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| Premier League clubs drive record global transfer fees | Premier League clubs drive record global transfer fees |
| (2 days later) | |
| Football clubs around the world spent a record $4.1bn (£2.7bn) on international player transfers during 2014, according to global governing body Fifa. | Football clubs around the world spent a record $4.1bn (£2.7bn) on international player transfers during 2014, according to global governing body Fifa. |
| It is the first time spending has risen above $4bn and a 2.1% increase on 2013. | It is the first time spending has risen above $4bn and a 2.1% increase on 2013. |
| England was the world's biggest spender, with its clubs paying $1.2bn (£795m) during the year. | England was the world's biggest spender, with its clubs paying $1.2bn (£795m) during the year. |
| That was more than a quarter of the total spending worldwide, and also 67% higher than the second biggest spender, Spain, which spent $700m. | That was more than a quarter of the total spending worldwide, and also 67% higher than the second biggest spender, Spain, which spent $700m. |
| Increasingly lucrative TV deals have given top-flight English clubs the financial muscle to bring in global stars. Bidding has opened for the next tranche of Premier League live domestic television rights for the seasons from 2016-17 to 2018-19, and that is expected to bring in more than the £3.02bn achieved previously. | Increasingly lucrative TV deals have given top-flight English clubs the financial muscle to bring in global stars. Bidding has opened for the next tranche of Premier League live domestic television rights for the seasons from 2016-17 to 2018-19, and that is expected to bring in more than the £3.02bn achieved previously. |
| "From a spending perspective the English market is dominating," said Mark Goddard, from from Fifa's transfer unit. | |
| English clubs also accounted for more than one-third of the $236m paid to agents during the year, handing over $87m to what Fifa calls "intermediaries". | English clubs also accounted for more than one-third of the $236m paid to agents during the year, handing over $87m to what Fifa calls "intermediaries". |
| The new global figures refer to international transfers and do not cover "domestic" transfers between two clubs in the same country. | The new global figures refer to international transfers and do not cover "domestic" transfers between two clubs in the same country. |
| Delays reduced | Delays reduced |
| The data was revealed by Fifa's International Transfer Matching System (ITMS) organisation, which uses modern electronic technology with the aim of making international football transfers more transparent and legally compliant. | The data was revealed by Fifa's International Transfer Matching System (ITMS) organisation, which uses modern electronic technology with the aim of making international football transfers more transparent and legally compliant. |
| Mr Goddard said the system also helped Fifa to gauge the size of the global football transfer industry, and how best to manage it. | Mr Goddard said the system also helped Fifa to gauge the size of the global football transfer industry, and how best to manage it. |
| He also said the creation of an electronic system over the past seven years, switching from an old-style paper and telephone-based system, to a 21st century digital, online platform, had been welcomed by football clubs and associations. | He also said the creation of an electronic system over the past seven years, switching from an old-style paper and telephone-based system, to a 21st century digital, online platform, had been welcomed by football clubs and associations. |
| Other findings included: | Other findings included: |
| In order for an international transfer to be validated, the two clubs involved must enter the relevant information on the deal into the ITMS system. | In order for an international transfer to be validated, the two clubs involved must enter the relevant information on the deal into the ITMS system. |
| Fifa ITMS says that the financial benefits it has identified, in terms of increased processing speed and associated cost savings, are estimated at $7.2m-$8m a year. | Fifa ITMS says that the financial benefits it has identified, in terms of increased processing speed and associated cost savings, are estimated at $7.2m-$8m a year. |
| "The secondary benefits relate to the reduction in transfer delays," it said. | "The secondary benefits relate to the reduction in transfer delays," it said. |
| It means clubs will no longer have to pay players' salaries while being unable to play them due to a backlog of transfer paperwork waiting to be processed. | It means clubs will no longer have to pay players' salaries while being unable to play them due to a backlog of transfer paperwork waiting to be processed. |
| The transfer body said its electronic system also provided protection against the use of fake documents. | The transfer body said its electronic system also provided protection against the use of fake documents. |
| In addition, it is designed to help safeguard the protection of minors - players who are not yet 18. | In addition, it is designed to help safeguard the protection of minors - players who are not yet 18. |
| As in 2013, the busiest months of 2014 were January, July and August, when the European transfer window periods were open. | As in 2013, the busiest months of 2014 were January, July and August, when the European transfer window periods were open. |
| The big five European leagues - England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain - have transfer windows during these months, as does Scotland. | The big five European leagues - England, Germany, France, Italy and Spain - have transfer windows during these months, as does Scotland. |
| The current winter transfer window closes on 2 February. | The current winter transfer window closes on 2 February. |