The English Premier League dominated as Europe’s top clubs spent more than $3 billion on new players in the two month transfer market that ended with a frantic burst of deals, according to a study released Tuesday.
The 20 Premier League clubs spent about £835 million ($1.38 billion, €1 billion) on players, with Manchester United accounting for about £150 million of that, according to business consultants Deloitte.
The Premier League total smashed last year’s record transfer dealings worth £630 million. Colombian striker Radamel Falcao joined United while England striker Danny Welbeck left for Arsenal in the final deals announced late Monday.
Spain’s La Liga clubs laid out just over $700 million (€530 million) on players, with Real Madrid and Barcelona the big spenders on the likes of Luis Suarez and James Rodriguez.
Italy’s Serie A followed with $450 million (€345 million) of deals, Germany’s Bundesliga accounted for $415 million (€315 million) and France’s Ligue 1 came fifth with $165 million (€125 million).
FIFA’s Transfer Matching System said that 1,164 players were taken on in the big five leagues during the two month transfer window and that the five accounted for 85% of the transfer money spent in Europe’s 26 biggest leagues.