Premier League Clubs That Paid the Highest Agent Fees (February 2024 – 2025)
- Think Football Ideas
- May 1
- 4 min read
Updated: 19 hours ago
The Premier League may be the richest league in football, but every blockbuster signing and contract renewal comes with a hidden cost: agent fees.
Between February 2024 and February 2025, clubs spent hundreds of millions on intermediaries, the behind-the-scenes negotiators who help seal the deals.
Top Agent Fee Spenders in the Premier League (February 2024–25)
1. Chelsea – £60.38 million
Chelsea once again led the league in agent fees, spending £60.38 million—a slight dip from the previous year’s £75.1 million, but still a reflection of the club’s relentless transfer activity. Major deals included Pedro Neto from Wolves, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester, and João Félix’s permanent move from Atlético Madrid.
The Blues also secured Marc Guiu from Barcelona and took Jadon Sancho on loan from Manchester United. These moves, alongside a managerial switch from Mauricio Pochettino to Enzo Maresca, underscore why Chelsea topped the agent fee rankings yet again.
2. Manchester City – £52.13 million
City spent over £52 million on intermediaries—proof that even when they aren’t splashing out on megastar signings, there’s constant investment behind the scenes. The club added Savinho from Troyes and brought back Ilkay Gündogan from Barcelona.
January 2025 saw a defensive refresh with Abdukodir Khusanov and Vitor Reis, plus the arrivals of Omar Marmoush (Eintracht Frankfurt) and Nico González (Porto). These weren’t headline transfers, but they reflect City's ongoing push for depth, versatility, and long-term planning.
3. Manchester United – £33.02 million
United’s £33 million agent fee total tells the story of a chaotic, transitional year. After a summer of heavy investment, including Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern, Leny Yoro from Lille, and Manuel Ugarte from PSG—Erik ten Hag was sacked just 10 games into the season.
Dan Ashworth briefly led recruitment before being replaced under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s restructuring. New head coach Rúben Amorim made his mark in January, bringing in Lecce’s Patrick Dorgu and Arsenal youngster Ayden Heaven. The spending reflects both United’s ambition and its instability.
4. Aston Villa – £25.08 million
Villa’s agent fee outlay reflected a bold push under Unai Emery to secure top-six status. Summer additions included Ian Maatsen (Chelsea), Amadou Onana (Everton), and Ross Barkley’s return.
January brought further flair and depth: Donyell Malen from Dortmund, Levante prodigy Andrés García, and high-profile loans for Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio. This aggressive recruitment drive showed Villa are no longer just mid-table dwellers—they’re building something substantial.
5. Newcastle United – £24.37 million
While Newcastle avoided the kind of splashy transfers seen elsewhere, their £24.37 million in agent fees shows how strategic squad-building can be costly too. Lloyd Kelly arrived from Bournemouth, while Lewis Hall’s loan from Chelsea was made permanent.
Veteran keeper John Ruddy was brought in for depth, and overseas additions like Serbian defender Miodrag Pivas and striker William Osula suggest a long-term, layered approach to building a robust squad.
6. Arsenal – £22.79 million
Arsenal focused on refinement, not overhaul—reflected in a solid £22.79 million agent spend. David Raya’s loan became permanent, Riccardo Calafiori (Bologna) added technical ability to the backline, and Mikel Merino’s arrival brought experience to midfield.
The surprise addition of Raheem Sterling on loan added seniority out wide. Mikel Arteta’s squad didn’t need a revolution—just smart tweaks to push toward trophies.
7. Liverpool – £20.84 million
In what would be Jürgen Klopp’s final full season, Liverpool avoided the major shake-ups of prior years, instead opting for targeted quality. Federico Chiesa joined from Juventus, injecting speed and directness into the attack.
With previous windows already reshaping the midfield, this quieter phase prioritised fit and finesse. The £20.84 million in agent fees reflects fewer moves, but ones with real impact.
8. West Ham United – £19.02 million
West Ham’s £19.02 million in agent fees between February 2024 and February 2025 reflected a turbulent yet ambitious year. The summer began with Julen Lopetegui at the helm, and the club backed him with significant moves, including Crysencio Summerville from Leeds, Niclas Füllkrug from Borussia Dortmund, Guido Rodríguez, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Man United.
Maximilian Kilman arrived from Wolves, and Mohamadou Kanté was signed from Paris FC. A poor start saw Lopetegui dismissed, with Graham Potter appointed in late 2024. In January, Potter oversaw further additions, including teenage prospect Josh Landers from Hibernian and the high-profile loan of Evan Ferguson from Brighton.
9. Tottenham Hotspur – £18.43 million
Post-Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur entered a period of reinvention, and manager Ange Postecoglou led the way. Spurs made strategic moves to reshape their squad, spending £18.43 million on agent fees.
The summer of 2024 saw the arrivals of Archie Gray from Leeds United, Wilson Odobert from Burnley, and Dominic Solanke from AFC Bournemouth, each adding depth and fresh talent to the team.
In January 2025, the club further strengthened their attacking options by securing Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich—an exciting young talent who could play a key role in the future.
10. Brighton & Hove Albion – £16.55 million
Brighton & Hove Albion’s data-driven approach to recruitment came at a significant cost in the 2024-25 season. Following the departure of Moisés Caicedo, the club made strategic signings, including Yankuba Minteh from Newcastle and Mats Wieffer from Feyenoord, adding depth and quality to the squad.
The January 2025 arrival of Diego Gomez from Inter Miami further strengthened Brighton’s midfield. With new manager Fabian Hürzeler taking charge after Roberto De Zerbi’s departure, the club’s £16.55 million agent fee spend reflects their ongoing commitment to smart investments and squad evolution amidst a competitive Premier League landscape.
11. AFC Bournemouth – £16.43 million
Under new U.S. ownership, Bournemouth became quietly ambitious. They invested heavily to avoid relegation, bringing in talent from across Europe. That strategy, driven by a front office willing to act decisively, translated into significant agent fees.
The Cherries may not be flashy, but their business reflects growing ambition and an understanding of what it takes to stay competitive in today’s Premier League.
12. Brentford - £14,762,657
13. Wolves - £13,500,560
14. Nottingham Forest - £12,991,664
15. Fulham - £12,751,674
16. Crystal Palace - £11,952,031
17. Leicester City - £9,824,219
18. Everton - £9,156,995
19. Southampton - £8,900,718
20. Ipswich - £6,264,471
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