INTERNATIONAL

TRANSFER SNAPSHOT
JUNE – AUGUST 2021

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 INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER SNAPSHOT
JUNE – AUGUST 2021

Contents

Overview 5
Men’s professional football 6
Transfers and transfer fees 6
Transfer types 7
Transfers by player age 7
Transfers by confederation 8
Top ten FIFA member associations 9
Women’s professional football 10
Methodology 12
Disclaimer 13

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 INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER SNAPSHOT
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Overview

For the second consecutive year, FIFA has published its International Transfer Snapshot just a few days after
the closure of the mid-year transfer window across the majority of its member associations. This report covers
all international transfers involving professional football players between 1 June and 31 August 2021, the
period during which transfer activity is typically at its peak. It also offers an overview of the key statistics that
reflect the current status of the professional ranks of men’s and women’s football.

This year, in which all leagues were completed as planned and we regained certainty in the course of the
competitions for the 2021/22 season, saw clubs begin to assemble their squads early on in the transfer
window as players made moves with a view to enhancing their chances of accomplishing their professional
ambitions. Despite the ongoing pandemic, a repeat of the disruption caused to last year’s mid-year transfer
window was largely avoided in 2021 thanks to the close cooperation between FIFA and its member
associations.

Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to have a negative impact on football in 2021. One of the
consequences was that the number of transfers in men’s football remained low (at the same levels recorded
last year) and transfer fees continued the downward trend registered in 2020.

In contrast, the dynamic developments in women’s football continue to justify FIFA’s dedication to and
investment in the women’s game. The number of clubs involved in international transfers continued to rise, as
did the transfer fees paid and the number of professionals transferred for a fee.

In early January 2022, FIFA will publish its Global Transfer Report 2021, which will offer a more comprehensive
analysis of the international transfer market in professional football, together with insights into international
transfers involving amateur players.

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 INTERNATIONAL TRANSFER SNAPSHOT
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Men’s professional football

Transfers and transfer fees

There were 7,7481 international transfers involving professional players during
the mid-year registration period – roughly the same as last year.

Figure 1: International transfers during the mid-year registration period

International transfers during the mid-year registration period

Without transfer fees With transfer fees

9,092
8,535
7,715 1,624 7,771 7,748
1,506
1,464 1,273 1,199

7,029 7,468
6,251 6,498 6,549

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

The total fees involved in the international transfers of professional players

amounted to USD 3.72 billion, a 7.5% decrease compared to 2020 and just
over 60% of the record-breaking figure of 2019.

Figure 2: Transfer fees (in USD) for international transfers during the mid-year
registration period
Transfer fees (USD) for international transfers during the mid-year registration period

5.80bn

5.26bn
5.00bn

4.02bn
3.72bn

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021

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At the time of publication, there were 773 pending transfers for which an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) had been requested by the engaging
association between 1 June and 31 August 2021. If the releasing association issues the ITC in all or part of these transfers, the total for this period will
actually show an increase compared to last year.
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Transfer types
By far the largest proportion of the transfers completed during the mid-year registration period involved out-of-contract players
(58.6%), while loans and returns from loans represented a combined 26.6% of all transfer activity. Permanent club-to-club transfers
nsfer types in Transfer
international transfers, 1 June transfers,
- 31 August 2021 - 31 August 2021
accountedtypes
for theinremaining
international
14.8%. 1 June

Figure 3: Transfer types in international transfers (June – August 2021)

13.2% 13.2%

13.4% 13.4% Out of contract Out of contract

Permanent Permanent
Return from loan Return from loan
58.6% 58.6%
Loan Loan
14.8% 14.8%

Transfers by player age

Players in the 18-23 and 24-29 age groups represented a combined 84.3% of all international transfers, with these two groups
accounting for almost equal shares. In contrast, transfers of over 35s and players aged under 18 constituted less than 1% and 2%
respectively. The remaining 13.8% related to players in the 30-35 age bracket.

Similarly, more than 95% of all spending on transfer fees involved players between the ages of 18 and 29. The younger of the two
age groups (18-23) accounted for 58.0% of all spending, while the outlay on players aged 24-29 represented 38.3%.
International transfers and spending on transfer fees by player age, 1 June - 31 August 2021
a
onal transfers
player and spending
age, 1 June on2021
- 31 August transfer
a fees by player age, 1 June - 31 August 2021
a
Figure 4: International transfers and spending on transfer fees by player age (June – August 2021)
0.7%
0.7% 2.3% 2.3%

1.2% 0.6%
1.2% 13.8% 0.6%
13.8%

<18 years old

<18 years old <18 years old
18-23 years old 3
18-23 years old 18-23 years old
43.9%
43.9% 43.9%
38.3%
Transfers Transfer 38.3%
24-29 years old Transfer
Transfers
24-29 years old 24-29 years old
30-35 years old
fees 30-35 years old fees
30-35 years old 58.0%
>35 years old >35 years old
40.4% >35 years old
40.4%

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Transfers by confederation
Almost three quarters of all transfers completed during the reporting period involved players moving
across borders to join a European club. Of the 7,748 international transfers, 5,663 entailed players
moving to a club in Europe, followed in this particular ranking by South America, with 9.4% of
international transfers featuring an engaging club from the CONMEBOL region.

Figure 5: International transfers and transfer fees by confederation (June – August 2021)

UEFA

Transfers Fees (USD)

5,663 3,516.0m
Incoming Spent
5,450 3,268.8m
Outgoing Received CAF
Concacaf
Transfers Fees (USD)
Transfers Fees (USD)
302 3.8m
Incoming Spent
433 72.7m
Incoming Spent 556 29.4m
Outgoing Received
366 42.1m
Outgoing Received

AFC

Transfers Fees (USD)

CONMEBOL 620 88.9m

Incoming Spent
Transfers Fees (USD)
518 41.6m
727 37.4m Outgoing Received
Incoming Spent
852 336.8m
Outgoing Received
OFC

Transfers Fees (USD)

3 0
Incoming Spent
6 0
Outgoing Received
Spending on international transfer fees by European clubs reached USD 3.5 billion, representing a
drop of 9.3% compared to the 2020 mid-year registration period. The outlay of AFC clubs remained
relatively stable at USD 88.9 million (+2.3%), whilst the spending on transfer fees by Concacaf,
CONMEBOL and CAF sides rose significantly (140.7%, 50.2% and 660% respectively).

European clubs also lead the way in outgoing player transfers, both in terms of the number of transfers
(a 70.3% share) and total receipts from transfer fees (87.9%). CONMEBOL occupied second spot in both
of these rankings, with a total of 852 outgoing international transfers and total receipts of USD 333.8
million.

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Top ten FIFA member associations

European FIFA member associations were very much the dominant force in the top ten associations in
terms of the number of incoming and outgoing transfers as well as transfer fee spending and receipts.
Indeed, Brazil and Argentina were the only non-European associations to secure places amongst the top
ten, with both countries featuring in the standings for releasing associations. The Brazilian FA (CBF) was
also among the top ten associations for incoming transfers and total receipts from transfer fees.

England lead the way in all but one of the lists, with English clubs completing the most incoming and
outgoing transfers and spending the most on transfer fees of all member associations worldwide.
English clubs were also in third place in terms of receipts from international transfer fees, topped only by
German and French clubs with total receipts of USD 462.7 million and USD 457.3 million respectively.

Figure 6: Top ten associations by incoming transfers, spending on transfer fees, outgoing transfers and receipts from transfer fees

Top ten by incoming transfers

Top ten by spending on transfer fees
Top ten by outgoing transfers
Top ten by receipts from transfer fees

Top ten by incoming transfers Top ten by spending on transfer fees Top ten by outgoin

England 380 England 1,146.6m England

Spain 339 Italy 473.8m Portugal
Germany 326 France 428.9m Spain
Portugal 309 Germany 337.9m Brazil
France 283 Spain 325.4m France
Italy 277 Belgium 120.7m Germany
Brazil 254 Russia 84.9m Italy
Belgium 219 Portugal 75.4m Belgium
Turkey 202 Turkey 73.3m Netherlands
Cyprus 191 Netherlands 53.6m Argentina

TopTop
tenten
by spending
by spending
on transfer
on transfer
feesfees TopTop
tenten
by outgoing
by outgoing
transfers
transfers TopTop
tenten
by receipts
by receipts
from
from
transfer
transfer
feesfees

England
England 1,146.6m
1,146.6m England
England 494 494 Germany
Germany 462.7m
462.7m
ItalyItaly 473.8m
473.8m Portugal
Portugal 390 390 France
France 457.3m
457.3m
France
France 428.9m
428.9m Spain
Spain 364 364 England
England 409.8m
409.8m
Germany
Germany 337.9m
337.9m Brazil
Brazil 338 338 ItalyItaly 408.2m
408.2m
Spain
Spain 325.4m
325.4m France
France 336 336 Spain
Spain 260.2m
260.2m
Belgium
Belgium 120.7m
120.7m Germany
Germany 295 295 Netherlands
Netherlands 196.0m
196.0m
Russia
Russia 84.9m
84.9m ItalyItaly 265 265 Brazil
Brazil 173.0m
173.0m
Portugal
Portugal 75.4m
75.4m Belgium
Belgium 214 214 Belgium
Belgium 151.2m
151.2m
Turkey
Turkey 73.3m
73.3m Netherlands
Netherlands 202 202 Portugal
Portugal 135.9m
135.9m
Netherlands
Netherlands 53.6m
53.6m Argentina
Argentina 164 164 Denmark
Denmark 113.3m
113.3m

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Women’s professional
football

Since 1 January 2018, the use of the Transfer Matching System (TMS) has been mandatory for international
transfers involving female professional players. Since then, a total of 586 clubs affiliated to 72 different member
associations have engaged 2,549 female professional players across international borders.

Figure 7: Associations whose clubs have engaged professional players internationally since 2018

576 51%
TRANSFERS OF INCREASE IN
PROFESSIONAL TRANSFER FEES
FEMALE PLAYERS IN WOMEN’S
FOOTBALL

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The total number of international transfers completed during this reporting period (576) increased by
8.7% compared to the 2020 mid-year registration period. Indeed, the number of transfers involving a
fee continued to rise at an even higher rate (+72.2%), with a total of 31 such transfers completed during
this period.

Figure
International 8: International
transfers transfers
during the mid-year during the
registration mid-year
period registration period

Without transfer fees With transfer fees

576
530

385

265
545
512

369
255

2018 2019 2020 2021

This growth is also reflected in the total spending on transfer fees. For the first time ever, the total outlay
for international transfers of professional female players during the mid-year registration period exceeded
USD 1 million. This represents a growth rate of 51.4% and clearly reflects the rapid development of the
women’s game.

FigureTransfer
9: Transfer fees
fees for (in USD) for
international international
transfers transfers
during the mid-yearduring the mid-year
registration period registration period

1,243.8k

821.8k

454.6k

258.8k

2018 2019 2020 2021

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Methodology

All transfer data in this report relates exclusively to international transfers of professional football players
within the scope of 11-a-side football. Transfer data has been analysed for all transfers completed
between 1 June 2021 and 31 August 2021. The data was extracted from TMS on 1 September 2021.
When making comparisons with previous years, we used the interval from 1 June to the last day of the
official registration period of most European associations, i.e. 5 October for 2020, 2 September for 2019
and 1 September for both 2017 and 2018.

All references to transfer fees in this report are to the fixed, conditional and release (buyout) fees as
declared in TMS. Fees are treated as upfront payments for calculation purposes, notwithstanding any
instalment plans that may be agreed by clubs. All amounts are automatically converted to USD based on
the date when the transfer was entered in TMS.

The numbers that feature in this report have been rounded.

We distinguish between four types of international transfers:

• Out of contract: when players who are no longer contractually bound to any former club sign an
employment contract with a new club in a different association and no transfer agreement between
clubs has been signed.

• Loan: when players are temporarily engaged by a new club: a) on the basis of a loan agreement
between the club with which they have an employment contract and a club of another association,
during the term of their employment contract with their parent club; or b) when the loan is extended
by the new club with the agreement of the parent club.

• Return from loan: when players return to their parent club after a loan spell at another club.

• Permanent: when players are permanently engaged by a new club and a transfer agreement is signed
between the new club and the former club, or when a club permanently engages players it has had on
loan, with the agreement of the former club.

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Disclaimer

The information in this report is based on individual transaction data provided directly by football clubs
in TMS. FIFA assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness and reliability of the information
provided by the clubs. With regard to any technical references included in this report, please be advised
that in the event of any contradiction between the contents of this report and the actual text of the
relevant regulations, the latter shall always prevail. Equally, the contents of this report may not alter
existing jurisprudence of the competent decision-making bodies and are without prejudice to any
decision which the said bodies might be called upon to pass in the future.

Due to the nature of the TMS database, the presence of pending transfers, the potential cancellation of
transfers, and data corrections, numbers may differ from one report to another. In the event of any
contradiction between the contents of this report and other publications by FIFA, the most recent shall
always prevail.

Any views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of FIFA.

Source of data and preparation of report

The source of all data and information (unless explicitly stated otherwise) is:
FIFA
Legal & Compliance Division
Legal Strategic Projects Subdivision
Zurich, Switzerland

Data protection
The data contained in TMS and in this review is covered by Swiss data protection law.

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