Premier League breaks summer transfer spending record for 2nd straight year

English Premier League clubs set a new summer transfer spending record for the second consecutive year, with total outlays reaching approximately $4.57 billion (£3.46 billion), figures showed Wednesday.

A total of $627 million (£475 million) was spent on deadline day alone, up from $516 million (£391 million) last year, according to BBC Sport.

Premier League spending had already surpassed $4 billion before Manchester City completed the signing of Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for an initial $79 million (£60 million) on deadline day, pushing the total beyond last year’s previous record of $4.14 billion (£3.14 billion).

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez then completed a move to Manchester City for a British-record $165 million (£125 million) fee shortly after the transfer window closed, further extending the spending record.

The summer window also featured three of the 10 most expensive transfers in football history, all involving Premier League clubs. Four of the five most expensive deals ever completed by English top-flight clubs were also made during the window.

Fernandez’s transfer topped the list, surpassing Manchester City’s $153 million (£116 million) deal for Nottingham Forest midfielder Elliot Anderson earlier in the window.

Chelsea paid $155 million (£117 million) for Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers, while Liverpool agreed an initial $140 million (£106 million) deal for Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Bradley Barcola, with the fee potentially rising to $162 million (£123 million).

Tottenham Hotspur also made a series of major investments, with their acquisition of Sandro Tonali potentially reaching $132 million (£100 million).

The north London club also paid $112 million (£85 million) for Mateus Fernandes from West Ham United and $99 million (£75 million) for Savio from Manchester City, with the latter deal potentially rising to $112 million (£85 million).

Other major transfers included Manchester City’s $113 million (£85.6 million) move for Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, Arsenal’s $99 million (£75 million) signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United and Manchester United’s $92 million (£70 million) deal for Cameroon midfielder Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion.