European clubs break €10 billion transfer barrier: record summer spending up 8%

European football has shattered its own financial ceiling. Clubs across the continent broke through the €10 billion mark on transfers during the latest summer window, an unprecedented figure that represents an 8% increase over the previous year. At the same time, clubs generated €10.3 billion from player sales, up 7% from the prior summer and 45% higher than in 2024, according to UEFA's 'Landscape of talent and competitions in European clubs' report published on Friday.

• Transfer spending hit €10 billion, a record figure that grew 8% year on year.
• Clubs brought in €10.3 billion from sales, up 45% from two years earlier.
• 52% of the world's total transfer value involved at least one English club.
• More than half of all money spent went on players aged 23 or under.
• The average cost of a player joining the Premier League now stands at €24 million.

A summer of all-time records in spending and income

UEFA's annual study analyzes more than 700 teams and paints a picture of an increasingly inflated market. Including the winter window, first-division clubs spent €10.8 billion over the full calendar year, a figure equal to 35% of the revenue generated during the previous season. In that same period, European clubs earned €6.8 billion in net profit from transfer activity.

Overpaying has become a constant feature. Comparing prices paid against the market values tracked by Transfermarkt, clubs shelled out an average of 9% above the estimated valuation of each player this summer. The trend is uneven: English and Scottish clubs paid 21% over the odds, while Saudi teams led the excess at 28%.

The Premier League, the market's insatiable engine

English football is not just maintaining its financial dominance, it is expanding it. More than half of the total value of transfers completed worldwide involved at least one English club. England's own domestic market grew by nearly €700 million and, for the first time, accounted for 60% of the global economic activity in domestic player movements.

Signing players for the Premier League has also never been more expensive. The average cost of a player arriving in the English top flight reached €24 million, 8% more than a year ago. Average transfer fees rose in 12 of the 20 most relevant markets, confirming a widespread inflation in player valuations.

Young players and academy talent: the new goldmine

The emphasis on emerging talent defines a new era. A record €1.2 billion was invested in young players, while 56% of the total transfer spending went to footballers aged 23 or under. Clubs have realized that resale value and future development are the business's greatest allies.

Academy products are also decisive for the balance sheet. Sales of homegrown players generated €2.2 billion, accounting for 27% of the summer market's total profits. Although that share is down from 32% the previous year, when academies brought in €2.3 billion, it remains an essential source of funding for many clubs.

Record squad rotation and Spanish managers in demand

European football has never used so many players. A total of 21,000 footballers featured in top-division leagues during the 2025-26 season, a 10% increase over the past decade. The least-used squad members play only 20% of cup minutes, 10% in UEFA competitions and 9% in domestic leagues, underlining the growing polarization of squads.

The dugout is also in a state of constant flux. The last campaign recorded 738 coaching changes, with dismissals up 3% compared to 2024-25. Two-thirds of clubs changed their manager at least once. Turkish teams were the most unstable, with 28 changes, while Danish clubs opted for continuity with only 8. Notably, 76% of newly appointed coaches had been out of work for less than a year, proof of how quickly the market recycles managers.

Among coaches, Spanish managers have become the most sought-after export: 74 of them currently lead first or second-division clubs in other European countries. Italians and Croats follow as the next most exported nationalities.

Stadium attendance reaches new heights

Commercial success has not dampened passion in the stands, rather the opposite. At least 242 million fans attended club and national team matches during the season. Top-division leagues drew 116 million spectators, up 1.4% from the previous campaign, making 2025-26 the third consecutive season above 110 million.

Growing attendances in England, Spain and Germany confirm, according to UEFA, that the appetite for live experiences is stronger than ever despite the proliferation of broadcasts and online content. Nineteen clubs passed the one-million spectator mark: six in England, five in Germany, three in Italy, three in Spain, and one each in France and Scotland.

The competitive map is widening too. A total of 1,240 different teams have played in their country's top flight over the past decade, six won their first national league title in 2025-26, and 91 clubs that were not in the top tier reached at least the quarter-finals of their domestic cup.