FIFA announced on Thursday that soccer clubs paid a record $888.1 million for player agents in 2023.

According to FIFA, in 2023, clubs paid agents $888 million in commissions

The previous record dates back to 2019, when agent commissions for international transfers reached $654.7 million. In 2022, the amount was $623.2 million, according to Reuters.

Clubs in England were the biggest spenders this year, with more than $280 million, no less than 86.6% of the total commission coming from European clubs, FIFA said.

Saudi clubs have embarked on an impressive transfer campaign this year, spending almost a billion dollars in the summer transfer window to attract top players from Europe, so they have the second highest commission paid to agents with $86 million.

“The number of international transfers involving agents acting on behalf of footballers reached record numbers in 2023, with a total of 3,353 transfers.” This corresponds to 15.4% of all transfers and represents an increase of 8.4% compared to 2022.” FIFA announced.

For the first time in women’s soccer, professional clubs spent more than a million dollars on transfers, bringing the total to almost $1.4 million.

The players’ agents have been at loggerheads with FIFA since losing an appeal in July to block new rules capping commissions and introducing licensing exams.

FIFA said it received 19,973 applications for a license this year, with 9,207 applicants passing the exams and a pass rate of 32.6%.

Earlier this month, the Football Association of England court ruled that the provisions proposed by FIFA were incompatible with competition law in Great Britain, writes Agerpres.