Global spending on men’s football transfers reached unprecedented levels last year, with clubs shelling out a record $1,308 billion (approximately ৳159,926 crore) in transfer fees. For the first time in history, annual spending on player transfers surpassed the $1 trillion mark, according to FIFA’s recently published Global Transfer Report.
The report also revealed that a total of 86,158 international transfers were completed during the year, the highest number ever recorded in a single year. This surge highlights the growing financial scale and internationalisation of professional football.
Women’s football transfers also experienced notable growth. In 2025, 2,440 transfers were registered, a 6.3% increase compared to the previous year. Clubs spent a total of $286 million (approximately ৳349.48 crore) on these transfers, marking a year-on-year rise of over 80%.
When combining both men’s and women’s football, professional and amateur, total transfer spending last year reached $1,311 billion (around ৳160,293 crore). This represents a more than 50% increase compared to 2024 and a 35.6% rise over the previous record set in 2023.
Country- and Club-Level Insights:
| Category | Country/Club | Transfers Completed | Spending (USD) | Key Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Professional | England | – | 382B | Highest spending and revenues globally |
| Men’s Professional (Sales) | England | – | 177B | Revenue from player sales |
| Men’s Professional | Italy, Germany | – | >100B | Only two countries outside England exceeded $100B |
| Player Spending | French Players | – | 167B | Clubs spent most on French talent globally |
| Player Spending | Brazilian Players | Joined: 1,190, Sold: 1,005 | 121B | Second highest in spending, top in transfers |
| Clubs | EPL Top 3 | – | – | Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea led in spending |
| Clubs | PSG | – | – | Lost top spot, currently outside UEFA’s top 20 |
England’s Premier League clubs continued to dominate transfer spending, both in purchases and revenues. They collectively spent $382 billion to acquire new players, while generating $177 billion from sales. Outside England, only Italian and German clubs exceeded the $100 billion threshold in annual spending.
In terms of player movement, Brazilian clubs led the way in total transfers, signing 1,190 players and selling 1,005, but globally, clubs invested the most in French players, spending $167 billion (around ৳20,418 crore), followed by Brazilian players at $121 billion (approximately ৳14,794 crore).
The top three highest-spending clubs are all from the English Premier League—Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. Manchester City has overtaken Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), which now falls outside the top 20 of UEFA’s rankings. Notably, 11 of the top 20 clubs by spending are English, underscoring the Premier League’s continued financial dominance in global football.
FIFA’s report underscores the escalating financial scale of men’s and women’s football alike, highlighting record-breaking spending, record numbers of transfers, and the increasing globalisation of the sport’s player market.
