Record number of deals worldwide

According to FIFA's latest International Transfer Snapshot, covering the period from 1 June to 2 September, more than 12,500 transfers were completed worldwide, a record, up from 11,863 a year earlier.

English clubs once again led the spending table by a wide margin, investing more than $3.02 billion in transfer fees to sign players from clubs abroad. However, that figure is considerably less than the record Premier League outlay of £3.49 billion ($4.7 billion) reported by British media, which also includes deals between English sides.

Italian clubs ranked second with $1.1 billion, followed by Spain ($940 million), Germany ($904 million) and France ($641 million).

France tops the earnings table

On the income side, French clubs generated the most transfer revenue, receiving $1.7 billion in fees. Clubs in England collected $1.43 billion, ahead of Germany ($1.02 billion), Spain ($773 million) and Portugal ($642 million).

The World Cup effect reshapes the market

Players who featured at the 2026 World Cup generated more than $3.3 billion in international transfer fees during the window, FIFA said. More than 260 players from 47 nationalities changed clubs between June and September, accounting for over a third of the overall total.

Women's football sets new records

FIFA reported 1,406 international transfers in the women's professional game, a 19.2% increase on the previous record. Spending on international transfer fees in the women's game more than doubled compared with the corresponding 2025 window, reaching an all-time high of $28.6 million.

English clubs led in women's spending with $8 million, ahead of Spain ($6.6 million), Germany ($4.9 million), the United States ($2.9 million) and Italy ($2.1 million).