Premier League clubs spend $1.53 billion on summer transfers

Transfer deadline day was as frenetic as ever on Wednesday, with a number of high-profile deals taking the total English Premier League summer spend to a record $1.53 billion.

The lavish outlays by English football’s top-tier clubs is largely thanks to increased television and commercial revenue and usurped last summer’s spend of $1.14 billion.

The average gross expenditure between the 20 clubs was a sizeable $78.8 million outlay each, with 13 teams recording a new club-record signing.

Paul Pogba’s world-record move from Juventus to Manchester United earlier this summer set the tone for a host of late deals.

READ MORE: Pogba tops pantheon of world’s most expensive footballers

Chelsea was the big spender in the last 24 hours of the available window, with the spectacular resigning of David Luiz from Paris Saint Germain a significant shock.

The Brazil international was sold to the French club for $65.6 million two years ago, with the Blues re-signing him yesterday for $44.6 million.

Antonio Conte’s men also landed left-back Marcus Alonso from Fiorentina for $31.5 million, while Juan Cuadrado headed to Juventus on loan.

Tottenham splashed out $39.4 million to land Moussa Sissoko from Newcastle United, with the France international in demand after impressive showings at Euro 2016.

Spurs also signed Georges-Kevin Nkoudou from Marseille.

Last season’s surprise Premier League champions Leicester City added Algerian striker Islam Slimani for $38.1 million, but failed to land his Sporting Lisbon team-mate Adrien Silva.

Manchester City downscaled its squad, with Joe Hart, Eliaquim Mangala, Samir Nasri, Jason Denayer and Wilfried Bony all heading out on loan.

Arsenal’s England international Jack Wilshere moved to Bournemouth on loan in search of regular first-team football, while tempestuous attacker Mario Balotelli left Liverpool on a free transfer to French side Nice.

Clubs will now have to make do with the players they have until the January window opens in the New Year.