How much did Premier League clubs spend on agent fees in 2023?

James Shearman

• Updated: 14 Dec 2023 22:29 GMT
• 3 min read

Premier League clubs spent over £200 million on agent fees linked to international transfers in 2023, according to a new FIFA report.

The report reveals that agents earned over £700m worldwide from such deals, with the English top-flight contributing a larger percentage than any other division.

Indeed, Saudi Arabian clubs were the second-highest spenders at close to £70m.

This is a clear indication that agents are earning far more than ever during the transfer windows.

Plus, these figures only reflect international transfers, not those where players move to clubs in the same country.

In the case of the Premier League, this excludes lucrative deals such as Moises Caicedo to Chelsea and Declan Rice to Arsenal.

The Football Association were keen to introduce caps on agent fees this year but they had to be scrapped as a tribunal ruled them anti-competitive.

Premier League clubs to spend big in January

In January 2023, English top-flight clubs spent more than double the rest of Europe's top five leagues combined.

And the January 2024 transfer window, which opens in just over a fortnight, is set to provide us with many more expensive transfers.

Chelsea and Arsenal are in the market for a top-class centre forward, with the likes of Dusan Vlahovic, Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney and Lois Openda shortlisted by both teams.

Manchester United are looking to bring in at least four new players in January; a right winger, a centre back, a defensive midfielder and a number eight, as per reports.

Tottenham need more depth in their squad and will likely sign a centre-back at the very least.

Newcastle, meanwhile, have an injury crisis and may bring more bodies in. A centre midfielder to replace the suspended Sandro Tonali is a necessity.