Investments in transfers in football reached the figure of 6,630 million euros (7,345 million dollars) during 2019, year in which international transfers increased to 18,042 and also increased operations in the women's football market and the amount of these up to 16.3%.
FIFA published on Wednesday the report of the global transfer market that confirms a new record in investments, 5.8% more than in 2018, and another record in the number of movements.
In total, men's football made 18,042 international transfers, which affected 15,463 players from 178 different nationalities. In these movements, 4,162 clubs were involved – 3,980 in 2018 – and 80% of the signing expenses were made by 100 clubs.
By confederations UEFA was the most active. 1,914 teams from 53 European federations signed signings, transfers or both operations to star in a total of 12,290 international transfers, representing 68.1% of the total. CONMEBOL was the only confederation in which clubs of all their associations registered movements.
The annual report highlights the growth of the female market, which begins to take off in the middle of the struggle for its visibility
The FIFA report analyzes for the second time in a row both the movements in men's and women's football, in which there were also increases in international transfers (19.7%), in participating clubs (24.5%) and in the amount of transactions (16.3%).
Almost 20% of the transfers featured a US soccer player and the average duration of the contracts has increased by 16%, from 10.5 months in 2018 to 12.1 months in 2019.
“We are proud to be able to publish the reports of the 'Global Transfer Market' on male and female football, which undoubtedly show the constant evolution of the global transfer market,” said the director of the Legal Services and Compliance Division of FIFA, Emilio García Silvero.
In his opinion, “the new record in the number of transfers of the male market is striking.” “In addition, there has been a general increase in the figures for women, which shows a positive evolution of women's football compared to last year, which we expect will continue in 2020,” he added.