The Spanish summer transfer window is not over yet, but Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid have set a new record for transfer spending in this year’s summer window with $340million, $263million, and $222million on players respectively – more than two/thirds of LaLiga total.
Based on an analysis of information from TransferMarkt.com and FIFA’s TMS system, LaLiga teams have spent $1.209billion on new players this summer, up 24% from a year ago, which was also a record.
In the last eight years, LaLiga teams have increased spending by over $822million from $386.7million in the summer of 2011.
It is quite possible that by the time the summer transfer window closes byn September 2, LaLiga clubs will beat the $1.462billion spent by Premier League teams in the summer of 2018.
Neymar from PSG to Barcelona alone would get LaLiga within touching distance of the 2018 Premier League mark.
The Premier League is lagging in transfer spending this summer. To date, transfer spending by Premier League teams is a little under $850million and the biggest spender so far is newly promoted Aston Villa at $106million.
Premier League teams also have less time to buy new players as their transfer window closes on August 8, less than four weeks away.
The most money ever spent by Premier League teams in a summer transfer window was 2017 – $1.465billion.
In the summer of 2011, the Premier League spent less than LaLiga – $334million to $386million.
As well as spending more, LaLiga teams are also pocketing more from selling players. To date, LaLiga has pocketed $865million from transfers the previous high was $795million in the summer of 2017.
The present net transfer spend is also a record for LaLiga – a negative balance of $344million. The previous high was $240million set a year ago.
Real Madrid leads all of Europe having spent $210million ($340million spent less $130million) more than it has received. There are, however, strong indications that Real Madrid has some more business left to do and more players will arrive and leave.
Barcelona is running a summer transfer deficit of $143million while Sevilla makes it into the top ten with a negative balance of $71million.
Atlético Madrid bucks the LaLiga trend and are one of only three Spanish top flight teams so far to have taken in more than they have spent this summer. Atlético have a positive balance of $166million; SD Eibar $9million; Villarreal $46million.
Atlético have already sold Lucas Hernandez to Bayern Munich for $90million – the most expensive export from LaLiga this summer; Antoine Griezmann to Barcelona for $136million; Rodri to Manchester City for $80million.
