Transfer feesEnglish soccer clubs splashed out a record €740 million in transfer fees this summer in a spending spree bankrolled by higher broadcasting fees and ambitious foreign owners.
The amount doled out by England's top four divisions, including the €36 million spent by Liverpool in signing striker Fernando Torres from Atletico Madrid, surpasses the previous record of €440 million spent in summer 2006, the report from accountancy firm Deloitte showed.
"New owners at Premier League clubs combined with the increase in broadcast payments to clubs for the 2007/08 season are key drivers of the unprecedented rise in spending," the report said.
English Premiership clubs are set to receive around €400 million of extra broadcast payments from broadcasters including Sky and Ireland-based Setanta this season, taking the grand total to €1,295 million, Deloitte estimated.
New player signings have also accelerated as foreign tycoons snapped up English clubs. US billionaire Malcolm Glazer owns Manchester United while fellow Americans George Gillett and Tom Hicks recently bought Liverpool. Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra acquired Manchester City earlier this year, while Russian oil magnate Roman Abramovich owns Chelsea.
Twelve Premier League clubs spent more than €29 million on transfers this summer, compared with just three - Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur - which spent that much last year.
Last season's champions Manchester United spent more than any other club, €75.5 million, in the run-up to the August 31st transfer deadline, followed by Liverpool who spent almost €70 million and Manchester City who spent over €60 million.
Newly promoted Sunderland spent €52 million.
Spain followed England as the top spending league, led by Real Madrid's €118 million investment in players such as Gabriel Heinze and Arjen Robben.
Top 10 Summer Spenders
1 Manchester Utd€75.5 million
2 Liverpool€69.5 million
3 Manchester City€60.5 million
4 Tottenham€58.5 million
5 Sunderland€52 million
6 West Ham€44.5 million
7 Arsenal€40 million
8 Fulham€38.5 million
9 Newcastle€37 million
9 Portsmouth€37 million
