The new West Ham transfer of Mohammed Kudus has made staggering world football history but all eyes are on Chelsea.
West Ham beat Chelsea twice in a week – on and off the pitch.
The Hammers clearly took great confidence from the 3-1 win over Chelsea a week ago on Sunday as they managed to win by the same score at Brighton last time out.
The week got even better when West Ham completed the brilliant signing of Ajax and Ghana star Mohammed Kudus – who Chelsea tried to sign a month ago, as confirmed by David Ornstein.
But it seems that particular West Ham deal carries more significance than we realised.
The new West Ham transfer of Kudus has made staggering world football history but all eyes are on Chelsea.
New West Ham transfer of Mohammed Kudus makes staggering world football history but all eyes are on Chelsea
Because the £38m move was the deal which took Premier League spending over the £2bn mark for the first time ever in a single transfer window. And no other league across world football has ever come remotely close to those levels.
The financial milestone comes against the backdrop of a cost of living crisis so may be viewed by many with disgust.
But look no further than Chelsea as the major architects of this particular financial feat.
Because West Ham’s deal with Ajax for Kudus may have taken spending over the £2bn mark, but nearly half of that sum was spent by Chelsea alone.
Spending records tumble against backdrop of cost of living crisis
And CITY AM believe spending Premier League spending could yet surpass £3bn for the calendar year, with more than £800m spent during an unprecedented January too.
West Ham have followed a more sustainable model of spending what they have earned in this summer transfer window following the £105m sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal.
But it is Chelsea who have contributed most to past records being completely blown out of the water.
This summer’s outlay includes Chelsea making a Premier League record £115m signing of midfielder Moises Caicedo. And the Blues alone have spent close to £1bn in three transfer windows since their takeover by Todd Boehly’s consortium last summer.
Delloitte: ‘Sensational level of spending appears to be the new norm for Prem clubs’
“For the second year in a row, the summer transfer spending by Premier League clubs has surpassed the previous record,” Calum Ross, assistant director in Deloitte’s Sports Business Group, said.
“This sensational level of spending appears to be the new norm for Premier League clubs. They are generating unprecedented levels of revenue, which for some clubs is combined with the receipt of significant investment from new ownership.
“As we approach the end of the transfer window, it remains imperative that clubs manage the buying and selling of players carefully and remain compliant with relevant financial regulations. Sustainable business plans are essential to support continued competitiveness and long-term growth.”