Clubs Spend $9.89bn In Record-Breaking Transfer Window — FIFA

The global football transfer market has reached a new record, with clubs spending more than $9.89 billion on international transfer fees during the 2026 mid-year transfer window.

The figures, released by FIFA in its International Transfer Snapshot covering June 1 to September 2, showed that men’s professional football recorded more than 12,500 international transfers, also a new high for a mid-year window.

The spending was boosted by activity following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which ended in July. FIFA said 267 players from 47 nationalities who participated in the tournament changed clubs during the transfer period, with their transfers generating more than $3.3 billion in combined fees.

English clubs were the biggest spenders, investing more than $3.02 billion in transfer fees. They were followed by clubs from Italy, which spent about $1.1 billion, while Spanish clubs spent $940 million.

German clubs ranked fourth with $904 million, followed by French clubs with $641 million.

On the receiving side, French clubs generated the highest total value from transfer fees, taking in $1.7 billion. English clubs followed with $1.43 billion, while German clubs received $1.02 billion. Spanish clubs earned $773 million and Portuguese clubs $642 million.

Several high-profile players who represented their countries at the tournament secured major moves after their performances on football’s biggest stage. FIFA said the World Cup had created new opportunities for players and contributed to the surge in transfer activity.

FIFA’s previous mid-year report recorded $9.76 billion in men’s transfer spending in 2025, meaning the 2026 figure represents another increase.

Women’s football also recorded significant growth during the latest window, continuing its rapid expansion. International transfers reached 1,406, while clubs spent a record $28.6 million on transfer fees, more than double the previous year’s figure.

English clubs again led women’s spending, followed by Spain, Germany, the United States and Italy.

Overall, FIFA’s latest figures show that the transfer market continues to expand in both value and activity, with the 2026 World Cup playing an important role in driving international movement and investment across global football.

The market’s growth reflects football’s expanding commercial reach worldwide across major football markets.