Premier League summer spending was only slightly down from recent years but it was much higher than Europe’s other top leagues, as the transfer window closed.
Clubs spent £1.218bn, £158m down on last year’s £1.376bn, says investment company Carteret Analytics.
There were 12 deadline-day Premier League signings on Monday, 5 October – the fewest total in recent years.
Arsenal signed Atletico Madrid midfielder Thomas Partey for £45.3m in the biggest deal of the day.
The deadline was later than usual as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the season starting later. The previous two Premier League windows had closed before the more traditional start to the season in August.
“Total expenditure on player acquisitions is significantly down across all the top five European leagues against the five year average – ranging from -7% in the Premier League to -46% in La Liga,” said London-based investment company Carteret Analytics.
“It is a fair assumption that Covid-19 has caused this significant contraction in the player transfer market in this window.”
Everton brought in Norwich defender Ben Godfrey for £25m in the second most lucrative transfer of the day.
Manchester United recruited Porto left-back Alex Telles for £13.6m, former Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani on a free transfer and teenage wingers Amad Diallo and Facundo Pellistri for a combined £28m.
However they did not sign long-term target Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund.
Leeds bought Rennes winger Raphinha for an initial £17m. Everton signed Roma goalkeeper Robin Olsen on loan and loaned winger Theo Walcott to Southampton.
Fulham landed Manchester City defender Tosin Adarabioyo on a three-year deal, while Chelsea winger Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Lyon defender Joachim Andersen joined the Cottagers on loan.
Arsenal midfielders Lucas Torreira (Atletico Madrid) and Matteo Guendouzi (Hertha Berlin) and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling (Roma) were among the players to leave the Premier League.
In Scotland, Celtic signed AC Milan defender Diego Laxalt and Rangers signed Amiens midfielder Bongani Zungu – both on loan deals.
Championship club QPR signed former Nottingham Forest winger Albert Adomah and Benfica forward Chris Willock.