In numbers: Football’s January transfer window trends
PREMIER LEAGUE V EUROPE
If there is one sector in which the Premier League continually crushes its competition, it is the capacity to spend, spend, spend. Even in a quiet window, the English top-flight still spent more than double that of its closest competitor Serie A, whose clubs spent £66m, while Chelsea and Manchester City both spent more than the whole of Ligue 1.
BUYS V LOANS
Just over half of the signings made by Premier League clubs – 52.7 per cent – came with a fee attached. Nine players arrived on loan, while a number of clubs snapped up an out of contract player. The only two goalkeepers signed in January – Victor Valdes and Mark Schwarzer – both arrived on free transfers.
MOST POPULAR POSITIONS
Most clubs looked to shore up in midfield and defence, with 15 and 11 players of either position joining a new Premier League club. Although just eight strikers were bought, clubs still focused on boosting firepower, with 10 of those 15 midfielders considered either wingers or attacking midfielders.