Premier League clubs spent record £1.4 bn on transfers

PanARMENIAN.Net - English Premier League clubs spent a record £1.4 billion ($1.8 billion, 1.5 billion euros) on players in a summer transfer window but were still living "well within their means" according to figures published by football analysts Deloitte on Friday, September 1, according to AFP.

The window, which closed in England on Thursday, also saw teams from English football's top tier set a new deadline day spending record of £210 million.

The late splashing of cash took the league's overall transfer spending figure since the very first transfer window in January 2003 past £10 billion.

The total amount spent by Premier League clubs in this transfer window was up 23 percent on last year's record figure. Premier League clubs have also broken the record for spending in a single season (£1.430 million) and calendar year (£1.645 million).

But with several potential deals collapsing late on Thursday, the league's net spend -- the difference between the cost of players bought and sold -- was £20 million below last summer's record of £685 million.

Abu Dhabi-owned Manchester City spent the most of any Premier League club this window -- £215 million -- despite their bid for Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez falling through, with £52 million going on signing full-back Benjamin Mendy from Monaco, a world record for a defender.

They were followed by Chelsea (£180 million), Manchester United (£145 million) and Everton (£145 million).

Only four clubs -- Swansea City, Arsenal, Burnley and Stoke City -- recorded net transfer receipts.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku's £75 million move from Everton to United was the biggest single amount paid by any Premier League club for one player this window and represented more than half of the Red Devils' spending.