Premier League Clubs Spent A Historic $980 Million On Transfer Payments This Summer

The teams from Europe's top five leagues combined to spend $2.3 billion on payments during the summer transfer window, Rob Harris of the AP reports.

Premier League clubs alone spent a record $980 million in the last three months. That number is inflated by the spending spree Tottenham went on after selling Gareth Bale for a historic $132 million. But it's still an eye-popping number.

In total, EPL teams spent $622 million more than they took in during the transfer window.

The biggest moves by fee (via the Telegraph):

• Mesut Ozil to Arsenal for $65 million
• Erik Lamela to Tottenham for $46 million
• Willian to Chelsea for $46 million
• Fernandinho to Manchester City for $46 million
• Roberto Soldado to Tottenham for $40 million
• Stevan Jovetic to Manchester City for $34 million
• Andre Schurrle to Chelsea for $28 million
• Mamadou Sakho to Liverpool for $28 million
• Jesus Navas to Manchester City for $26 million
• Paulinho to Tottenham for $26 million
• Alvaro Negrado to Manchester City for $25 million

FIFA announced that $3.36 billion has been spent worldwide on transfer payments since January 1 - a 29% increase over the $2.62 billion spent in 2012.

Here's a chart from the FIFA press release: