With a little under a month remaining in the transfer window, Premier League club spending is down almost £200million — both gross and net — on this time last year. Of course, 2025 did not have the all-encompassing men's World Cup getting in the way, so a dip should not be entirely surprising. Yet even with a recession to date, English teams' spending still trounces that of all other nations.

At the end of Monday, this season's 20 Premier League sides had committed a total of £1.652billion on new players this summer, and £680million net. That figure represents just the reported transfer fees and does not include agent fees or the league's transfer levy applied to incoming deals — meaning the true cost to clubs is even higher.

According to Transfermarkt, 13 of the 20 clubs are in a net-spend position, with some likely suspects topping the charts: Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City are all into nine figures. Both Brighton & Hove Albion and Newcastle United have shelled out over £100million on new players, but each — and particularly the latter — have recouped plenty too.

Chelsea Lead the Way Despite Financial Constraints

Chelsea's £217million net spend so far is remarkable given they are up against a UEFA settlement agreement and have no Champions League football to bolster revenues this season. The capture of Maxence Lacroix from Crystal Palace took their spending on new players beyond £300million. Even if fees paid for Geovany Quenda, Emmanuel Emegha and Denner — a trio signed previously but who only officially joined this summer — are removed, Chelsea's net spend is less than £10m behind that of Tottenham, who are having their own summer of splurge. The imminent sale of Trevoh Chalobah to Como will, though, bring their net spend down further.

Palace and Sunderland Yet to Spend

At the other end of the scale, Crystal Palace are one of just two clubs not to have spent a penny — Sunderland being the other. It was much the same at Selhurst Park a year ago, when Palace were also in the bottom two spenders on new players at the beginning of August. Sunderland's big and worthwhile post-promotion outlay last season has reduced their scope in this one.

Unsurprisingly, following the huge moves of Morgan Rogers and Elliot Anderson, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest are the biggest net sellers to date, and divisional gross sales of £972million are a little ahead of a year ago. The division's richest — the oft-referred-to 'Big Six' — occupy the top four spending spots currently, just as they did by the time last year's summer window closed. The Premier League's collective wealth is abundant relative to the rest of the world, but the ability to spend big year after year is concentrated in the hands of the few.

Elsewhere in the Market

Alex Scott's situation at Bournemouth remains unchanged. Chelsea had an offer for the 22-year-old midfielder rejected in the middle of June and are yet to return with an improved bid. Scott, who was a training member of England's pre-World Cup squad, has two years left on his contract and has resisted Bournemouth's offer of an extension. The club insist he is not for sale this summer, regardless of whether he accepts that new deal or not.

Everton have continued their interest in Celtic's Alistair Johnston as they look to strengthen at right-back. Merseyside sources have played down suggestions of a formal bid for the Canada international, but talks have taken place between the two clubs, with Celtic's valuation expected to be around £15million. Everton have also explored other targets for the position, with RB Leipzig's Germany international Ridle Baku another who has been considered. The £7m move for Arsenal's Christian Norgaard could lead to departures in midfield, with Hull City having enquired about Tim Iroegbunam. Everton are also looking to strengthen their under-21 setup and have discussed a move for young Manchester United striker Ethan Wheatley.

Club Brugge are in advanced negotiations to sign Crystal Palace's England Under-21 forward Romain Esse, while Tottenham and West Ham United are in negotiations for the permanent transfer of Manor Solomon.