<figure id="attachment_3276066" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-3276066" style="width: 1600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-3276066" src="https://media.freemalaysiatoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/cd9d4648-lucas-paqueta-1.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="1000" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-3276066" class="wp-caption-text">Brazilian clubs entered the top three this year, spending US$180 million, including US$49 million by Flamengo for Lucas Paqueta from West Ham. (Flamengo pic)</figcaption></figure>
PARIS: Football clubs worldwide set a new winter transfer window record in terms of the number of transactions completed, according to a statement released by Fifa on Thursday, but the overall amount spent was down compared to last year&#8217;s high.
The January 2026 window saw a three percent increase in the number of transfers compared to the previous record set the year before with more than 5,900 international transactions completed.
However, with a total of over US$1.9 billion spent, the cumulative amount splashed out on transfer fees is down by 18% compared to the record set in January 2025 (US$2.35 billion).
English clubs were by far the biggest spenders, with more than US$363 million in compensation paid, a significant drop from 2025 (US$623 million), but still far ahead of Italian clubs (US$283 million) in second place.
Brazilian clubs made their way into the top three this year, with US$180 million spent &#8211; some US$49 million of which came courtesy of Flamengo&#8217;s signing of Lucas Paqueta from Premier League side West Ham.
Saudi clubs, heavy spenders last year (fourth, US$213 million), slipped to sixth place on US$101 million.
Just like last year, French clubs led the way in terms of transfer revenue, with a total of US$218 million received (US$373 million in January 2025), ahead of their Italian, Brazilian, English and Spanish counterparts.
In women&#8217;s football, a new spending record was set, with more than US$10 million spent in January, an 85% jump from last year&#8217;s record, despite a six percent drop in the number of transfers (420 in January 2026).
Once again, English clubs spent the most, splashing out more than US$5 million.

MatchPoint Times

Record January window for transfers despite drop in spending

With a total of over US$1.9 billion spent, cumulative transfer fees fell 18% from the US$2.35 billion record set in January 2025.

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