EPL Clubs Spent $190M In January Transfer Window; QPR, Reds, Magpies Top Spenders

An analysis by the Deloitte Sports Business Group revealed that Premier League clubs spent around £120M ($190M) in the January transfer window. The figure is double the total amount spent in Jan. '12 (£60M), but far shor  of the record level of £225M in Jan. '11. Deloitte Sports Business Group partner Dan Jones said: "Premier League clubs have been relatively restrained in their player transfer fee spending, in spite of the upcoming uplift in their broadcasting revenues of between £20M ($32M) and £30M ($47M) each from next season. Whilst the clubs’ total spending was £120M, after taking into account transfer income, the Premier League clubs’ net transfer spend was £70M ($111M)." Jones added: "There were relatively few active spenders in the winter window, with over half of this January’s total transfer spending coming from three clubs." Some of the key finding from the analysis include:

• The acquisition of new players from overseas clubs accounted for £75M ($119M) (62%) of Premier League clubs’ gross transfer spending, followed by acquisitions from fellow Premier League clubs for £25M ($40M) (21%), and acquisitions from Football League clubs for £20M (17%).
• Premier League clubs concluded around £35M ($55M) of player transfer fees on deadline day. The equivalent deadline day figure in Jan. '12 was £30M, and for Jan. '11 it was £135M.
• In January, Queens Park Rangers, Liverpool and Newcastle United have together contributed over 50% of the total spending. QPR and Newcastle United were also amongst the top three spenders in Jan. '12 and together with Chelsea contributed over half of the total spending of £60M.
• Over the past decade, Premier League clubs’ January transfer spending has typically exceeded that in other European leagues. This is due in part to the Premier League’s long-established mechanism that distributes broadcasting revenues on a more equitable basis compared to the top divisions of the other big five leagues.
• Top-division clubs in Italy are the second-highest spenders this January, with total reported transfer spending of around 70% of the Premier League total. Total transfer spending by top division clubs in France and Germany was around 30% to 45% of that by Premier League clubs. Transfer spending by Spanish clubs was minimal in this winter window, and exceeded by the amounts spent by clubs in emerging markets such as Russia and Brazil (Deloitte).