Football Clubs Set New Transfer Spending Record in January

In January 2025, professional football clubs shattered previous records by completing 5,863 transfers with a total value of $2.35 billion, according to a report from FIFA. This marks a significant 57.9% increase compared to January 2024.

English clubs topped the spending charts, investing $621.6 million in new talent. They were followed by German clubs ($295.7 million), Italian clubs ($223.8 million), French clubs ($209.7 million), and Saudi Arabian clubs ($202.1 million).

On the receiving end, French clubs benefited the most from transfer fees, earning $371 million. German clubs secured $226.2 million, while English clubs received $186.2 million. Portuguese and Italian clubs rounded out the top five, earning $176.4 million and $162 million respectively.

The women’s football market also experienced unprecedented growth, with 455 transfers totaling $5.8 million. For the first time in women’s football history, individual transfers exceeded the $1 million mark. A notable example was Chelsea’s acquisition of US national team defender Naomi Girma for £890,000 (approximately $1.1 million).

These record-breaking figures underscore the continued financial growth and increasing global appeal of both men’s and women’s professional football.