FIFA Reports Record High of $9.63bn Spent by Clubs on International Transfers in 2023

The Global Transfer Report published by FIFA revealed that clubs worldwide spent a record $9.63 billion on international transfers in 2023, marking a significant increase of nearly 50% compared to the previous year. This surge in spending comes after a couple of years of decreased transfer outlays due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

English clubs led the way in spending, setting a new high of $2.96 billion, with Saudi Arabian clubs also making a significant impact on the international transfer market, spending a total of $970 million in 2023 compared to just $50.4 million in 2022. This increase in spending from Saudi Arabian clubs was largely influenced by the marquee signing of Cristiano Ronaldo, which saw several players move to the Middle East.

Germany was the top recipient of transfer fees, receiving almost $1.21 billion, while France, England, and Italy also joined Germany in receiving more than $1 billion in transfer fees. Some of the top men’s transfers included Jude Bellingham from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid and Enzo Fernández from Benfica to Chelsea.

Women’s football also saw a significant increase in international transfers, with a record outlay of $6.1 million and a total of 1,888 transfers. The biggest transfers included players moving from Wolfsburg to Manchester City, Hammarby to Arsenal, and Portland Thorns to Lyon.

Overall, the Global Transfer Report reflects the continued growth and investment in international transfers across both men’s and women’s football, marking a significant milestone for the sport.
On January 30th, 2024, at 9:41 AM ET, it was announced by FIFA, the world football’s governing body, that clubs worldwide have broken records in international transfer spending. In the year 2023, clubs spent a total of $9.63 billion on player transfers, marking nearly a 50% increase compared to the previous year. This substantial rise in spending comes after a period of decline in 2020 and 2021 due to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

English clubs led the way in spending, reaching a new high of $2.96 billion, with four countries’ associations receiving more than $1 billion in transfer fees. It is notable that clubs from Saudi Arabia have entered the top five spenders for the first time, with a total outlay of $970 million in 2023. In addition, it was revealed that Germany was the number one recipient of transfer fees in 2023, marking the first time that clubs from any one association have received more than $1 billion in transfer fees in a calendar year.

In women’s football, there has also been significant growth, with 20% more international transfers occurring in 2023 compared to the previous year. This resulted in a record 1,888 women’s transfers from a total of 131 associations. The total annual outlay for women’s transfers reached $6.1 million, representing an 84.2% increase from 2022. However, it was noted that 84.7% of the transfers were for out-of-contract women’s players.

Moreover, FIFA reported that more than 50,000 amateur players made international moves to join clubs in new associations, with the majority being male players.