Football clubs around the world set a new record in the winter transfer market in terms of the number of completed deals, despite a drop in the total value of transfers compared to the record set last year, according to a statement released on Thursday.
The January 2026 winter transfer window saw a 3% increase in the number of deals compared to the record set the previous year, with over 5,900 international transfers completed.
However, total spending on transfer fees exceeded $1.9 billion, representing an 18% decrease compared to the record of $2.35 billion set in January 2025.
English clubs were the biggest spenders, spending over $363 million, a significant drop from $623 million in 2025, but still well ahead of Italian clubs in second place ($283 million).
Brazilian clubs entered the list of the top three investors this year, after spending $180 million, of which approximately $49 million resulted from Flamengo’s signing of Lucas Paquetá from West Ham United.
Saudi clubs, which spent heavily last year, fell from fourth place with $213 million to sixth place this year ($101 million).
Similar to last year, French clubs topped the list for the highest revenue, with a total of $218 million (compared to $373 million in 2025), outperforming Italian, Brazilian, English, and Spanish clubs.
In women’s football, the transfer window set a record with spending of approximately $10 million last month, an 85 percent increase from the previous year, despite a 6% drop in the number of deals to 420 this year.
English clubs were also the biggest spenders in this area, with a total of $5 million.
Manchester City
Manchester City is a professional football club based in Manchester, England, founded in 1880 as St. Mark’s (West Gorton). The club has a long history, achieving major domestic and European success in the modern era, particularly following its acquisition by the Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008, which transformed its fortunes and infrastructure.
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers, commonly known as Wolves, is a professional English football club founded in 1877. The club has a rich history, being a founding member of the Football League and winning multiple FA Cups in its early years, along with three First Division titles in the 1950s.
Manchester
Manchester is a major city in northwest England, historically renowned as a global centre for textile manufacturing during the Industrial Revolution, which earned it the nickname “Cottonopolis.” Its rich industrial heritage is preserved in sites like the Science and Industry Museum, and it has since evolved into a vibrant hub for culture, music, and education.
Britain
Britain is a sovereign island nation in northwestern Europe with a long and influential history, including the Roman occupation, the formation of the medieval kingdoms of England and Scotland, and the expansive British Empire. Its cultural and political legacy is marked by significant developments such as the Magna Carta, the Industrial Revolution, and its role as a modern constitutional monarchy. Today, it comprises the countries of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
English Premier League
The English Premier League is a professional football competition founded in 1992 as a breakaway from the Football League’s First Division, becoming the top tier of English football. It is now one of the world’s most-watched and commercially successful sports leagues, known for its global reach and competitive nature.
Flamengo
Flamengo is a coastal neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, known for its urban park, the Flamengo Park (Parque do Flamengo), which was built on land reclaimed from the sea in the 1960s. The area is also famous for its historic rowing club, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, founded in 1895, which gave rise to one of Brazil’s most popular football teams.
West Ham United
West Ham United is a professional football club based in London, England, founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks and later reformed in 1900. The club has a significant history, including winning the FA Cup three times and being a founding member of the Premier League, with its home games played at the London Stadium since 2016.
Brazil
Brazil is the largest country in South America, known for its vast Amazon rainforest and vibrant cultural exports like samba and football. Its modern history began with Portuguese colonization in 1500, leading to independence as an empire in 1822 and the establishment of a republic in 1889. Today, it is a diverse federal republic famed for its annual Carnival celebrations and dynamic cities like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Italy
Italy is a country in Southern Europe with a rich cultural history that dates back to the ancient Roman Empire, which was a foundational civilization for Western law, government, and engineering. It later became the epicenter of the Renaissance, producing unparalleled contributions to art, science, and architecture. Today, it is renowned for its historic cities, artistic masterpieces, and significant global influence on cuisine, fashion, and design.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is a Middle Eastern nation founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, unifying the regions of Najd and Hejaz. It is the birthplace of Islam, home to the religion’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, and its modern economy is historically rooted in its vast petroleum reserves.
France
France is a Western European nation with a rich history that dates back to ancient Gaul, later evolving into a major medieval kingdom and a leading global power from the 17th century onward. It is renowned for its profound cultural influence in art, philosophy, and cuisine, and is home to iconic sites like the Palace of Versailles and the Eiffel Tower. The country played a central role in historical movements such as the Enlightenment and the French Revolution, which profoundly shaped modern democratic ideals.
Spain
Spain is a country in southwestern Europe with a rich and diverse cultural heritage, shaped by influences from the Romans, Visigoths, Moors, and others. Its history includes the period of Al-Andalus under Muslim rule, the subsequent Christian Reconquista, and the rise of a global empire following the voyages of Columbus in 1492. Today, it is known for its distinct regions, vibrant traditions like flamenco, and iconic sites such as the Alhambra and Sagrada Família.
