EPL Breaks Transfer Spending Record In Late Deal Flurry

LONDON, Sept 2 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- The English Premier League set a new record for transfer spending as the window closed with a flurry of deals, reported PA Media/dpa.

More than half of the top flight clubs broke their transfer records in a summer window featuring four of the most expensive signings ever.

The final two days of the window pushed summer spending significantly beyond last season’s record of £3.14 billion (US$4.25 billion), with confirmed figures exceeding £3.3 billion (US$4.5 billion).

Liverpool first spent an initial £106 million (US$143 million), potentially rising to £123 million (US$166 million), on Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola.

Manchester City then signed Elliot Anderson and another nine-figure midfielder, former Chelsea star Enzo Fernandez, whose £125 million (US$169 million) move matched the British record set 12 months ago by Alexander Isak.

Earlier in the summer, England internationals Anderson and Morgan Rogers joined Manchester City and Chelsea for £116 million (US$157 million) and £117 million (US$158 million), respectively.

Sandro Tonali's move from Newcastle to Tottenham has the potential to become a fifth £100 million-plus (US$135 million-plus) deal this summer, with the initial £92.5 million (US$125 million) marking the second time Spurs have broken their club record, coming hot on the heels of Mateus Fernandes' £85 million (US$115 million) arrival from West Ham.

Savio's £75 million (US$101 million) switch from City slotted into third on Spurs' all-time list, with manager Roberto De Zerbi admitting, “The transfer market is crazy” – reflecting a league-wide summer of spending.

Eleven clubs in all have broken their transfer records, six of them on more than one occasion.

Coventry have done so four times, signing Aurele Amenda for an initial £15.4 million (US$20.8 million) before Loum Tchaouna became their first-ever £20 million (US$27 million) signing.

Carl Rushworth then made his loan move permanent for a £22.5 million (US$30.4 million) fee, before Caleb Yirenkyi nudged the record up to £23.1 million (US$31.2 million).

Three clubs broke their transfer records to sign goalkeepers, with James Trafford costing Leeds £40 million (US$54 million).

At Hull, Konstantinos Tsolakis’ move was subsequently overtaken by Nobel Mendy's £22 million (US$30 million) arrival, while Carl Rushworth’s permanent move to Coventry also set a club record.

Aston Villa and Ipswich are the other clubs to have broken their respective records twice, while Mamadou Sangare (Brentford), Luka Vuskovic (Brighton) and Liam Delap (Nottingham Forest) were all £40 million-plus (US$54 million-plus) club-record signings.

There have been nine moves worth an initial £75 million (US$101 million) or more, with a list completed by City and Arsenal midfielders Ayyoub Bouaddi and Bruno Guimaraes.

There were also £65 million (US$88 million) moves for Carlos Baleba to Manchester United and Nicolas Jackson to Aston Villa.

On the other side of the balance sheet, Newcastle raised more than £235 million (US$318 million) from the sales of Tonali, Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon while Villa banked £50 million-plus (US$67 million-plus) fees from the sales of Ezri Konsa and Ollie Watkins, in addition to Rogers’ move to Chelsea.

-- BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa