The Market Never Stops: 2025 Shatters All Transfer Records in World Football
Money once again set the tempo of the game. 2025 delivered unprecedented figures and confirmed that the transfer market has no limits.
A Historic Year for the Global Market
Just days before the first transfer window of 2026 closes, FIFA officially announced a new milestone in the transfer market. In its Global Transfer Report, the governing body confirmed that 2025 was the year with the highest number of international transfers ever recorded.
Across the 365 days of last year, 86,158 transfers were completed worldwide, spanning men’s and women’s football, at both professional and amateur levels. A figure that reflects not only the sport’s economic growth, but also the constant hyperactivity of the global market.
Spending Breaks an Unprecedented Barrier
The most striking figures came on the financial side. For the first time in history, total transfer spending surpassed €10 billion, shattering every previous benchmark.
In total, clubs spent $13.11 billion (approximately €10.954 billion), of which $13.08 billion (€10.929 billion) came exclusively from men’s professional football. This represents more than a 50% increase compared to total spending in 2024 and clearly surpasses the previous record set in 2023.
The Premier League Leads Once Again
As has become customary, the Premier League once again topped global spending charts. English clubs invested $3.82 billion (€3.191 billion) during 2025, underlining their financial dominance within the football ecosystem.
The year’s most high-profile transfer also carried an English stamp: the arrival of Florian Wirtz, widely regarded as the biggest deal of the market. Despite the heavy spending, the Premier League also generated $1.77 billion in revenue from sales and loans, highlighting a market that is both highly active and profitable.
Brazil Dominates in Volume of Moves
While Europe led the way financially, Brazil emerged as the most active country in terms of volume. Brazilian clubs signed 1,190 players and sold or loaned out another 1,005, topping the global rankings for transfer activity.
This data reinforces Brazilian football’s role as a major exporter of talent, as well as its strategic importance within the international market—particularly toward Europe and Asia.
A Market Showing No Signs of Slowing Down
The figures from 2025 send a clear message: the transfer market continues to grow with no visible ceiling. More deals, more money, and an ever-deepening globalization of football.
With the 2026 window only just getting underway, the outlook suggests these records may not last long. In modern football, the only constant seems to be breaking limits.
