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Brexit affects transfer window as well as pandemic

The effects of the Covid-19 pandemic have been felt in this year’s transfer window, although Brexit has also had an effect.

Clubs in Europe's nine biggest leagues plus the Chinese Super League have this season spent almost €3.5 billion less on players than in 2019/20.  Premier League clubs spent just €300 million less meaning the league's transfer balance deteriorated while others such as LaLiga improved, report offthepitch.com

Europe's nine biggest leagues plus the Chinese Super League this season spent just €4.1 billion on players compared to a figure of €7.6 billion in 2019/20.

That is a 46 per cent decrease - in actual numbers €3.5 billion less – a big difference seen in relation to the way spending has continued to rise for many years.

"It's pretty much due to the financial implications of Covid-19 and the considerable amount of time with little to no fans coming through the door," says Chris Winn, MSc Football Business programme leader at UCFB's Global Institute of Sport.

Among the 'big five' leagues La Liga was the most prudent with clubs spending just €354.7 million, €1.2 billion less than last season.  That figure is even lower than what clubs in Ligue 1 spent, €466.6 million, and that is a league that has been embroiled in crisis since last year's collapse of the Mediapro broadcasting deal. 

Brexit

Football finance guru Kieran Maguire told The Times: 'The Covid crisis is an obvious factor but Brexit is just as important.  The post-Brexit rules mean that the moderate players from the EU that clubs would like to have brought in now do not qualify by the new points system.'

'It probably does not affect the "big six" clubs as they will be looking at players who are internationals for the major countries or who have played in the Champions League, but for the players of a lower tier the stream has very much suddenly dried up.'

Sam Allardyce was unable to sign three players he was interested in for West Bromwich Albion because of the new regulations.  'It's not so much the pandemic, it's the change of rules because of Brexit,' commented the worried supremo.

The upside is more opportunities for domestic players, the downside is that leading clubs may create a bigger gap with the rest.

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