UEFA fears Premier League impact on transfer market
UEFA believes "a clear two-speed system" is emerging in the transfer market as a result of the huge spending by Premier League clubs this summer.
UEFA warns that the Premier League's aggressive summer spending could create a "two-speed system" in the transfer market, according to its latest report. English clubs spent €4.6bn (£4bn) on transfers, surpassing the combined spending of the eight largest European leagues. Andrea Traverso, UEFA's executive director of finance, expressed concern over the rising transfer values, particularly in the English market.
The report revealed that Premier League clubs were involved in more than 60% of deals and paid an average of €24m (£20.7m) per player, compared to just €4m (£3.4m) to €5m (£4.3m) in other major European leagues. This disparity highlights a widening gap in purchasing power. The English clubs' transfer spend this year equates to 56% of their annual revenue, significantly higher than the 33% average in the pre-Covid decade.
Moreover, English clubs engaged in 44% more high-value transfers between each other, totaling €1.55bn (£1.33bn). The English domestic market's value equates to that of the next five league-to-league markets combined. The number of transfers above €50m has surged, with Premier League clubs responsible for 29 out of 35 such deals in 2026.
Despite financial regulations, clubs have increasingly resorted to selling academy players for pure profit, generating an estimated €6.8bn (£5.85bn) in transfers this summer, a €655m (£564m) increase from 2025.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
