LONDON – A world record fee for a defender and a rash of late
activity on deadline day saw Premier League clubs spend 1.41 billion
pounds (1.71 billion dollars) on new players in the summer transfer
window.
The total, confirmed by Deloitte's Sports Business Group, is the
second-highest of all time, marginally short of the record of 1.43
billion, which was set in 2017.
"Premier League clubs' transfer spend continues to be driven by the
desire for success on the pitch, ranging from competing at the top of
the Premier League and qualification for the UEFA Champions League to
simply survival in the top division," Dan Jones, partner in the
Sports Business Group at Deloitte, said in a statement.
Eleven of the 20 Premier League clubs broke their transfer records
while 170 million pounds was spent on deadline day alone.
Though European champions Liverpool largely kept their powder dry and
Chelsea were restricted by a transfer-ban, most of the big clubs
spent big.
Arsenal topped the spending list at 155 million, breaking their
transfer record by paying Lille 72 million pounds for winger Nicolas
Pepe.
"Nicolas is a highly rated and talented winger who was wanted by many
of the top teams in Europe," Arsenal manager Unai Emery said.
"Signing a top-class winger has been one of our key objectives in
this transfer window. He will add pace, power and creativity, with
the aim of bringing more goals to our team."
Premier League champions Manchester City were second, at 150 million
pounds, bringing in Rodri, Joao Cancelo, Angelino, as well as
goalkeeper Scott Carson on loan.
Manchester United were third, with 145 million, a figure that
included 80 million paid to Leicester for Harry Maguire, a world
record fee for a defender.
That beat the 77 million pounds Juventus paid Ajax for Matthijs de
Ligt this summer and the 75 million Liverpool previously paid
Southampton for Virgil van Dijk.
The big price tag brings its own pressure, as Van Dijk knows, but the
Dutchman said Maguire should relish playing for such a big club.
"Just focus on doing what you love to do ... enjoy your game and
don't think about the other things," he said.
"It is not easy to completely shut off all the pressure. Quite a lot
of things are more important than playing football and what we do, we
are blessed. You need to enjoy it but the pressure will always be
there."
Newly-promoted Aston Villa invested around 125 million on 12 new
players, while Everton, who paid just under 40 million for Arsenal's
Alex Iwobi on deadline day, spent 110 million.
Tottenham paid 105 million pounds, including Tanguy Ndombele (53
million pounds) and Ryan Sessegnon (25 million); while Everton, West
Ham United, Leicester City and Wolves each spent more than 80
million.
Only three clubs, Chelsea, Liverpool and Crystal Palace, recorded net
player transfer receipts (receiving more than they spent), Deloitte
said.
Each of the 20 Premier League clubs are guaranteed a share of the
overall revenue from television rights.
In the 2018/19 season, 19 of the 20 clubs earned more than 100
million pounds, with relegated Huddersfield the odd one out, though
they received 96 million.