Men’s Football Transfers Reach All-Time High Of $13bn, FIFA Says
Global spending on international player transfers in men’s football surged to an all-time high of $13.08 billion (€10.9 billion) in 2025, according to the latest FIFA Global Transfer Market Report released on Wednesday.
FIFA revealed that a record 86,158 international transfers were completed across men’s football during the year, underlining the continued commercial expansion of the global game despite ongoing financial sustainability debates.
When combined with women’s football—both professional and amateur—the total transfer outlay climbed to $13.11 billion, representing more than a 50 per cent increase on 2024 spending and a 35.6 per cent jump above the previous record set in 2023.
While men’s football dominated overall expenditure, women’s football also recorded significant growth. A total of 2,440 international transfers were completed in the women’s game, a 6.3 per cent rise year-on-year, with spending reaching $28.6 million, marking an increase of over 80 per cent compared to the previous year.
In men’s professional football, English clubs once again led the global market, emerging as both the biggest spenders and top earners from transfer activity. Clubs from England spent a combined $3.82 billion on incoming players, while receiving $1.77 billion from outgoing transfers—further reinforcing the Premier League’s financial dominance.
Brazilian clubs topped the charts in transfer volume, recording 1,190 incoming and 1,005 outgoing international transfers, reflecting the country’s continued role as a major talent hub in world football.
In terms of nationality, French players commanded the highest transfer fees, with clubs spending $1.67 billion to secure their services, followed by Brazilian players at $1.21 billion.
At club level, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea emerged as the three biggest spenders globally, all from the English Premier League. Notably, reigning UEFA Champions League holders Paris Saint-Germain dropped out of the top 20 spending clubs, with the list dominated by 11 English teams, highlighting the Premier League’s overwhelming financial influence.
FIFA said the figures reflect both the growing commercial power of football and the increasing internationalisation of the transfer market, as clubs continue to compete aggressively for elite talent.