Premier League clubs made payments of £460m to agents over the past year – a 13% increase on the previous 12 months.
It covers payments made by clubs to agents registered with the Football Association involving a player, coach or club – including transfer and contracts – between February 2025 and February 2026.
Chelsea, who paid out £65.1m, were the highest spenders for the third consecutive year.
On Wednesday, the west London club announced the biggest pre-tax loss in Premier League history. The £262m deficit for 2024-25 eclipses the £197.5m lost by Manchester City in 2011.
The Blues partly attribute this year’s figure to recording the highest number of player sales in Premier League history.
Chelsea offloaded nearly £300m worth of players to comply with Uefa sanctions.
After record payments of £75m to agents in 2023-24, the club have spent a total of £200m over the past three assessment years.
Aston Villa were second on the list, paying £38.4m, which was an increase of £13.4m – the highest rise of any club.
This is despite the Villans spending a relatively modest £69m on incoming transfers. Unai Emery’s side had a high number of costs associated with renegotiating player contracts and new professional registrations.
In third were Manchester City with £37.4m, though year-on-year spending fell dramatically – down by £14.8m from £52.1m.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Wolves also saw significant increases in agents fees.
The Gunners’ payments went up £9.4m to £32.1m. Liverpool’s rose £13m to £33.9m. Wolves saw an increase of £12.5m to £26m.
Sunderland’s unexpected promotion to the Premier League through the play-offs brought a rise in payments from just £2.2m to £10.6m.
Alongside Manchester City, seven other clubs reduced payments to agents.
Brentford, Fulham, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and West Ham saw modest drops.
Newcastle’s payments were reduced by £4.1m to £20.3m, while Leeds – despite being promoted – cut outgoings on agents’ fees by £4.9m to £14m.
©️The Scope news
