Deloitte: Premiership clubs' transfer spending down

Player transfer spending by Premier League clubs was around £450m in the summer transfer window, down 10% on 2008, according to Deloitte.

“After last summer’s record £500m of transfer spending, Premier League clubs’ spending is down 10% to £450m this summer," said Dee Jones, spokesperson for the business consultancy.

"Whilst the level of player acquisitions from other Premier League clubs matched the previous record level, the level of acquisitions from overseas clubs was around 40% down compared to each of the transfer windows in summer 2007 and 2008.

“Premier League clubs received over £110m in transfer fees from Real Madrid alone," Jones added.

"Combined with the lower level of player acquisitions from overseas clubs, Premier League clubs’ overall net transfer spending was £80m.

"This is down significantly compared to over £200m in each of the summer 2007 and 2008 transfer windows."

Net spending comprised £8m to overseas clubs and £72m to Football League clubs.”

Manchester City’s transfer spending has been a key driver of the overall level of spending in summer 2009, Deloitte said, with the club’s acquisitions of around £120m representing 27% of total spending.

Each of Aston Villa, Liverpool, Sunderland and Tottenham Hotspur has reportedly spent more than £25m on player acquisitions in the summer transfer window.