
In brief
It has been disclosed that Premier League clubs paid £409 million on agent fees.
After a terrible season, Manchester United is among the top three spenders.
Despite spending less, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have surpassed expectations.
After the FA released its annual breakdown of fees paid to agents and intermediaries, it was discovered that Premier League teams spent a total of £409 million on agent fees. Since elite players in the current game frequently have some form of agency representation, it has become normal for teams to spend a significant amount of money to get their clients’ signatures.
Along with the aggregate number, a breakdown of clubs’ rankings based on individual spending has also been made public. The two teams at the top run the risk of making costly errors that could prevent them from meeting their campaign-ending goals.
20-16
Ipswich Town, Southampton, Everton, Leicester City, Crystal Palace

Money can definitely help purchase success in the English first flight, as seen by the fact that the current bottom three make up the last five in terms of their agent spending. Given that Ipswich Town only joined League One two seasons ago, it should not be shocking that they are in bottom place with a £6.3 million valuation. The only other teams that have failed to reach the £10 million mark are Leicester City, Everton, and Southampton, who have already been demoted.
This season, the last team in the bottom five has fared somewhat better. In addition to playing some very appealing football under Oliver Glasner, Crystal Palace’s outstanding recruitment has put them within a few steps of winning the FA Cup, their first major title.
Fees for Premier League Agents (20-16)
Rank
Club
Figure
20.
Town of Ipswich
£6.3 million
19.
Southampton
£8.9 million
18.
Everton
£9.2 million
17.
City of Leicester
£9.8 million
16.
The Crystal Palace
£12 million
2 15-11 Bournemouth, Brentford, Wolves, Nottingham Forest, and Fulham

Due in large part to the fact that they have surpassed all expectations this season, two teams in the top five of the bottom half stand out. As the domestic season draws to a close, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have performed quite well to be in the running for Europe. They haven’t relied too much on big-money acquisitions, as evidenced by their respective rankings of 14th and 11th in agency fees.
Considering their budgets, Fulham and Brentford have also performed admirably, playing visually appealing football while keeping their teams safe and even attempting to place in the top ten of the division. Wolves, who spent £13.5 million on representation, are in danger of losing quality players like Matheus Cunha and will undoubtedly have hoped for something a little better than what they have.
Fees for Premier League Agents (15-11)
Rank
Club
Figure
15.
Fulham
£12.8 million
14.
Forest of Nottingham
£13 million
13.
Wolves
£13.5 million
12.
Brentford
£14.8 million
11.
The Bournemouth
£16.4 million
10-6
Brighton, Tottenham, West Ham, Liverpool, Arsenal
Considering their expenditures, West Ham has also fallen short, although Liverpool and Arsenal are not in the same boat. The top two teams in the league have only spent £43.6 million between them, but the Reds may have increased that amount shortly after the transfer window thanks to Mohamed Salah’s agent.
Fees for Premier League Agents (15-11)
Rank
Club
Figure
10.
Brighton
£16.6 million
9.
Tottenham
£18.4 million
8.
West Ham
£19 million
7.
Liverpool
£20.8 million
6.
The Arsenal
£22.8 million
5-1 Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, Aston Villa, and Newcastle

In terms of success this season, the top five can be divided evenly. Newcastle won’t regret their expenditures because their spending enabled them to win their first trophy in 70 years. After returning to the Champions League, Aston Villa also made significant expenditures, which paid off as they advanced to the quarterfinals and may make another trip the following season.
Not so much for the other three. Despite spending an incredible £33 million on player agents, Manchester United has had its worst Premier League season. In a season that has seen them deteriorate significantly from their once-dominant level, Manchester City comes in second.
Given how Todd Boehly likes to spend, there are no rewards for predicting that Chelsea would be at the top. Their bad play since the beginning of the year, however, has once again left them in danger of not making it into the Champions League, which might be another financial setback for the Blues.
Fees for Premier League Agents (15-11)
Rank
Club
Figure
5.
Newcastle
£24.4 million
4.
Villa Aston
£25.1 million
3.
United Manchester
£33 million
2.
City of Manchester
£52.1 million
1.
Chelsea
£60.4 million
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