Premier League clubs paid 318.2 mln pounds in agent fees last year

Premier League - Manchester City v Newcastle United
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Newcastle United - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - March 4, 2023 Manchester City's Kyle Walker and Erling Braut Haaland celebrate after the match REUTERS/Carl Recine

April 1 (Reuters) - Premier League clubs spent 318.2 million pounds ($392.4 million) on intermediary and agent fees in the year through January, the English Football Association said on Friday.

That was an increase of 46 million pounds on the previous 12 months, the association said in a report.

Reigning champions Manchester City paid the highest, 51.6 million pounds, during a period that included the signing of Norway striker Erling Haaland from German club Borussia Dortmund.

London club Chelsea paid 43.2 million pounds, Liverpool 33.7 million pounds and Manchester United 24.7 million pounds.

Nottingham Forest paid the least, 4.4 million pounds, despite signing more players than any other top-flight club in the last two transfer windows.

($1 = 0.8108 pounds)

Reporting by Manasi Pathak in Bengaluru

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.