The English Championship was flush with cash this summer.
A lot of clubs speculated and not all will accumulate the necessary points to make it to the Premier League promised land.
The Soccerex Transfer Review has totted up the figures and the results are staggering. Championship sides combined to spend £247m over the summer. It was five times more than second divisions from France, Spain, Italy and Germany COMBINED.
With increased TV revenue making the Premier League’s current 20 sides part of Europe’s top 40 richest sides, clubs from England’s second tier are throwing money at players.
Part of the history-making figure were the transfers of Daryl Murphy and Ciaran Clark to Newcastle United. Rafa Benitez paid reported fees of £3m and £5m respectively for the Irish striker and defender. The Magpies also brought in Matt Richie and Dwight Gayle for £10m apiece.
Shane Duffy’s £4.5m move to Brighton, from Blackburn, also added to the total, while Aston Villa spent £22m on forwards Ross McCormack and Jonathan Kodija.
It wasn’t all give, give, give from Championship sides. Six of the top 10 transfers from the Championship to Premier League took place over the 2015/16 summer, with an Irish midfielder featuring.
Jeff Hendrick became Derby’s record transfer departure when he joined Burnley for £10m on deadline day.
Top of that list is Moussa Sissoko, who joined Tottenham from Newcastle for £28m.
If you are a footballer or an agent right now, England is the place to be.
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