Transfer system and the Premier League

While a consultation was opened following the regulatory changes requested by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the context of the ‘Diarra’ case, the 481st CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post presents the financial statements* of the transfer operations carried out over the last decade by the clubs of the world’s main leagues.

The analysis highlights the Premier League’s unique status as a provider of funds for teams around the world.

The clubs in England’s top flight have indeed accumulated a net deficit of €11.6 billion over the last ten years, far more than the two other leagues with the most negative balance sheets: the Saudi Pro League (-€1.8 billion) and Italy’s Serie A (-€1.5 billion).

In contrast, the Portuguese Primeira Liga is the competition whose clubs have financially most benefited from transfer deals over the last ten years (+€2.4 billion), ahead of the Dutch Eredivisie, the Brasileirão and the English Championship (all around +€1.5 billion).

Any future drop in transfer fees could therefore mainly affect teams in these leagues.

* The figures published include fixed transfer fees, any add-ons regardless of whether they have actually been paid, as well as sums paid in the context of paying loans. Within the limits of available information, the data on beneficiaries considers sell-on fees negotiated by previous clubs.

>>> Full data

>>> More data, including for clubs, in this report

About the CIES Football Observatory

The CIES Football Observatory is a research group created in 2005 within the Swiss-based Centre International d’Étude du Sport (CIES). It specialises in the statistical analysis of football, in particular in the areas of demographics, transfer values and performance (technical, tactical, physical).

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About the CIES

The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) is an independent study centre located in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. It was created in 1995 as a joint venture between the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the University of Neuchâtel, the City and State of Neuchatel. 

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