Premier League’s £2bn transfer window shows incredible pace of growth, Deloitte says

The Premier League’s first £2 billion (€2.33) transfer window demonstrates the “incredible pace of growth” in the league’s wealth, according to finance company Deloitte.

The milestone was surpassed for the first time in advance of Friday’s deadline as Chelsea and Arsenal both made £100 million midfield signings, with deadline-day moves such as Manchester City’s £53 million capture of Wolves’ Matheus Nunes driving the total still higher.

Calum Ross, assistant director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, told the PA news agency: “It took 14 summer transfer windows to exceed £1 billion – from when the transfer window system was introduced in January 2003 – and it’s only taken seven more to surpass £2 billion, so that just reflects the incredible pace of growth that we’re seeing.”

Chelsea’s spending under Todd Boehly’s ownership group has continued with the £100 million signing of midfielder Moises Caicedo from Brighton, £63 million for forward Christopher Nkunku and Friday’s £40 million capture of Cole Palmer from Manchester City as they seek to bounce back from last season’s 12th-placed finish.

With Newcastle beating the Blues, Tottenham and Liverpool to a place in this season’s Champions League and Brighton – who pulled off a deadline-day coup with a loan deal for Barcelona star Ansu Fati – also challenging, there are as many as eight teams with realistic top-four ambitions.

Ross said: “You’ve got that intensity of competition across the league. Whether that’s competing for the title, competing for European places or just simply staying in the league, that’s driving spending.

“There are 10 clubs that have spent more than £100 million so it’s not all those top clubs.”

England’s top flight continues to dominate the