Premier League clubs paid agents £70m
LONDON, England (AP) — The Premier League has released the amount its clubs paid agents in one year, with Manchester City accounting for almost one-fifth of the $116 million total as its wealthy Abu Dhabi owner rebuilt the team.
The figures published yesterday by the league account for 803 transfers between October 2008 to September 2009. In total, the 20 topflight clubs spent £70.7 million on agents fees.
“For the first time, there will be a game-wide picture of the level of spending on agents,” England’s Football Association said. “Clubs are bringing greater transparency to the domestic transfer market.”
To attract international players like Emmanuel Adebayor and Carlos Tevez, City paid £12.9 million to agents during his first year of Sheikh Mansour’s ownership — more than any other club.
Chelsea paid £9.6 million, followed by Liverpool with £6.7 million and Tottenham with £6.1 million. Manchester United paid just £1.5 million pounds as it won a third straight Premier League title.