Premier League clubs have recorded a transfer window profit of $215 million for the first time, regardless of spending reaching a six-year January high. Southampton and Burnley made late deadline-day deals, while Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo moved from Watford to China for £20 million.
Saints paid about £14 million for Napoli’s Manolo Gabbiadini, and the Clarets brought in Robbie Brady for up to £13 million. However, top-flight sides brought in £40 million more than they paid out, according to finance analysts Deloitte. Premier League teams have spent a record £1.38 billion on transfers in the 2016/2017 season, after a summer outlay of £1.165 billion.
January’s spending was the second highest behind the record mark of £225 million six years ago and dwarfs the £35 million spent in the first January transfer window in 2003. While the window was now closed for the major European leagues, there could still be departures as big spender China has an official deadline of 28 February.
Nigeria striker Ighalo, 27, led the deadline day sales moving to Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai. Burnley were one of the busier sides, recruiting 25-year-old Republic of Ireland international Brady from Norwich for a club record fee having earlier snapped up another midfielder, Ashley Westwood, from Aston Villa.
Southampton bolstered their attacking options by bringing in Gabbiadini, 25, while Crystal Palace secured Liverpool centre-back Mamadou Sakho on loan and signed Serbia midfielder Luka Milivojevic from Greek side Olympiakos. Swansea City signed Aston Villa forward Jordan Ayew in a swap deal that saw Wales defender Neil Taylor go the other way.
Several mooted moves did not go through on a relatively low-key day, with Celtic keeper Craig Gordon and striker Moussa Dembele staying with the Scottish champions despite reported interest from Chelsea. Sunderland, thwarted in their attempts to sign forward Leonardo Ulloa from Premier League champions Leicester City, had a bid of about £12 million rejected by Southampton for forward Jay Rodriguez.
