EPL Clubs Spent $615M On Transfers In First Two Months Of Summer Window

Premier League "transfer spending this summer has risen" by £60M ($103M) from the same point last year, according to the BBC. The increase, to £360M ($615M) from £300M in July '13, "means this transfer window is likely to surpass the record" of £630M set last year, according to Deloitte's Sports Business Group. Deloitte consultant Alex Thorpe said, "This summer transfer window has so far seen a higher level of spending than in any previous summer window." This year's outlay so far "also dwarfs the figures from other previous years." In '12, spending stood at £190M at this point, while in '11, it was £150M. British clubs "have already completed seven" £20M ($34M)-plus deals this summer. Chelsea is the biggest spender, having spent £80M ($137M) on the signings of Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and Filipe Luis. Premier League clubs "have been bolstered by the record television deal with BT and BSkyB" between '13-14 and '15-16, worth a total of £3.018B. Thorpe: "One of the main drivers of Premier League spending continues to be the increased resources clubs now have as a result of improved broadcast deals." The transfer window "so far has been dominated by big-money signings from foreign leagues." Professional Footballers' Association CEO Gordon Taylor said that "he was troubled by the growing trend in international signings." He said, "What concerns us is that young English players aren't getting the chance to break through any more. The pattern is only going one way" (BBC, 7/19).