

“Overall spending has been so high among Premier League clubs this summer that before the start of this season’s transfer window in January, the 2022/23 season already had the highest transfer spending since the two-window season began, topping the previous record of 3 per cent. (£1.86 billion 2017-2018),” Deloitte said.
Nine Premier League clubs have spent more than £100m each with spending recovering dramatically after two seasons of downturn caused by the financial fallout from the coronavirus.

In total, the Premier League has spent more than La Liga, Serie A and Germany combined.

Tim Bridge, senior partner at Deloitte’s sports business group, said: “The record level of spending during this transfer window is a clear indication of the confidence of Premier League clubs, as fans return to the stadiums and a new broadcast cycle begins.

“It is now so integral to the Premier League that clubs are willing to pay big sums to maximize performance.

“This season, the desire for playing talent has reached new levels as the pressure on clubs to stay competitive is higher than ever.”
– Chelsea bragged –

Chelsea’s new ownership, with Todd Boley taking charge of Roman Abramovich, has acted as a catalyst for increased spending.
With £255m, Chelsea have spent more in one window than any team in Premier League history.

Their spending was £53 million more than Manchester United, which was the second largest in this window at £202 million.

United’s £82m signing of Ajax striker Anthony at the deadline was the fourth biggest deal in Premier League history.

Liverpool’s move for Benfica striker Darwin Nunez could eventually beat those fees, with the initial £67m outlay potentially rising to £85m depending on contract terms and additions.

Chelsea’s biggest deal during the window was a £70m deal for France defender Wesley Fofana from Leicester.

Buhli has also funded transfers for Marc Cucurella (£60m), Raheem Sterling (£50m), Kalidou Koulibaly (£33m) and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£10.3m).
At Old Trafford, Casemiro (£60m) and Lisandro Martinez (£51m) joined Anthony in the 10 most expensive signings in United history.

Champions Manchester City have boosted their squad with a £50m transfer for Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, who has already started paying that fee with nine goals in five games.

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak and West Ham midfielder Lucas Paqueta were among seven players signed for more than £50m this summer, while 19 players were signed for £30m or more.

Even Nottingham Forest, who returned to the Premier League for the first time since 1999, recorded a total spending of £126m on a staggering 21 players.
It was only the third time that Deloitte had reported spending more than £100m by any club immediately upon promotion to the Premier League.[/expander_maker]