A FIFA report on international transfers revealed that Manchester City topped the list of clubs with the highest spending during 2025, while Wolverhampton came in seventh place.
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According to the report, highlighted by The Athletic, football clubs’ spending on international transfers has increased by more than 50% compared to 2024. This represents a historic leap reflecting the accelerating growth in the global transfer market.
FIFA explained in its global report released on Wednesday that clubs spent a total of $13.08 billion (£9.5 billion) on international transfers during 2025. This is an increase of 52.3% compared to spending in 2024, which amounted to $8.59 billion (£6.23 billion).
The report noted that the term “international transfers” is limited to deals between clubs belonging to different national associations. Therefore, it does not include domestic transfers within the same country.
Consequently, deals such as Alexander Isak’s transfer from Newcastle United to Liverpool and Eberechi Eze’s move from Crystal Palace to Arsenal were not included. Similarly, Manchester United’s signings of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford were also not counted among the clubs with the highest spending on international transfers.
English dominance on the list of highest-spending clubs
Premier League clubs continue to dominate the list of biggest spenders, occupying eight spots in the top ten.
Manchester City topped the list, followed by Liverpool and Arsenal, then Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig from the German Bundesliga.
Newly promoted Sunderland finished sixth in the Premier League, one place ahead of Wolverhampton.
Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest completed the top ten.
Manchester United’s decline and absence from the top positions
In contrast, Manchester United dropped two places to 15th, following international signings that included Patrick D’Orgo, Benjamin Sissoko and Sean Lammens.
Old Trafford ranks second globally in terms of revenue generated, behind French club Strasbourg, which is owned by the same Blueco group that also owns Chelsea.
Italian side Como, promoted to Serie A in 2024, finished eleventh, ahead of Real Madrid, while Barcelona failed to make the top 20.
Newcastle United recorded the biggest jump in the world rankings, advancing 309 places to occupy the nineteenth position.
Liverpool’s most expensive international signings in 2025
The report revealed that Liverpool’s deals for Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen and Hugo Ekiteke from Eintracht Frankfurt were the most expensive international transfers in 2025. The first deal was worth £116 million, while the second cost £79 million. These were followed by the transfers of Benjamin Sissoko, Nick Waltmead, and Martin Zubimendi.
England leads countries in spending on international transfers
At the national level, English clubs spent $3.82 billion in 2025, topping the list of highest-spending countries. They were followed by Germany and Italy, whose clubs also exceeded the $1 billion mark in spending.
Regarding incoming fees, English clubs received $1.77 billion in revenue from international transfers.
A new record in women’s football spending
Women’s football also set a new spending record, with total spending on international transfers reaching $28.6 million in 2025. This represented an increase of over 80% compared to the previous year.
