Premier League Clubs Smash Summer Transfer Spending Record

Premier League spending climbed to about £3.46 billion this summer, setting a new record for a second consecutive season. Clubs continued completing major deals until the final hours before Tuesday’s 11 p.m. deadline.

Manchester City ended the window with the reported British record-equalling signing of Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernández from Chelsea for £125 million. The club also paid a reported £65 million for Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton. City’s total spending reached £458 million as new manager Enzo Maresca built his first squad.

Three other transfers exceeded £100 million. City bought Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, Morgan Rogers moved from Aston Villa to Chelsea for £117 million, and Liverpool agreed to pay Paris Saint-Germain an initial £107 million for France forward Bradley Barcola. That deal could rise to £123 million.

Tottenham Hotspur set a club record with the signing of Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £100 million. Chelsea spent £349 million under new boss Xabi Alonso, while Tottenham spent £303 million during a rebuild after two seasons close to relegation. Promoted clubs Ipswich, Coventry City and Hull City spent more than £400 million combined, according to Transfermarkt.

Four of the 11 most expensive signings in Premier League history arrived this summer: Fernández, Anderson, Rogers and Barcola. About 38% of deals were completed between Premier League clubs, up from 30% last summer. Some moves collapsed on deadline day, including Everton’s proposed signing of Folarin Balogun and Chelsea’s reported £47.1 million deal for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara.