Transfer Record: £5.6bn Spent On Moves In 2019, Reveals Fifa

A record $7.35bn (£5.6bn) was spent on transfers in men's football during 2019, according to a report by world governing body Fifa.

The figure is an increase of more than 5.8% on 2018 when it comes to transfers across the globe.

English clubs spent £1.5bn, which was a 22.1% decrease from 2018 but still the most overall.

There was a 16.3% rise in spending in the women's games, to $652,032 (£497,000).

The United States had the most players - at almost 20% - of the 833 transfers made in the women's game.

The were 18,042 such moves - also a record - in the men's game, involving 15,463 players of 178 different nationalities.

"It is remarkable to see a new record number of transfers in the men's market," said Fifa chief legal and compliance officer Dr Emilio Garcia Silvero.

"We observe, as well, increasing all-round figures in the women's market, which is a sign of the positive overall development of women's football over the last year which we trust will continue in 2020."

Key points from the men's report

• Permanent club-to-club transfers only represented 11.6% of all moves in 2019.
• The most common type of transfer was that of players out of contract, which was 64.3%.
• Brazil had the most clubs involved in international transfers with 306. Germany (144) was second, Spain third (130) and England (128) fourth.
• Brazil also had the highest number of incoming transfers with 831, while England had the highest number from Uefa countries with 694.
• English clubs spent £1.5bn, which was a 22.1% decrease from 2018 but still the most of any country.
• In terms of net value, Portugal generated the most with £384m, with England the worst in that category with minus £549.9m.

Key points from the women's report:

• The total number of international transfers went from 696 in 2018 to 833 in 2019.
• The number of moves for players out of contract was 86.3%.
• The number of associations involved in international transfers went from 74 to 86.
• There were 188 clubs from 45 different European associations involved in 646 international transfers, which was more than three quarters of the worldwide activity.
• Players moving from Australia to the US was the most common transfer and switches the other way around was the second most popular.
• Spain had the most number of incoming transfers with 104, with the US (72) second and England (57) in third.