Record spending reaches £3.46 billion
Premier League clubs have shattered their summer transfer spending record for a second successive season, with England's top-flight teams spending around £3.46 billion ($4.67 billion) in a window that featured a string of blockbuster deals, as reported by The Economic Times and Sports Mole.
The total surpassed the previous record of £3.14 billion set last summer, according to figures provided to BBC Sport by com founder Paul Macdonald. The spending frenzy went down to the final hours of the transfer window on Tuesday, with several big-money moves completed before the 11 m. deadline, and £475 million was spent on deadline day alone.
The latest spending record comes just a year after Premier League clubs first crossed the £3 billion mark, while total summer outlay stood at just £1.13 billion five years ago, according to both outlets.
Manchester City lead the way
Manchester City capped their summer spree by signing Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea for a reported £125 million, matching the British transfer record. City also brought in Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for a reported £65 million.
City ended the window as the biggest spenders, with their outlay reaching £458 million after completing the Fernandez deal, setting a new Premier League record for a single summer and surpassing Liverpool's £415 million from last year. City did, however, recoup £304 million through player sales, according to Sports Mole.
Chelsea and other big spenders
Chelsea were the second-highest spenders at £349 million, as they backed new boss Xabi Alonso. Their £382 million in sales actually left them with a £33 million net profit, according to Sports Mole.
Tottenham spent £302 million, Liverpool spent £198 million, and Arsenal spent £194 million. Tottenham Hotspur also broke their club transfer record by signing Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £100 million, as reported by The Economic Times.
Newly promoted Ipswich were also among the biggest spenders, with an outlay of £171 million reported. The promoted trio of Ipswich, Coventry City, and Hull City spent more than £400 million between them, according to The Economic Times.
Record-breaking deals
Four of the five most expensive deals in Premier League history were completed this summer, with Fernandez joining City, Elliot Anderson moving to City for £116 million, Morgan Rogers joining Chelsea for £117 million, and Liverpool paying up to £123 million for Bradley Barcola. Liverpool agreed to pay an initial £107 million for France winger Barcola from Paris St Germain, according to both outlets.
Fernandez was one of four players to command fees of more than £100 million during the window, and four of the 11 most expensive signings in Premier League history — Fernandez, Anderson, Rogers, and Barcola — have arrived during this summer's window.
Other notable moves
Aston Villa announced their 11th signing of the window with the £47 million purchase of Ibrahim Mbaye from Paris St Germain, according to The Economic Times. Around 38% of deals involved two top-flight sides, up from 30% last summer.
Sunderland beat Crystal Palace to the signing of Malick Fofana from Olympique Lyonnais in a reported £30 million deal, while Everton's move for Folarin Balogun collapsed after the US striker decided against proceeding, as reported by The Economic Times.