UEFA has warned about growing financial disparities in the football transfer market, with English clubs continuing to exert significant influence over the transfer market in Europe and around the world.
In its latest European Club Talent and Competition Landscape report, UEFA revealed that European men’s clubs spent more than €10 billion during the 2026 summer transfer window. That figure represents an 8% increase compared with 2025 and is 43% higher than the pre-Covid-19 spending peak recorded in 2019.
The report shows that English clubs accounted for 52% of the total value of transfer deals worldwide, while transfers between English clubs alone reached an estimated €2.2 billion. For the first time, England’s domestic market accounted for 60% of the value of all domestic transfer activity worldwide.
UEFA also warned that rising player prices, deferred payments and increasing transfer-related debt could make clubs more dependent on future player sales. The report noted that this could increase financial pressure on clubs if buyer demand or player valuations decline.
