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More than a year after the COVID-19 outbreak, the financial repercussions of the global pandemic are still being felt, especially in the football world.
The pandemic has wrecked the finances of many top clubs, none more so than Spanish heavyweights Real Madrid and Barcelona. The two clubs have struggled to make significant additions to their roster this summer. With most clubs preferring free transfers, the 2021-22 season has seen teams splurge far less compared to pre-pandemic times.
Nevertheless, there have been some big-money signings this summer. Jack Grealish has moved to Manchester City for €117.5 million, while Chelsea dished out €115 million to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the Premier League. Among notable big-money signings in other leagues, PSG acquired Achraf Hakimi for €60 million, while Bayern Munich parted €42.5 million to land Dayot Upamecano.
On that note, here's a look at the ten highest-spending leagues in 2021-22 thus far:
#10 Serie B (Italy) - €50 million
Serie B has usurped several top divisions to emerge as one of the top spenders in the ongoing 2021-22 summer transfer window.
With a cumulative spending of €50 million, clubs in the Italian second tier have been fairly active in the transfer market.
Parma have made the bulk of the spending in the division, splurging close to €30 million. Frenchman Wylan Cyprien is one of their top signings, but he'll spend the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Nantes.
Considering the same, it looks likely that Parma, who endured relegation from the 2020-21 Serie A, could make a quick return to the top division at the first time of asking.
#9 Saudi Professional League (Saudi Arabia) - €50.2 million
The Saudi Professional League (SPL) is one of the richest football leagues in Asia. It could soon be one of the most competitive ones on the continent too.
SPL teams have made a cumulative spending of €50.2 million this summer, with record champions Al Hilal leading the way (€19.8 million). The reigning champions splurged €18 million to bring in winger Matheus Pereira from West Bromwich Albion, who endured relegation from the Premier League in 2020-21.
Other notable transfers in the league include Igor Coronado from Sharjah FC for €10.5 million and Talisca from Guaz FC for €8 million.
#8 Liga Portugal BWIN (Portugal) - €71.6 million
Over the years, the Portuguese league has largely been a two-horse race between Porto and Benfica. That is something unlikely to change in the 2021-22 season if the spendings made by the two clubs are taken into account.
Porto and Benfica, who were usurped to the league title last season by Sporting Lisbon, look set to resume their duopoly in their division. The two clubs have accounted for more than 60% of the league's total spendings this summer.
Benfica's new centre-forward Roman Yaremchuk (€17.5 million), who has arrived from Gent, is one of the most expensive arrivals in the 2021-22 Portuguese league thus far. He has already hit the ground running in his new surroundings.
#7 Jupiler Pro League (Belgium) - €74.3 million
Close on the heels of their 2020-21 Belgian League title, Club Brugge have been one of the top spenders in their division this summer. However, Antwerp (€18.8 million) have outspent the defending champions Brugge (€16 million) as an enticing 2021-22 season looms in the Belgian top flight.
Centre-back Stanley Nsoki (€6.5 million), acquired by Club Brugge from Ligue 1 side Nice, is the most expensive import in the Belgian League so far this season.
The 22-year-old came through the ranks at PSG before spending the 2020-21 campaign at Nice.
#6 Premier Liga (Russia) - €90.6 million
Zenit St. Petersburg are on an inspired run in the Russian Premier Liga, wrapping up their third straight league title last season.
To continue their ascendancy, Zenit have made signings worth €15.25 million this summer, bringing in attacking midfielder Claudinho from Bragantino for €12 million. However, they have not been the biggest spenders in the Russian top flight in this transfer window.
Kuban Krasnodar have splurged nearly €30 million this summer, dishing out €20 million for centre-forward Jhon Cordoba from Hertha Berlin.
It remains to be seen if the big-money moves will help the duo fare well in the Russian Premier Liga this season and go deep in the Champions League.
#5 La Liga (Spain) - €152.3 million
In an unusual transfer window for La Liga clubs, powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona have only made signings worth €9 million thus far. Holders Atletico Madrid lead the way with €35 million.
The Rojiblancos have so far dished out a transfer fee (€35 million) for only one player - Copa America 2021 winner Rodrigo De Paul. They look like the team to beat in Spain again this season. That is despite Real Madrid acquiring Bayern Munich left-back David Alaba and Barcelona bringing in Memphis Depay, Sergio Aguero and Eric Garcia - all on free transfers.
Both La Liga giants are strapped for cash and are unlikely to make many more signings before the transfer window closes. So it remains to be seen how both clubs will fare in the 2021-22 La Liga.
Other notable spenders in La Liga this season include Villarreal (€31 million) and Sevilla (€16.5 million).
#4 Ligue 1 (France) - €301.1 million
It comes as no surprise that deposed Ligue 1 champions PSG are the top spenders (€76 million) in the division this summer.
However, it should be astounding to note that they managed to land four world-class players - Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Georginio Wijnaldum - without paying a penny.
Other top spenders in the French top flight this summer are Rennes (€52.5 million), Marseille (€44.7 million), Monaco (€34.5 million). Nevertheless, considering their expensively assembled star-studded squad, PSG's domestic dominance is all but a certainty.
But it remains to be seen if the Ligue 1 giants will be able to translate that onto the European stage, where they fell at the final hurdle to Bayern Munich in 2019-20.
#3 Bundesliga (Germany) - €340.3 million
Bayern Munich are the nine-time defending champions in the Bundesliga. They seem to have enough quality to stave off the opposition and win a tenth league title on the trot.
The record Bundesliga champions haven't just relied on their squad depth to remain competitive this summer. They brought in Dayot Upamecano (€42.5 million) after their long-standing centre-back David Alaba left on a free transfer to Real Madrid.
Three clubs - Leipzig (€91.6 million), Borussia Dortmund (€45 million) and Bayer Leverkusen (€45.5 million) - have outspent Bayern Munich this summer. However, it remains to be seen if that translates to them usurping the Bavarian giants from the Bundesliga summit this season.
#2 Serie A (Italy) - €446.6 million
Serie A teams have spent over €400 million on player transfers this summer. Perhaps surprisingly, reigning champions Inter Milan and deposed champions Juventus aren't among the top spenders in the division.
After losing their star striker Romelu Lukaku, Inter haven't yet added a centre-forward to their ranks, despite making three signings worth €31 million. The Italian top flight's top spenders this season have been AS Roma (€97.8 million), AC Milan (€58.1 million) and Atalanta (€47 million).
Wantaway Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham, acquired by AS Roma for €40 million, has been the most expensive signing in Serie A this season.
But it remains to be seen if the capital club under Jose Mourinho will be able to sustain a title challenge despite their spending spree this summer.
#1 Premier League (England) - €1.02 billion
Considering the financial might of its clubs, it should come as no surprise that the Premier League has spent more than the Bundesliga and Serie A combined this summer.
Four of the top five signings this transfer window, including the top three, have been made by Premier League clubs. Jack Grealish (€117.5 million), Romelu Lukaku (€115 million) and Jadon Sancho (€85 million) have been acquired for big money by Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United, respectively.
As many as four Premier League clubs - Manchester City (€127.5 million), Manchester United (€125 million), Chelsea (€115 million) and Aston Villa (€ 105.6 million) - have spent in excess of €100 million this summer. The likes of Arsenal, Leicester City and Liverpool haven't hesitated to splurge either.
Nevertheless, it remains to be seen if the spate of expensive signings by English clubs translates to success on the European stage.
