The last transfer market recorded a record for transfers in men’s professional football, although the total outlay was lower than in January 2025. In women’s professional football, a record for spending was reached, but the number of transfers was slightly lower than last year.
According to the FIFA summary of international transfers for January 2026in this registration period there were more than 5,900 international transfers in men’s professional football, the highest number recorded in January and which represents an increase of more than 3% compared to the previous record, established twelve months earlier.
Clubs spent more than $1.9 billion on international transfers, representing a decrease of approximately 18% compared to January 2025. Still, this amount is more than 20% higher than the January 2023 outlay.
A historic high was also reached in women’s professional football. For the first time, clubs spent more than $10 million on international transfers during the January registration period, an increase of more than 85% from the previous record set in January 2025. More than 420 international transfers were registered, a decrease of just under 6% compared to January 2025.
English clubs spent the most on women’s football (more than $5 million) and recorded the highest number of signings.
In men’s football, English clubs were also the biggest spenders, with total transfer outlays exceeding $360 million. Clubs from Italy, Brazil, Germany and France rounded out the top five on this list. For their part, French clubs received the most money in transfers (more than 215 million USD), followed by clubs in Italy, Brazil, England and Spain.
Brazil was the country that registered the most hiring, followed by Spain, Argentina, England and Portugal. On the other hand, the country that transferred the most players was Argentina, ahead of England, Brazil, Spain and the United States.
In it next link You can consult the complete summary of transfers for January 2026.
