French transfer market in sharp decline, except for PSG

The summer transfer window in Ligue 1 experienced a sharp decline in 2012 compared to the previous year, in terms of the number of transactions (-18%) and the number of players on the move (281 as opposed to 327, a decrease of 14.1%).

However, the league's total spend increased by 0.7% compared to 2011, reaching €354.4m.

This contradiction is explained by the amount spent by PSG in the transfer market since they were taken over by QSI (Qatar Sports Investments) on 30/05/2011. The club spent €86.1m in the summer of 2011 and €107m in 2012 (+24.3%), these figures represent 25.1% and 31% of the league's total spend in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

Without PSG, the market has been in sharp decline since 2010. From €306.6m, the league's gross spend shrank to €254.1m in 2011 (-17.1%) and €235.7m in 2012 (-7.3%).