2014 winter transfer window European Top 5: sales and purchases down, except in the Premier League

The 2014 winter transfer window opened on 01/01/2014 and closed in the five major European championships on 31/01/2014.

The 98 Top 5 European clubs spent a total of €305.5m to recruit new players during the winter transfer window, a 17% decrease compared to the January 2013 transfer window (€367.4m). Sales of the European Top 5 clubs also decreased in 2014 compared to 2013, from €257.9m in January 2013 to €208.9m twelve months later, a 19% decrease year on year.

Of the five major European championships, only the Premier League showed increased activity, both in the sales (+87.5%) and purchases (+5.4%). Alone, the English Premier League accounted for half of the purchases of the European Top 5 (€152.8m) and 56.5% of sales (€118.1m) during the 2014 winter transfer window. The Premier League clubs were also involved in 7 of the 10 most expensive transfers made between 01 and 31/01/2014.

• La Liga showed a 19.3% increase in purchases during the winter transfer window 2014 compared to 2013: €16.25m in January 2014 against €13.6m a year earlier.
• All five major European championships show a…