In 2023, soccer clubs spent $9.63 billion (approximately €8.89 billion) on transfers, $2 billion more than the previous record (set in 2019).

In 2023, clubs paid $9.63 billion for transfers

According to data published by FIFA, this amount is also a significant increase compared to 2022 (+48.1%), when spending in the transfer market increased again after two years of decline due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The top ten transfers represent 10% of all transfer fees paid in 2023. They include Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid, Enzo Fernandez from Benfica to Chelsea, Harry Kane from Tottenham to Bayern Munich and Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht to PSG. .

As in 2022, English clubs, led by Chelsea, spent the most: almost three billion dollars (2.96 billion euros) were paid for 2023.

Along with Chelsea, PSG, Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, they are among the five clubs that spent the most in the transfer market in 2023.

In contrast, the German clubs, thanks to the sales of Bellingham and Kolo Muani, received transfer revenues of more than 1.2 billion dollars. With 1,017 players coming into their leagues, Portuguese clubs have received the most players from other member associations, while Brazilian clubs are responsible for the most transfers, with 1,217 players leaving Brazil in 2023.

The FIFA report also highlighted the “impressive growth” of women’s football in terms of investment in transfer markets. In 2023, 623 professional clubs were involved in international transfers, compared to 507 in 2022, with a total of 1,888 international transfers of professional players registered during the year, compared to 1,571 in 2022, according to News.ro.