Premier League is leading the world of football when it comes to financial muscle, and the transfer market is where this strength is most evident.
Although Premier League clubs are not the only ones to participate in the 2022 summer transfer window, their impact in the transfer window demonstrate their readiness to make significant investments where they are needed.
Leading English teams like Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Manchester United have all opened their wallets to sign players in the hopes of converting money into on-field success.
The 2022 summer transfer window has already seen the exchange of billions of euros in some of the most significant transactions ever.
There is little evidence to suggest that spending at the top level of the game is about to be cut, despite the financial uncertainty that many clubs have experienced due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the long-term effects from that, with the Premier League alone recording over €1.4 billion in transfer fees paid.
Which other league, excluding the English Premier League, spent more during the transfer window in 2022?
Here, we’ll examine which of the top 6 leagues spend the most money:
English Premier League
So far in the 2022 summer transfer window, Premier League clubs have already spent more than €1.56 Billion on players. This summer’s Premier League expenditure is probably going to set a record high because it is more than half what was spent during each of the previous five summer transfer windows.
In recent seasons, there have been significant tales involving the top two teams: Erling Haaland moved to Man City, Sadio Mane left Liverpool, but Mohamed Salah stayed at Anfield, and Gabriel Jesus joined Arsenal.
Transfer speculations have already been rife this summer. Chelsea and Manchester United have recently begun to create headlines with their desperate pursuits of transfer targets.
Italian Serie A
Serie A clubs spent €621.13 million on new transfers. The January 2022 transfer window saw a net increase in spending of €150.96 million due to player sales, the highest amount since 2018.
In the summer and winter transfer markets, Serie A outspent all of Europe. The amount spent in Serie A is at its highest level since 2012 but not in the summer of 2022.
German Bundesliga
Despite losing out on key players in the league, the German Bundesliga club spent a total of €471.38 million during the summer transfer window. Can the league function without Robert Lewandowski and Erling Haaland?
The world’s top Polish striker was acquired by Barca because they needed one. He is a truly elite addition and will give them a couple of strong years at 33.
Dortmund agreed to a release clause when they acquired one of the greatest young strikers in the world from FC Salzburg in 2020, so there wasn’t much they could have done to keep him when Manchester City came knocking.
French Ligue 1
Ligue 1 spent €417.56 million on transfers in 2021–2022. This features Leo Messi, the best player in football, and four-time UCL champion Sergio Ramos. By bringing in top players from Europe, Ligue 1 is attempting to improve the caliber of matches.
Other clubs in France are enlisting players who will enable them to compete with PSG for the crown. The total amount spent on players in Ligue 1 after the summer and winter transfer windows of 2021 and 2022 is €464.84 million (summer & January windows combined).
Spanish La Liga
Every year, the LaLiga transfer window runs from July 1 to August 31. The most anticipated move in the 2021 European soccer market was Lionel Messi’s switch from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain after about 20 years.
La Liga teams have spent a total of £412.29 million on transfer expenses.
Barcelona were the busiest in this summer transfer window as they prepare to wrestle the La Liga title away from the defending champions and their arc-rivals, Real Madrid.
| Leagues | Spending |
| Premier League | €1.56 Billion |
| Italian Serie A | €621.13 million |
| German Bundesliga | €471.38 million |
| French Ligue 1 | €417.56 million |
| Spanish La Liga | €241 million |
