Lowest Spending in January Transfer Window: Revealing the Minimal Amount Spent
The January transfer window is usually a good time for managers to bolster their squads ahead of the remainder of the season – but 2024 has been a little different. Spending has significantly dipped this year across all of the top leagues in Europe. And SunSport can provide the reasons along with what has been the lowest amount spent in a January transfer window.
Why are teams not spending much this year?
Teams are reportedly having difficulties spending this year as they are more wary of Financial Fair Play (FFP). FFP is a concept originally introduced by UEFA in 2009, officially to prevent clubs from spending money they could not afford. The Premier League also introduced its own FFP regulations which came into effect for the 2013-14 season and impact club spending.
Under the current Premier League “Profitability and Sustainability” regulations, clubs who are constant members of the top flight for a three-year period are allowed total losses of £105m over those three campaigns. Everton breached the FFP rules and as a result, they were handed a 10-point deduction. This has made other clubs more cautious about their spending in order to comply with the regulations.
What is the lowest amount spent in the January transfer window?
Since the introduction of the January transfer window in 2003, the lowest amount spent by Premier League clubs stands at £34.8m during the 2009/10 campaign. The 2002/03 season has the current second lowest with a total of £45.9m being spent. However, shockingly, 2024 ranks 20th out of the 22 January transfer windows for expenditure as English top-flight clubs have only spent approximately £55m on the morning of deadline day.
What are the biggest deals of the 2024 January transfer window?
While overall spending has been significantly lower this year, there have still been some notable deals. Tottenham have been the busiest this January, having spent £26.7m on ex-Genoa defender Radu Dragusin and recruiting former Chelsea star Timo Werner on loan. Manchester City splashed £12.5m on Argentine midfielder Claudio Echeverri. Aston Villa also made a significant signing, buying Kosta Nedeljkovic from Red Star Belgrade for £7.8m.
Conclusion
The January transfer window of 2024 has seen a significant decrease in spending compared to previous years. This can be attributed to teams being more cautious about their spending due to Financial Fair Play regulations. The lowest amount spent in a January transfer window stands at £34.8m, while this year’s spending ranks 20th out of the 22 January transfer windows since 2003. Nonetheless, there have still been some notable deals, with Tottenham, Manchester City, and Aston Villa making significant signings. As the transfer window comes to a close, it remains to be seen if any last-minute deals will be made, but it is clear that overall spending has been minimal this year.