City tops last season agents spending spree

December 1, 2009

The Premier League published, for the first time, the figures its club spent on the agents from October 2008 to September 2009, with Manchester City accounting for almost one-fifth of the $116 million total as its wealthy Abu Dhabi owner rebuilt the team.

In total, the 20 topflight clubs spent £70.7 million on agent’s fees in last season’s transfer market.

The figures revealed that, Manchester City who have failed to set the Premier League alight despite outlaying almost 150million pounds in the same spell – paid out nearly 13million pounds in agent fees far more than city rivals and defending champions Manchester United, who paid 1.5million pounds.

League leaders Chelsea were next on the list paying £9.6 million followed by Liverpool with 6.7 million and Tottenham Hotspur with 6.1 million.

Newly-promoted Burnley spent the least of any Premier League club, paying slightly more than £468,000 to agents.

The FA welcome the clubs to reveal the payments made to the agents. Under the new regulations, clubs, players, authorised agents and exempt solicitors agree to the publication of the figures after November 30 each year. But the clubs do not have to state “who was paid and for what deals.”

An FA spokesperson said: “We are pleased that, through these new requirements, clubs are bringing greater transparency to the domestic transfer market.

“For the first time, there will be a game-wide picture of the level of spending on agents.

“The leagues and other key stakeholders have been fully supportive, following the example set by the Football League with its publication of agents fees over the last few years.”

Anurada Bhat

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