Premier League breaks record for spending in summer transfer window

The summer transfer window shut on Tuesday 1st September. More crazy spending in the window with Manchester City twice breaking their own transfer record, first paying £116m for Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest before eclipsing that with £125m for Enzo Fernandez on transfer deadline day from Chelsea. Liverpool paid £123m to sign Bradley Barcola from PSG, Chelsea signed Morgan Rogers for £117m from Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur forked out £100m for Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United as the window saw no less than 5 £100m+ transfers. Ridiculous really and it does beg the question of how long the PL clubs will be able to continue paying such figures?

One big difference from previous windows though has been the number of transfers between PL clubs. For many years PL clubs have been reluctant to do business with each other for fear of strengthening a direct rival but this summer saw a big increase in inter-PL transfers which means that a lot of the money spent remains within the PL rather than going abroad, which is a good thing.

Can the clubs afford it is another pertinent question. The answer will differ from club to club. The financial regulations brought in and tightened up over recent years are designed to ensure that clubs do not spend beyond their means but I do wonder how successful these measures have been. When you see a newly promoted club such as Hull City, who are a club of modest size, spend over £100m you do wonder how much they are gambling their future on managing to stay in the PL. Clubs that have successfully established themselves in the PL may say it was worth the gamble but other clubs have suffered relegation and found themselves in financial difficulties. Not just promoted clubs either. 2015/16 Champions Leicester City were competitive for a number of seasons but found themselves in deep trouble after suffering an unexpected relegation even with the parachute payments that relegated clubs receive. They could not sustain their high salary bill, their best players left and were not replaced with players of comparable quality. It became a downward spiral that has seen them now fall into League One. Hull City look to be trying to replicate what Sunderland did last season by bringing in a raft of new players that they hope will gel and be good enough to keep them in the top flight. Sunderland bought extremely well. Whether Hull have done as well will be seen in due course but if they were to fall straight back to the Championship, what happens then?

It all feels like the Stock Market. Lots of speculation, and chances taken in an attempt to achieve success. The Stock Market crashes from time to time. The PL has yet to do so but surely it only a matter of time unless a transfer fees become more realistic.

Of course, the money available to successful clubs in the Champions League, sponsorship, increase in global interest, increase in merchandise sales etc etc etc will mean that many clubs will says it was worth it. The money that Manchester City will ultimately earn should they win the CL will probably outweigh the expenditure on Anderson and Fernandez, with the club saying the success they helped to bring justifies the cost. Perhaps it does. They will also point to their net spend which is around the £150m mark. Lots made of how much each club spends but net spend is rarely published. Chelsea spent £375m but brought in around £500m. They actually made a profit. Extraordinary.

Anyway, the transfer window is now closed so we can get on with the actual football. Week 2 of the PL season saw 32 goals scored, 2 more than in week 1 which itself was a good week for goals. Manchester City won on Friday evening, 4-1 away to Crystal Palace, to move top at this early stage with a maximum 6 points and throw the gauntlet down to defending champions Arsenal. The Gunners responded with a typical gritty performance as they ran out 1-0 winners at Villa Park to also move onto 6 points and move into 2nd place. Hull City and Chelsea also maintained their 100% opening to the season, the Tigers beating fellow promoted side Coventry City 1-0 at the CBS Arena, the Blues winning a 7 goal thriller 4-3 at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. Hull have yet to concede a goal, Chelsea have shipped 5 in the opening two matches. Different ways to reach 2 wins from 2 matches.

At the other end of the table, 5 clubs are still looking for their first point, namely Fulham, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and bottom club Tottenham Hotspur. All have suffered back-to-back defeats to open the new season. In Aston Villa’s case, I think I saw a stat that said they are still awaiting their first shot on target this season which, if true, is extraordinary. Things can surely only improve for them and the other 4 clubs.

There were welcomne first wins for Newcastle United, Sunderland and Manchester United while Liverpool were held to their second 2-2 draw, the latest against Nottingham Forest at Anfield, the Tricky Trees gaining their first point.

Leeds United and Brentford, AFC Bournemouth and Everton all shared the points, both matches ending 1-1.

Another full schedule this coming weekend, Liverpool’s trip to Portman Road to face Ipswich Town starting it all off on Friday, KO 20.00.

Premier League Prediction Competition 2026

Nick stormed to POTW success in week 2 with an impressive 48 points ahead of John F with 32. Those 48 points were also good enough for Nick to leapfrog John F at the top of the overall table, Nick now leading on 81 points ahead of John F on 73 with Helen third on 58 but still 3 weeks to come in Session 1.

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