FIFA: €442.4m paid to intermediaries as part of international transfers in 2021 (-13.9%)

The amount of commissions paid to intermediaries in the transfer market amounted to $500.8m (€442.4m) during the year 2021, according to the annual report on "Intermediaries in International Transfers" published by FIFA on 15/12/2021 (document available to download). "In 2021, clubs affiliated to UEFA member associations accounted for 95.8% of the $500.8m spent on intermediary service fees," said the body (see below).

"A total of 17,945 international transfers of male professional players were completed in the Transfer Matching System (TMS) in 2021. Of these, 3,545 (19.8%) involved at least one intermediary," said FIFA. Despite a drop in spending by clubs on the transfer market for the second consecutive year (-13.9% compared to 2020), intermediary fees remained stable (+0.7%).

The 2021 edition of the report also looks at the transfer market for female professional players. "1,287 international transfers of female professional players were completed in the Transfer Matching System (TMS), 300 of which (23.3%) involved at least one intermediary. The number of transfers with…