International transfers: a record $888.1m in transfer fees paid to agents in 2023 (FIFA report)

"In 2023, clubs paid $888.1m (€821.8m as of 14/12/2023) in agent service fees, the highest-ever amount and an increase of 42.5% on 2022," according to FIFA's "Football agents in international transfers" annual report published on 14/12/2023 (document available to download). This study only covers international transfers and not transactions between clubs within the same national association.

Among the other key figures in this first edition of the body's report on agents since the implementation of FIFA's Football Agent Regulations on 06/01/2023:
• European clubs accounted for 86.6% of total spending;
• English clubs were by far the biggest spenders with $281.3m (€260.3m), or 31.7% of the total;
• for the first time ever, women’s professional football clubs spent more than $1m (precisely €1.38m, or €1.27m) for the services of club agents (on 125 transfers, up 20% on 2022).

"The number of international transfers with an agent acting on behalf of the player reached a record high in 2023 with a total of 3,353 transfers. This corresponds to 15.4% of all transfers and represents an…