Premier League clubs smash summer transfer spending record

LONDON – The Premier League has ​smashed its summer spending record for a second successive season, with outlay by England’s top-flight ‌clubs reaching around £3.46 billion ($4.67 billion).

The spending spree continued right up to the final hours of the transfer window on Tuesday, with several more big-money deals completed before the 11 p.m. deadline.

Manchester City capped their spending by signing Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez from Chelsea ​for a reported British record-equalling £125 million on Tuesday. They also signed Senegal winger Iliman Ndiaye from Everton for a ​reported £65 million.

Last summer, the combined spending of the league’s 20 clubs breached the £3 billion barrier ⁠for the first time. Five years ago, the total stood at £1.13 billion.

In addition to Fernandez, three other transfers ​breached the £100 million mark during the window.

City signed midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, Morgan Rogers ​switched from Aston Villa to Chelsea for £117 million and Liverpool agreed to pay an initial £107 million to Paris St Germain for France forward Bradley Barcola with that deal likely to rise to £123 million.

Tottenham Hotspur also broke their club transfer record to sign ​Sandro Tonali from Newcastle United in a deal that could reach £100 million.

Of the 11 most expensive signings in ​Premier League history, four — Fernandez, Anderson, Rogers and Barcola — have arrived this summer.

Aston Villa also announced their 11th signing of the window with ‌the £47 ⁠million purchase of Senegal winger Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG, while Newcastle paid £51.4 million to bring in forward Matias Fernandez-Pardo from Lille.

The trend for clubs to buy from English top-flight rivals continues to rise with around 38 per cent of deals made between Premier League clubs — up from 30 per cent last summer.

City led the way with £458 million in spending as ​new manager Enzo Maresca assembled ​his first squad, while ⁠Chelsea also spent heavily, shelling out £349 million to back new boss Xabi Alonso.

Tottenham splashed out £303 million as they rebuild after two successive seasons close to being relegated.

According ​to website Transfermarkt, promoted trio Ipswich, Coventry City and Hull City spent more than ​a combined £400 ⁠million to prepare themselves for life in the top flight.

Sunderland landed highly rated Belgian winger Malick Fofana, 21, from Olympique Lyonnais in a reported £30 million deal after beating Crystal Palace to his signature.
Some deals failed to go through on ⁠deadline ​day.

British media reported that Everton’s move for Folarin Balogun collapsed after the US ​striker decided against proceeding with the transfer, while Senegal midfielder Lamine Camara remained at Monaco after his reported £47.1 million move to Chelsea fell ​through.