Football: Summer 2020 Transfer Window Highlights
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The 2020 Summer Transfer Window ended at 23 00 BST on 5 October 2020, later than usual, due to the Covid-19 Pandemic.
Here are some of the highlights.
Perhaps not surprisingly, the English Premier League Clubs spent less than in the 2019 Summer Transfer Window: £1.218 billion compared with £1.376 billion, down by £158 million.
There were only 12 signings by English Premier League Clubs on the deadline day, less than last year’s signings of 18. The largest deal of the deadline day was the signing by Arsenal of the Atletico Madrid midfielder, Thomas Partey, for the sum of £45.3 million.
In the top 5 European Leagues, spending on players was significantly down compared with the previous five years’ average spending, ranging from -7% by the English Premier League Clubs to -46% in the equivalent Spanish League, La Liga.
It is also reported that spending by English Premier League Clubs was more than three times that of La Liga, Bundesliga and Ligue 1 and double that of Serie A.
In England, it will still be possible for English Premier League Clubs to buy English Football League (EFL) players until 17 00 BST on 16 October 2020.
However, English Premier League Clubs will not be able to buy players from other English Premier League Clubs during this so-called Domestic-only Transfer Window.
On the other hand, EFL Clubs will be able to sign domestic players during this Window.
Chelsea spent the most on players in the 2020 Summer Transfer Window, namely, £222 million; whereas Manchester City and Barcelona were the only European Clubs to spend more than £100 million on players, namely £141 million and £112 million respectively.
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
