PARIS: International transfer fees in men's football hit a record $13.08 billion (10.9 billion euros) in 2025, world football's governing body said Wednesday.
FIFA said in its annual Global Transfer Market report that 86,158 international transfers were completed in 2025, setting a record.
Women's football accounted for 2,440 transfers (+6.3%) and total spending of $28.6 million, a year-on-year increase of more than 80%.
The joint transfer total from men's and women's football, professional and amateur, of $13.11 billion represents more than 50% above 2024 spending and 35.6% above the previous record set in 2023.
In men's professional football, clubs from England were once again both the number-one spender and the number-one recipient of transfer fees, with $3.82 billion spent on incoming transfers and $1.77b received for outgoing transfers in 2025.
Brazilian clubs led the way in total transfers, with 1,190 incoming and 1,005 outgoing.
French players were the most expensive ($1.67 billion), followed by Brazilians ($1.21 billion).
The three biggest spending clubs were Premier League outfits Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea.
City take top spot from current Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain, who do not now figure in a top 20 dominated by 11 English clubs.