International transfers of professional footballers have surpassed 20,000 for the first time including an 11.6% increase in men’s football and a 19.3% increase in women’s football. In all, 71,002 players were transferred worldwide across both professional (21,764) and amateur (49,238) football in 2022.
The record numbers were published in FIFA’s Global Transfer Report 2022. According to the report, more than 5,000 clubs from more than 180 different nations were involved in the transfers of professional footballers, including a record-high 4,770 in the men’s professional game. In amateur soccer, more than 200 nations were involved in at least on transfer in 2022.
Around the world, there were 2,843 transfers in men’s football that included transfer fees in 2022. In Canada, there were 98 incoming transfers that drew $7.34 million spending on fees (5.5M USD). In the same year, there were also 111 outgoing transfers that drew $7.2 million receipts from fees (5.4M USD).
“The two-year negative trend in clubs’ spending on transfer fees was turned around in 2022, with last year’s total outlay reaching USD 6.5 billion, an increase of 33.5% compared to 2021, yet still below the all-time high of 2019,” wrote Emilio Garcia Silvero, FIFA Chief Legal and Compliance Officer.
Of the nearly 50,000 worldwide transfers in amateur football in 2022, there were 403 incoming transfers to Canada and 543 outgoing transfers with 171 clubs engaged. The Global Transfer Report 2022, which can be read online at FIFA.com, also features an analysis on other relevant matters relating to the global transfer market.