Premier League clubs that broke their own record transfer fee this summer
Yet another eventful summer transfer window slammed shut at 11 PM on 31 August 2016 and it was one that broke records for spending. For the first time in history, the Premier League clubs spent more than a billion pounds in one window, eventually taking their spending to an eye-watering £1.175 billion!
Thanks to the ridiculous amounts of money given to Premier League clubs thanks to the new television deal, clubs received an average of £81.9m from merit money, television deals (both domestic and overseas) and commercial income (money from sponsors that is also equally shared).
The vast wealth accumulated in England allowed most clubs to break their own record for transfer fees paid for a single player. In all, 13 different clubs broke the record in the summer of 2016.
13) Burnley: Jeff Hendrick – £10.5m
Burnley have had a roller-coaster of a three years so far. They were promoted to the Premier League in 2014 only to be relegated at the end of the season. They are back in the top tier this season and have signed eight players for free, on loan or on a permanent basis.
Their biggest outlay saw Irish midfielder Jeff Hendrick arrive at Turf Moor from Derby on a three-year deal. Having played over 200 matches in the Championship, Burnley paid £10.5m for the midfielder’s services.
“The Premier League was a big draw for me,” Hendrick said. “It’s where I aspire to be after the summer I’ve had [at Euro 2016].”
Hendrick was one of manager Sean Dyche’s “main targets” and he will wear the number 13 shirt. Will it bring them luck?
12) West Bromwich Albion: Nacer Chadli – £13m
West Bromwich Albion signed a total of five players this summer but their biggest purchase was Nacer Chadli from Tottenham Hotspur. Chadli found himself on the fringes of Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs side and West Brom stepped in to ensure he got some game time.
Spurs drove a hard bargain, though, as club chairman Daniel Levy always does. Tony Pulis eventually got his man after the club paid the London side £13m to sign him.
“He’s a top, top player and I’m delighted we’ve got him,” Pulis said after the signing was confirmed.