International Football Transfer Spending Hits Record $9.76B Worldwide

FIFA reported a record-breaking close-season international transfer spending of nearly $10 billion, marking a more than 50% increase compared to 2024, with almost 12,000 transfers recorded globally. The English Premier League led the market, spending over $3 billion and welcoming a record 535 incoming players, significantly outpacing Germany and Italy in transfer fees. Notable transfers included Florian Wirtz's move to Liverpool for approximately $157 million and Newcastle United's club-record signing of Nick Woltemade. Women's football also saw unprecedented growth, with over 1,100 international transfers exceeding $12 million in fees, highlighted by Lizbeth Ovalle's $1.5 million move to Orlando Pride, the highest in women's football history. FIFA's Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, Emilio Garcia Silvero, emphasized the significance of these developments in both men's and women's football, especially ahead of the FIFA World Cup 2026. The surge in transfer activity underscores the expanding global investment and growing prominence of football at both club and international levels.