FIFA: global spending on winter market transfers reaches pre-pandemic levels

Global spending on winter market transfers reached pre-pandemic levels, with more than US$1 billion (900 million euros) invested, according to a report by the FIFA.

After more than a year of caution, world football has returned to its financial habits: in January, US$ 1,030 million (902 million euros) were spent on transfers, which represents an increase of 74.7% compared to the same period of the year. last year, in the midst of a health crisis.

In 2020, just before the pandemicUS$1.16 billion were spent in January (1.015 million euros), compared to US$1.1 billion in January 2019, some (963 million euros).

“In men’s football, transfer market activity has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels,” FIFA said in a statement.

Unsurprisingly, clubs from England invested the most, with $349.5m (€306m), compared to just $75.2m (€65.9m) from their French counterparts.

After the opulent English clubs, the Italians followed with US$113 million (99 million euros) and the Spanish with US$110 million (97 million euros).

France, on the other hand, is much better positioned in terms of income during this period: French teams received US$99.2 million (86.9 million euros) in January, behind only English clubs, with US$108 million (95 million euros). of euros).

FIFA has also noted an increase in the number of transfers in women’s football, even surpassing pre-COVID-19 standards.

In January, some US$487,800 (427,000 euros) were spent on players, a record widely surpassed after the US$310,100 (272,000 euros) invested last year.

In a report published on Thursday, February 3, UEFA had estimated for its part the cost of COVID-19 in two seasons for European football at 7,000 million euros (US $ 7,991 million), underlining above all a reduction of 40 % of transfer revenue during the summer 2020, January 2021 and summer 2021 windows.