Football clubs around the world spent more than $9.89 billion on international transfer fees during the latest mid-year window, setting a new record, according to FIFA.

FIFA’s International Transfer Snapshot showed that more than 12,500 international player transfers were completed worldwide during the window, another record for the global market.

That represented an increase from 11,863 transfers during the corresponding period a year earlier.

English clubs were by far the biggest spenders on players arriving from foreign clubs.

They committed more than $3.02 billion in international transfer fees.

The FIFA figure covers international transfers and is therefore lower than estimates of total Premier League spending that also include transactions between English clubs.

Italian clubs ranked second in international spending at around $1.1 billion.

Spanish clubs spent approximately $940 million, followed by German clubs at $904 million and French clubs at $641 million.

France, however, led the rankings for transfer income.

French clubs received approximately $1.7 billion from international player transfers during the window.

English clubs generated $1.43 billion in transfer income, while German clubs received $1.02 billion.

Spain followed with $773 million and Portugal with $642 million.

FIFA said the 2026 World Cup also had a significant influence on the transfer market.

Players who participated in the tournament accounted for more than $3.3 billion in transfer fees during the window.

A total of 267 World Cup players representing 47 nationalities changed clubs between June and September.

The figures underline the enormous financial impact of major international tournaments on the global player market.

Women’s professional football also recorded unprecedented transfer activity.

FIFA registered 1,406 international transfers in the women’s game, an increase of 19.2 percent from the previous record.

International transfer spending in women’s football more than doubled compared with the corresponding 2025 window.

Total fees reached a record $28.6 million.

English clubs again led the spending rankings, investing around $8 million in international women’s transfers.

Spanish clubs followed with $6.6 million, while German clubs spent $4.9 million.

Clubs from the United States spent $2.9 million and Italian clubs approximately $2.1 million.

Swedish clubs generated the highest transfer income in the women’s game at $4.2 million.

English clubs received about $4 million, while clubs in France and Germany each collected around $3.6 million.

The latest figures show that international transfer activity is expanding across both men’s and women’s football, with record numbers of players changing clubs and record amounts being committed in transfer fees.