Deloitte Reveals Extent Of Transfer Spend

Business analyst Deloitte has revealed that English Premier League clubs spent £485m in the 2011 summer transfer window – up 33% on last summer’s expenditure.

Last minute signings including Mikel Arteta, Raul Meireles and Peter Crouch, all costing £10m or more, increased the total spend by £120m from last year.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United between them splashed out around 66% of the total – with each club spending at least £50m on transfers this summer.

Meanwhile, Transfer fees to overseas clubs just tipped the £200m mark, 25% down on the level in summer 2010.

Of the £485m spent by Premier League teams, £165m was spent on English players – 34% of the total figure.

The summer spending is the second highest in the history of the Premier League, with clubs having spent £500m during the 2008 transfer window.

Deloitte added that clubs in the Football League have reportedly spent around £30m in summer 2011.