2016 winter transfers: Top 5 leagues spent €432m (Premier League: €237m, +50%), China €202m

The combined transfer spending of the Top 5 major European championships (Barclays Premier League, Liga BBVA, Bundesliga, Serie A TIM and Ligue 1) amounted to €432.3m in the 2016 winter transfer window -- which closed for the Top 5 leagues on 01/02/2016 -- according to data from the specialised website Transfermarkt.de on 02/02/2016. This represents an increase of 10.4% compared to the 2015 winter transfer window (€391.6m).

With €237.3m spent (up more than 50% compared to 2015, €158.1m), the Premier League constituted 54.9% of transfer spending in the European Top 5 leagues, compared to 40% a year earlier. The Serie A TIM saw its spending increase (€83.6m, +8.2%), while the Bundesliga (€47.9m, -27.9%), the Liga BBVA (€31.9m, -44%) and Ligue 1 (€31.5m, -3.8%) all spent less than in January 2015.

In comparison, the English Championship spent €38.5m during the 2016 winter transfer window, or up 167% compared to 2015 (€14.4m). In China, where the winter transfer window closes on 26/02/2016, CSL clubs have thus far spent €202m on transfers in 2016, nearly double the amount spent by the…