English clubs spent almost £650 million in this summer transfer window – more than twice as much as any of Europe’s top five leagues – according to official figures released by FIFA’s transfer matching system.
But, despite the arrival of more than 360 new players to the top English leagues, statistics show that clubs’ spending was down two per cent on the same period last year.
Manchester City were the summer’s big spenders, shelling out more than £160m, including the initial £44m paid to Liverpool for Raheem Sterling and the £54m fee for Wolfsburg’s Kevin De Bruyne.
Spending by Spanish clubs was the next highest total at £324 million, a decrease of 23 per cent on last year, with Italy (£254m) third ahead of France (£176m) and Germany (£162m).
A survey revealed that £560 million worth of players, signed by Premier League sides over the last three seasons, were used in 50 per cent or less of the total minutes in the entire season.
Manchester United, with £117.7m, and Tottenham Hotspur, with a £100.9m outlay, topped the list of players who failed to succeed.
Manchester City (£53.3m), Liverpool (£50.4m), Arsenal (£34.3m) and Chelsea (£32.9m) also spent heavily on players who failed to deliver.
The biggest flop last season, according to the survey, was Angel Di Maria. The Argentine winger cost United £59.7m but was sold after just one season to Paris St Germain for £44m.
Other football items of interest for August in the UK:
• At Wembley, Arsenal defeat Chelsea 1-0 to win the Community Shield. It is the first time Arsene Wenger had beaten Jose Mourinho in a match.
• Liverpool fans’ incredible support for the club has been recognised with a prize at the FA Respect and Fair Play Awards.
• In a third qualifying round of the Champions League, Celtic edge Azerbaijan’s Qarabag FK 1-0 on aggregate following their home win.
• In the Europa League third round, second leg, West Ham United go down 1-3 at Romania’s Astra to bow out 3-4 on aggregate.
Other results: Vitesse Arnhem-Southampton 0-2 (0-5 over two legs), Aberdeen-K. Almaty (Kazakhstan) 1-1 (2-3).
• On the opening day of the Premier League, champions Chelsea are held to a 2-2 draw by Swansea at Stamford Bridge.
• Ricky Sbragia is named new Scotland Under-21 coach.
• In the Champions League play-offs, first leg, Manchester United topple Club Brugge 3-1 at Old Trafford. Celtic beat Malmo 3-2.
• At the same stage, but in the Europa League, Southampton draw 1-1 at home against Danes Midtylland.
Return legs: Malmo-Celtic 2-0 (Malmo win 4-3 on aggregate); Club Brugge-Manchester United 0-4 (United win 7-1 on two legs); Midtylland-Southampton (Saints bow out 1-2 on aggregate).