The top five leagues of Europe has spent more than ever in this summer transfer window. According to Deloitte’s Sports Business Group teams of Europe’s top five leagues spent a record of 5.5 Billion Euros as every club eyes to strengthen their squad by signing in big names.
Premier League which is referred to as the toughest league to win has spent an overall 1.55 Billion Euros. Everton, Wolves, West Ham all spent more than 90 Billion Euros with the most expensive move was Harry Maguire the Ex- Leicester City defender who joined the Red Devils for 97 Million Dollars, making him the most expensive defender ever. Not only that Aston Villa the newly promoted side spent more than 150 million Euro to compete with the big clubs. Arsenal and Spurs, both the North London clubs broke their transfer record by signing Nicolas Pepe and Tanguy Ndombele respectively. Daniel Ceballos joined Arsenal on loan from Real Madrid this season who has already been solid at the midfield for Arsenal. Chelsea going through a transfer ban failed to sign anyone except signing Kovacic permanently and the “Captain America” Pulisic from Dortmund who was immediately loaned back after singing in the winter transfer market. Manchester City who spent the most in the last 3 years signed Rodrigo from Atletico Madrid who is potentially the best replacement of 34 years old Fernandinho. Apart from filling up the void in the midfield, Pep Guardiola team signed 25 years old right back Jaoa Cancelo for 30 million euro plus Danilo going in the opposite direction on a 5 years deal. No wonder why everyone calls premier league the richest league.
On the other hand, Barcelona signed Griezmann for 134 million dollars and Atletico Madrid grabbing the Ex-Benfica teenager Joao Felix for 141 million dollars to replace him. La Liga clubs collectively spent 1.37 Billion Euros becoming the second-highest spenders. Real Madrid in order to compete with their two biggest rivals signed on form Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard who won the Europa League last May for 88 million euros and Frankfurt’s hitman Luka Jovic for 65 million euros after his impressive season in Bundesliga. The top 3 teams of La Liga dominated the transfer window where Atletico Madrid spent an estimated amount of 265 million dollars, the most by any La Liga side.
Real Madrid failed to sign their summer targets like Eriksen from spurs who will run out of contract next summer or Pogba whose return to his ex-club doesn’t seem to go as planned as he has become a subject of ridicule lately at United. Barcelona on the same page regret not resigning Neymar who openly admitted that he is unsettled at PSG and want to move somewhere else.
Seria A clubs stands third on overall spending 1.17 Billion Euros. Antonio Conte who was appointed as their new manager signed both Sanchez and Lukaku from Manchester United on his first season to strengthen the frontline of Inter Milan after both of them failed to hit the heights last season. Juventus hasn’t brought much of a change in their squad other than bringing back their legend Buffon and signing the 19-year-old Holland CB De Ligt after he had an incredible season with Ajax. Bundesliga is fourth on overall spending this summer, Dortmund signed Brandt and Thogan Hazard to fill the gap of Pulisic along with Hummels who returned back to his former club after playing three years at Bayern. Bayern signed the Barcelona fall out star Coutinho to fill the void of James who returned back to his parent club Real Madrid after his loan spell expired earlier this summer.
According to many pundits, with the ever ending demands of the football fans and the pressure to win silverware every season, the clubs are bound to make big money moves. The increase of overall spending by the top five leagues is small up around 0.9 Billion Euros on the record set last summer but it indicates the continuous increase in the wealth of those at football’s top table.
