Transfers: a record €742m spent by clubs in the Top 5 leagues in the 2017 January window (CIES)

The 98 clubs in the European Top 5 leagues (Premier League, Serie A TIM, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and LaLiga Santander) spent €742m during the 2017 winter transfer window, according to the CIES Football Observatory CIES on 06/02/2017. This total represents an increase of 50.2% compared with the 2016 winter transfer window (€494m spent). This is a new record for spending a winter transfer window, far ahead of the previous mark (+41.8%), which dates back to 2011 (€523m spent).

142 players were the subject of paid transfers to or from clubs in the Top 5 leagues in January 2017, for a total amount (sales and purchases) of €921m. Internal transactions with the five major leagues accounted for 48.8% of the volume of these exchanges (€450m).

The Premier League posted the largest volume of paid transfers paid during the 2017 winter window (€443m). Next, in the Top 5 leagues, were Ligue 1 (€225m), the Bundesliga (€189m), the Serie A TIM (€169m) and LaLiga Santander (€64m).

The Premier League (+€51m) and LaLiga Santander (+€11m) are the only two leagues in the Top 5 to post a positive transfer…