CIES data charts England’s dominant fuelling of the global transfer market

Football money

February 26 – England is the dominant force in the world transfer market according to the latest report from the CIES Football Observatory which shows €75 billion was earned by clubs worldwide with about two-thirds from international transfers and the rest from domestic ones.

The report points that for many countries England is the main funder of international transfers.

“Among the associations whose clubs received the most indemnities between 2014 and 2023, this is notably the case for the Netherlands (38% of total transfer revenue was generated from England), France (32%), Germany (31%), Spain (30%), Portugal (30%), Belgium (25%) and Italy (14%). Brazil (Spain) and Argentina (Italy) are the only exceptions,” finds the report.

The study shows that teams from only three countries other than England collected less money from foreign clubs than from domestic ones: China (22%), Mexico (44%) and Italy (48%).

Incredibly, the statistics reveal that English football clubs have paid more money for Ligue 1 players since 2014 than French clubs have: €2.58 billion against €2.14 billion. The Netherlands, Portugal and Belgium also have the same pattern, with England actually out-buying clubs in their own domestic league.

CIES’s report analysed the origin of transfer revenues collected by clubs worldwide between 2014 and 2023 according to their parent association. The study presents data that reveals over €75bn was earned by clubs from around the world during that period: approximately two-thirds from international transfers and the rest from domestic ones.

To see the full report click here.

Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1734947125labto1734947125ofdlr1734947125owedi1734947125sni@g1734947125niwe.1734947125yrrah1734947125