UEFA warns Premier League spending is creating a two-speed market

The UEFA says it is concerned about how Premier League spending is affecting the transfer market. In its “European club talent and competition landscape” report, European football’s governing body argues a “clear two-speed system” is emerging because English clubs have dominated transfer activity.

UEFA estimates that the Premier League’s clubs spent €4.6bn (about £4bn) this summer, describing it as “larger than” the combined spend of the next eight biggest European countries. It also claims the transfer spend by the 20 Premier League clubs this year equals 56% of their annual revenue, well above the 33% average from the pre-Covid decade.

Two speeds, one market

Andrea Traverso, UEFA’s executive director of finance, said the trend “raises concerns”. He writes that transfer values are still rising sharply—especially in England—adding pressure on clubs’ future financial results. Traverso also points to talent concentration and growing market polarisation: English clubs were involved in more than 60% of deals and paid around €24m per inbound player, compared with roughly €4m–€5m in other major European leagues.

If prices correct, debt becomes the risk

UEFA adds that any “correction in transfer values” or “slowdown in buyer demand” could have serious consequences for clubs carrying debt. It highlights a rise in big-money transfers between English clubs, up 44% to €1.55bn, and notes that fees above €50m rose from 14 in summer 2024 to 23 in 2025 and 35 in 2026, with Premier League clubs responsible for 29 of those 35.

The report also says European clubs generated an estimated €6.8bn profit from selling academy players over the summer, up €655m from 2025, while finding little evidence that multi-club ownership structures are being used to shift inflated or reduced fees. Source: BBC Sport.