Record summer for transfer financing unfolds without last year’s market disruptor
IMAGO | Enzo Fernández joined Manchester City for €145 million, the biggest transfer of the summer.
The Recap
Transfer financing volumes reached new highs this summer, without the lender whose arrival drove pricing to record lows last year.
Data Insight
Premier League clubs committed a record €4.1 billion this summer, driving unprecedented demand for quick access to liquidity to fund transfer deals.
Why It Matters
Citibank’s unexpected absence this summer changed the competitive dynamics among lenders, creating more opportunities for established players.
The Perspective
Record financing activity comes amid growing concerns over liquidity in English football and clubs’ increasing reliance on credit to fund transfer business.
23 September 2026 - 3:00 PM
This summer’s transfer window has been one for the record books, and not only because of the fees.
Premier League clubs alone committed €4.1 billion, while the market financing those deals handled more business than ever before.
But it looked very different from what many in the industry had expected.
Off The Pitch has spoken to lenders and brokers across the market, and one theme has emerged in almost every conversation.
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