The study of the market in 2014 showed that despite the introduction of Uefa’s financial fair play (FFP) rules, the booming broadcast market and growing commercial opportunities enabled English clubs to carry on spending.

One in four dollars spent globally on international transfers was allocated to English clubs and more than one in three dollars paid to agents originated from England.

Payments to agents acting on behalf of clubs have risen on average 27 per cent year on year since 2011, when the total stood at $131 million (€115 million). Of an overall transfer market that broke the $4 billion barrier for the first time, English clubs spent a record $1.17 billion.

The second biggest spender, Spain, bought players for a total of $700 million and the third, Germany, $327 million. The amount spent in France fell from $421m to $221m as the realities of FFP hit Paris Saint-Germain and other clubs such as Monaco put the brakes on their spending.

The figures, compiled by Fifa’s transfer matching system, an electronic marketplace that underpins international transfers, show over a fifth of transfers across borders involved at least one intermediary. Guardian Service