European clubs spent a total of 7.2 billion euros on transfers this summer, exceeding the previous record set in the summer of 2019 by 3% and last summer by 24%, and reached an audience of 209 million for their games.
This is reflected in the latest UEFA club competition overview report, which details attendance figures and transfer trends and provides an overview of player talent deployment, head coach moves and audience growth in the Women’s Champions League.
The document states that attendance at Women’s Champions League matches in the 2022/23 season increased by 29% compared to the previous season, with a total of 759,353 spectators, and points out that 40% of women’s clubs in the first divisions of Europe Clubs operate independently of men’s clubs.
As for the transfer market, UEFA reports that English clubs have dominated the transfer market for the second year in a row and that Saudi Arabian clubs have become the second source of investment.
How has the transfer market developed in Europe?
. The increase in expenses represents an exceptional increase of 88% after the difficult period of the pandemic (summer 2021), when clubs suffered a loss of revenue of 7 billion euros.
. A significant payout of 1.1 billion was recorded in the last five market days when the leagues had already started – 700 million more than in the summer of 2019 -.
. More than half of transfer spending this summer was invested in players aged 23 or younger.
. For the second year in a row, English clubs dominated the transfer market with 30% of transfers, 35% of expenses and 25% of income, and participated in the purchase and/or sale of 44% of operating value.
. Premier clubs spent €18.7 million per player this summer, five times more than Serie A and six times more than LaLiga per appearance.
. England and Spain record a significant transfer flow of clubs from the first division to the second division (15% and 16% of total spending respectively). In all other markets this inflow is less than 7%.
. Spending by Saudi Arabian clubs means non-UEFA clubs are responsible for a record 12% of global activity, with this figure potentially set to rise further as transfer windows close. Transfer flows from England to Saudi Arabia amounted to more than 300 million euros.
