La Liga's starving transfer window worries Spain

In a week the transfer window will close. Some big transfers took place almost everywhere in the major championships, such as that of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to PSG for €70 million, or even Omar Marmoush for €75 million to Manchester City. There are also a multitude of more secondary movements, but which feed the different flows of players and money. Because that’s what this article on the La Liga transfer window is partly about. The Spanish first division clubs only welcomed 9 new players this winter, including 2 free agents and 6 on loan.

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There was only one transfer for a sum of money. It is that of Ruben Vargas in the direction of Sevilla FC. The amount of €2.5 million is therefore a record for this January transfer window in Spain, since it is the only paid transfer. This places La Liga in 34th place in the world in terms of spending, just behind the Chinese Super League, the MLS Next Pro, the 3rd American division, or the Chilean Primera Division, all at €3.5 million. Even the Spanish 3rd division spent more with €5.9 million, due to the investments of Celta B on Jones El-Abdellaouiy and Barça Atétic on Ibrahim Diarra.

La Liga clubs only spent €2.5m this winter

A real anomaly for a championship and its culture, always very fans of this intoxicating period. The Iberian press regularly makes headlines on the future of La Liga stars. This is precisely one of the reasons for this problem. The most powerful teams in the country spent nothing in January. Real Madrid have never been a big promoter of this transfer window, despite a real desire to strengthen themselves in defense, particularly where Alexander-Arnold ultimately did not come. FC Barcelona, ​​for its part, got bogged down in its problems with recording Dani Olmo and Pau Victor.

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The Catalans then decided to focus on the extensions of their executives, like Ronal Araujo, Gavi and Pedri. De facto, the payroll is increasing and leaves fewer possibilities for recruiting. The demanding financial fair play put in place by the League can also explain this situation. Barça learned this the hard way. And despite some rumors, Atlético has not strengthened either. The championship locomotives remained at the dock, and the wagons were not the subject of significant sales to supply the market.

La Liga very far from its European competitors

There were 28 players who left La Liga in January, most of them on loan to the lower divisions. These departures only brought in €20 million as a whole, including €12 million just for the sale of Assane Diao from Betis to Como. Gonzalo Montiel left Sevilla FC for €4.5 million to return to River Plate, while Celta received €3.5 million for the sale of Jonathan Bamba to Chicago Fire. Everything indicates that this situation will not change by the end of the transfer market, apart from a few details. La Liga will remain very far from its direct competitors, the Premier League (€292 million), Ligue 1 (€127 million), Serie A (€90 million) and the Bundesliga (€30 million).