Brazil’s reputation as a source of top soccer talent was underlined yesterday by a report showing that Brazilians were the most heavily traded players on the international transfer market last year.

Clubs spent a total of $2.53 billion on recruiting players from other countries, down 10 per cent on the previous year, according to a study by FIFA’s Transfer Matching System (TMS).

It was too early to say whether the global economic crisis or pressure on clubs to curb losses was dampening the market, TMS General Manager Marc Goddard said, adding that the TMS survey of the market was only in its second year.

Teams from England, where the Premier League enjoys the world’s most lucrative television deals, were the biggest net spenders, paying out $314 million in 2012.

The next three highest spenders were less predictable – Russia ($256 million), Turkey ($78 million) and China ($49 million) – showing the growing influence of these fast-developing economies on the soccer world.

English teams also paid out the highest fees to middlemen involved in brokering transfers. Where agents were involved in deals, the average commission paid by clubs around the globe was 28 per cent.

Brazilian clubs were the biggest beneficiaries of transfer spending, reaping $121 million. Brazil have won the World Cup a record five times and the country has a history of exporting top players.

Oscar, who joined Chelsea from Internacional last July, was one of almost 1,500 players with Brazilian nationality involved in international transfers last year.

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